Arizona republican., 1891-04-25
A FAMOUS GEM.


 want-to-get-marr
 If you don't mind, sir" said Verbena, dropping her pretty head, while blush like the lining of pink sea shell crept over her face.
 But what nonsense that isl' said Mir Venable. shutting his cabinet drawers, leaning back in his chair and looking at Verbena with eyes like gimlets. "Who is the young man?"
 Please, uncle, it's Fritz" whispered Verbena. half inclined to run away and hide herself.
 "Fritzr roared Mir. Venable. "That farmer fellow?"
 He's a farmer" admitted Verbena, but he owns his own farm, sir, and his mother is very anxious for me to come there, because"-
 "Oh, l can imagine that" said Mir. Venable with a sheer. You, Venable, talking about marrying farmer! You, the heiress of the Malmaison emerald! You, that might take any place in socie- ty that you wish when once the value of the gem is known, to talk of allying yourself to a clodhopper like that, who doesn't know an opal from a moon stoner'
 Verbena burst into tears.
 He isn't a clodhopper," said she. And l wish there wasn't any such thing as the Malmaison emerald"
 MT. venable transfxed his niece through his spectacles with glare that might have paralyzed her.
 Silence. missr' said he; do you know it is on the reputation of the Malmaison emerald that the Venables will go down to famel The Empress Josephine'- "I 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 l don't sup pose shall be Yenable forever"- This sort of talk won't do, Verbena," said the old gentleman, solemnly. Where would society be if every one refused to bear the responsibilities and shoulder the cares of his station? You are not merely my niece, yerbena. You are the representative--the last surviv- ing representative-of the Venables. To you in my will is left the guardianship of the Malmaison emerald"-
 I'm sick of hearing of it," vehemently protested Verbena.
 And" went on Mir. Venable, "I de- sire you to give up all idea of marrying this young man. It's entirely out of the quesuOn-entirely.
 But what is this about the Malmaison emeraldY' asked Fritz Elcombe, in be- wildered way, when he found Verbena crying by the sitting room window 8 few hours later. Her blue eyes sparkled through their veil of tears.
 You don't mean" said she, "that you have never heard of the famous Mall maison emerald?'
 That's my meaning exactly" ad mitted Fritz. Do consider in my be- half that I've only been here year, and have much still to learn"
 Well, hsten," said Verbena, half cry ing, half angry. Its famous unset gen."
 "Oh, it is, is itT'
 And it used to belong to the Empress Josephine"
 Did it, indeedT'
 And she wore it in those days at Nal maison."
 Hence the name, ehT'
 "l suppose so. And Queen Hortense gave it to some one who sold it to some body else, and it was finally given to one Of the Venables who was Do surgeon In the English army by dying officer out in Hindoostan, to whom he had been able to tender kind offices, and so it has come down to us. It really is wonder tul stone"
 "l should suppose so" politely incred- ulous.
 They say" went on yerbena. "that when uncle kept it in the little iron safe let into the guest chamber wall, whoever Slept there used to dream of beautiful, sad faced lady, who walked up and down m marble terrace under the trees and Wrung her hands. That was Empress josephine, of course"
 "Of course, still more incredulously.
 And my rncle declares that the color m the stone is always dim and turbid when the anniversary of the poor lady's Geath comes around" further added Verbena.
 Yes, that is exceedingly probable, ~yiy observes Mir Elcombe.
 60 =.- s----. ..-