Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1891-11-20
A FAMOUS GEM.

"EhF' said Uncle Venable. 'You-.
want-n-get-marriedy
'lf you don't mind, sir" said Verbena.
dropping her pretty head, while a blush
like the lining Of a pink sea shell crept
over her face.
"But what nonsense that isr' said Mr..
Venable. shutting his cabinet drawers,
leaning back in his chair and looking at
Verbena with eyes like gimlets. "Who
is the young many'
"Please, uncle, it's Fritz" whispered
Verbena, half inclined to run away and
hide herself.
FRITZ roared lIr. vonable. THAT
farmer ieIlowy'
Giles q farmer admitted Verbena,
.'but he owns his own farm, sir, and his
mother is very anxious for me to come
there, because"
'Oh, 1 can imagine that!' said Mr..
Venable with q sneer. "You, a Venable,
talking about marrying a farmerl You,
the heircs8 of the Malmaison emerald
You, that might take any place ia socie-
ty that you wish when ono the value
Of the gem is known, to talk of allying
yourself to n ~clodhopper like that, who
doesn't know an opal from a moon
stonel'
Verbena burst into tears.
"He isn't a clodhOpper,'' said she.
"And l wish there wasn't any such
thing as the Malmaison emetald."
Mr.. Venable transfxed his niece
through his spectacles with a glare that
might have paralyzed her.
silence, missl' said he; "do you know
it 10 on the reputation Of the Malmaison
emerald that the Yenables Win 60 down
to fame? The Empress josephine
u don't Gaze for the Empress Jose
phine." said Serbcna, who, having
drawn the sword, was now minded to
cast the scabbard away. "And I'm not
particular about fame. aud / don't sup
pose ! shall be a Venable forever
''This sort of talk won't do, Verbena,'
said the old gentleman, solemnly.
"Where would society DO if every one
refused to bear the responsibilities and
shoulder the cares Of his station? Kou
are not merely my niece, Yerbena, You
are the representative-the last surviv-
ing representatives, the Venables. TIC
you in my viii is left the guardianship
of the Malmaison emerald"-
"Fm sick of hearing Of it." vehemently
protested Vovbena.
"And," went on Mr.. Venable, "I lie.
sire you to give mp all iden Of marrying
this young man. It's entirely out Of tho
question-entirely.
= y
F"But what is this about the MalmaisoI
emeraldy7 asked Fritz Elcombe, in n be.
wildered way, when he found Verbeni
crying by the sitting window q
few hours later. Her blue eyes sparkleC
through their veil of teara.
''You don't mean, said she, "that yol
have never heard Of the famous Nal
maison emeraldY'
"Ihat's my meaning exactly" ad
mitted Fritz. do consider ia nay be
half that I've only been here a year, an'
have much etu TO learn."
"Well, listen, said Yerbena, half cry
"nery cts a famous unse
gem"
"Oh, it is, is it,?
"And it used to belong TO ths Empires
Josephine"
'Did it, indeedy
"And she wore it in those days 1t Mal
maison."
"Hence the name, ehy'
al suppose so. And Queen Hortens
gave it to some ono who sold it to some
body else, and st was finally given t
one Of the Nenables who was @ surgeon
in the English army - g dying Office
out In Hindooatan, 10 whom he had beef
able to tender kind Offices, and 80 it ha
come down t6us. 1t really is q wonder
full stone"
u should suppose So" politely incred
ulous.
'sThey say" went on Verbena, "tha
when uncle kept it in the little iron SAT
let into the guest chamber wall, whoeve
slept There used to dream OF a beautiful
sad faced lady, wh0 walked up and dow
In a marble terrace under the trees an
wlung her hands. That was Empires
josephine, OF cOurEe."
"0l course, a.4l more incredulously.
aAnI ny uncle declares that the colo
ia the sloue is always dim aud mrbi
when the anniversary Of the poor lady
death ome around" further ndde
NelDonn.
eyes, that Is exceedingly probable,
dBly observes Mr. Elcombe.