Montgomery County sentinel., 1890-09-26
miscellaneous.
THE MALMAIsON EMERALD.

"Eh p said Uncle Venabe, "You--
want--,o-get-married 2"
IF you don't mind, SIR" said Yer
bona, dropping her pretty head, while
a blush like the lining OF pink sea
shell crept over her face.
But what nonsense that is !" said
Mr.. Venable. shutli0g his cabinet draw
ers, leaning back in his chair and look
ing at Vcrbena with eyes like gimlets
WHO is tho young man 7"
Please, uncle, it's Fritz" whisper
cd Vcrbena, half inclined to run away
and hide herself.
Fritz p roared Mr. Venablc. "rhat
farmer fellow 7"
Hes farmer" admitted Vcrbena,
"but he owns his farm, sir. And his
mother is very anxious for me to come
there. because"
"0h, can imagine that y said Mr..
Vonable, with u sneer. "You-a Ven
able-talking about marrying farmer
You, the heiress of the Malmaison en-
erald You, that might take any place
in society that you wish, when once the
value of the gem is known, to talk Of
alyiug yourself to u clodhopper like
that, who don't know an opal from a
moonstone y
Verbena burst into tears.
"He isn't clodhopper,' said she.
"And wish there wasn't any such
thing as the Malmaison emerald !"
lMr. Venabe transixed his niece
Though his spectacle glasses with q
glare that might have have paralyzed
her.
Silence, miss p said he. "Do you
know it is on the reputation of the NAL
maison emerald that the Venables will
go down to fame The Empress jose
phine--"
"l don't care for the Empress jose
phine," said Verbena, who, having
drawn the sword, was now minded to
cast the scabbard away. "And I'm not
particular about fame, and | don't sup
pose shall be Venable forever"
"This sort of talk won't do, Verbena, u
said the old gentleman, solemnly.-
"Where would society be if every one
refused to bear the responsibilities and
shoulder the cares of their stations
You are not merely my niece, Verbena
You are the representative the last
surviving representative of the Vena-
bles. 70 you in my will is left the
guardianship of the Malmaison en-
erald "
w"pm sick of hoaring of it, vehe-
ently protested Vcrbena.
"And," went on Mr.. Venable, IL
sire you to give up all idea Of marry
this young man. It's entirely ou'
the question--entirely."
II
"But what is this about the Malmai-
b emerald p asked Fritz Elcombe, in
bewildered way, when he found Yer,
ma crying, by the sitting room win
W, few hours later.
Her blue eyes sparkled through their
il of tears.
"You don't mean" said she, "tba'
IA have never heard of the famous
almaison emerald p
That's my meaning exactly" ad'
lifted Fritz. ''Do consider, in my be-
llf, that Pve only been here u year
ID have lots to learn"
"Well, listen ?" said Verbena, hall
lying, half angry. 'It's famous un-
y gem"
son, it is, is it?"
"And it used to belong to the EN-
css Josephine
"Did it, indeed 7"
And she wore it in those days a
almalson
"Ilence the name, eh y
II suppose 50. And Queen llortens'
I've il 10 some one who sold it TO some
dy else, aud it was finally given Il
Ic Of the Vcnables who was surgeon
the English army, by dying Officer
lt in IlindostaD, to whom be had beer
le to render kind Offices and so i
come down TO US It really is I
jndcrful story"
IL should suppose 80, politely in
edulous."
wThey say" went on Verbena, "tha
len uncle kept it in the little iron saf'
into the guest-chambcr wall, who
cr slept there used always to dream D
beautiful, sad-faced lady. who walked
and down marble terrace, unde
J trees, aud wrung her hands. Tha
s the Empress Josephine, Of course.
"Of course, still more incredulously
"ADd my uncle declares that th'
color 10 the stone is always dim ant
turbid when the anniversary Of the poo
lady's death comes around" further ad
ded Vcrbena.
eyes, that is exceedingly probable,
dryly observed Mr.. Elcombe.
"My uncle has been offered grea
deal of money for the gem. said Yer
bena. with sigh. ''and | wish to good
ness he'd sell il But he won't. And
what is worse. he wants me to marry
hateful, specialized, little old man il
New York, who, next to himself, is th