Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-07-06

old Mechlin lace, and wore pair of old
fashioned but most beautiful damon,
crosses in her ears. Diamonds! Why
these diamonds are worth fortune. Nov
then, you know what mean. Go, fine
out her name, how long she is going t,
stop and anything else you can. Ther
come back, and if you will arrange my sea
next to hers at table I will double tn,
pourboire and make it twenty marks. Yer
staaden"
A RUSSIAN COUNTESS.
In few minutes August returned. TIL,
lady was the Countess Assakoff, an enor
mously wealthy widow from Kieff. Sh,
had taken the finest suite of rooms on the
parlor floor, kept horses and carriages
which the hotel had engaged for her, and
was going to stay for month or two. o
course, Mr.. Cohen should have the sea
next to hers. August would see to that.
Next day the Captain came rather lat,
to dinner. The first thing he saw wa
Mr.. Cohen, who chatted pleasantly anC
like an old acquaintance with the beauti
full Russian Countess.
Herr Cohen had found no difficulty ir
becoming acquainted with this startlingly
beautiful woman. Some slight attention
he showed her at dinner led to very vi
vacious conversation, and when the table
Phote adjourned the banker was ovel
head and ears in love with the Russian
beauty.
He never had met her equal, he as
sured the Captain. Such eyes-such &
complexion-such teeth-such a smile
Bewitching, enchanting, marvellous! And
her wit, her esprit, her general culture
and information; her faultless German
scarcely an accent.
"In one word she is divinep' concluded
Herr Cohen, enthusiastically.
By degrees the acquaintance so fortu.
nately begun ripened into intimacy. The
Countess, after little time, permitted Mr.
Cohen to accompany her on her drives
but always treated him with so much tact
that in spite of his ardent admiration he
never found an opportunity of declaring
his feelings to her.
Naturally, this only increased the poo,
fellows love. He was restless and un-
happy away from her; even his business
did not interest him any more. He lived
only in and for her.
About month had thus passed, when
one morning the Countess appeared rather
late at breakfast. She was dressed in a
most bewitching costume, but cloud OF
melancholy overspread her beautiful fea-
lures. From her rosy ears depended the
marvellous diamond crosses which she had
never worn since the day when Mr.. Cohen
saw her for the first time, and which had
They were two large crosses, almost too
heavy for those little ears; they were set
in old-fashioned silver, but every one OF
them was stone of purest white-all Of
them old Brazilian diamonds
THOSE LOVELY CROSSES.
The crosses attracted Mr.. Cohen's ardent
glances more than once. But the distress
of the Countess was too evident, and feel.
ingly he said:
"What is it, Countess? What ails you!
You looked sad and weary yesterday, but
to-day! Tell me, tell me, beseech you
what distresses you? Is there anything |
conld do for you? You know, though you
have never allowed me to speak of my
feelings, that l would give nv hearts
blood to make you happy"
The Countess sighed.
"Mr. Cohen" she said sadly, and her
melancholy accents went straight to the
poor fellows heart, "Mr. Cohen, a great
sorrow has come upon me and | am in
despair. Still there is one hope yet lef,
to me. If that fails l shall surely send
for you. know you are my friend, my
only friend in all the world"
She gave the banker her hand. He
pressed it tenderly, but was so overcome
that he could not utter word.
The Countess rose.
81 shall know my fate this noon," she
said. "Shall you be at your office, in case
/ want your"
Mr. Cohen nodded, and the Countess
left the dining-room.
About one o'clock Mr.. Cohen received a
perfumed note. The Countess had sent
for him and he hastened to her room.
She was in tears. With many sob she
told him that her agent to whom she had
intrusted the management of all her
affairs had absconded with all her funds
from Kief, and that for some months at
iCdSty uutll SOnl6 Vi lcI cSIdltS COulu D6
sold, she would be penniless.
"And now, what can l do?' she went
on. 81 have lived here for a month
bought large quantities of jewelry, laces,
dresses, knickknacks. The bills have come
Uneven the hotel man has Just handed
me his account. | owe 10000 marks in
all, and have not 100 in cash. What
shall do?"
Mr.. Cohen offered to lend her any
amount she might need, but she refused in
the most positive terms.
"Herr Cohen" she said, 81 have never
borrowed any money in my life and,
please God, never will. You, my friend
would be the last man-the very last
from whom | should accept such a favor
You are" She hesitated moment and
a rosy blush overspread her features.
"Well, you are too dear to me to"
THE COUNTESS IN TROUBLE.
She held her handkerchief to her eyes
Her feelings seemed too great.
Poor Cohen, in spite of his sympathy
for her losses, felt as if he were in the
seventh heaven. He would gladly have
offered her half his fortune.
Countess" he said, mo amount can be
too great. Let me, oh, let me help you p
The beauty shook her head
sDo you know" she said, 81 thought il
| could return all these things to the
merchants, or could sell them, Il"
at would be no use, Countess. They
would not bring the tenth part of their
value. But why not borrow? Why dc
you want to sell these things?"
'From whom could l borrow but from
you? No, / will rather sell everything
possess than do that"
She shook her head, and as she did so
her beautiful diamonds flashed in thou
sand brilliant rays. An idea seemed to
strike Mr.. Cohen.
swell, then," he said, "since you are
bound to sell, why don't you sell your
beautiful diamonds ?'
She broke into gay laugh.
"Why, Mr.. Cohen, is it possible that
you are imposed upon by these things? /
thought you were connoisseur. Why
these are imitation diamonds"
Madam" answered Mr. Cohen, 81
think | know what diamonds are, for
have handled plenty in my life. These
are pure Brazilian stones and"
The Countess laughed merrily. "These, .
she said, taking out one of the crosses and
handing it to the banker, "these are Bra.
lillian diamonds Why, this is too ridicu.
lousi | bought the things in the Roule