The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-24
A FAMOUS GEM.

LA. odfu CHCfC NCudO1Cs LUZ
want-to-get-marriedS'
eff you don't mind, sir" said Verbena,
dropping her pretty head, while blush
like the lining of pink sea shell crept
over her face.
'sBut what nonsense that isl" said Mr..
Venab}e. shutting his cabinet drawers,
leaning back in his chair and looking at
Verbena with eyes Like gimlets. "Who
is the young MANI"
please, uncle, it's Fritz" whispered
Verbena, half inclined to run away and
hide herself.
Fritz roared Mr.. Venable. ''That
farmer fellow?"
He's farmer" admitted Verbena,
''but he owns his own farm, sir, and his
mother is very anxious for me to come
there, because"-
''Oh, / can imagine thatr said Mr..
Venable with sneer. "You, a Venabke,
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
stOnep
Verbena burst into tears.
HE isn't clodhopper," said she.
tsAnd / wish there wasn't any such
thing as the Nahmaison emerald"
Mr.. Venable transixed his niece
through his speceacles with glare that
might have paralyzed her.
Silence, nissr said he; edo you know
it is On the reputation of the Malmaison
emerald that the venables will go down
to fame? The Empress Josephine'-
81 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,"
said the old gentleman, solemnly.
"Where would society be if every one
refused to bear the response bilities and
shoulder the cares of his station? You
are not merely my niece, Verbena. You
are the representative-the hast surviv-
ing representative-of the Venables. To
you in my viii is left the guardianship
of the MalmaiSon emerald
Pm sick of hearing of it, - vehemently
protested Verbens.
And" went ON Mr. Venable, ri de-
sire you to give up all idea of marrying
this young man. It's entirely out of the
Guestion-entirely.
"But what is this about the Malmaison
emerald" asked Fritz Elcombe, in be-
wildered way, when he found Verbena
crying by the sitting room window a
few hours later. Her blue eyes sparkled
through their veil of tears.
"Yoo don't mean" said she. "that you
have never heard of the famous NAL
msison emeraldss"
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"
We'll, hsten," said Verbena, half cry
ing, half angry. Its a famous unset
gem"
"Oh, it is, is it,"
And it used to belong to the Empress
josephine"
Did 1t, indeed?'
And she wore it in those days at Mall
maison."
Hence the name. eh?"
II suppose so. And Queen Hortense
gave it 10 some one who sold 1t 10 some
body else, and it was finally given to
one OF the Venables who was a surgeon
N the English army by dying officer
out in Hindoostan, TO whom be had been
able to tender kind offices, and SO it has
come down to Us. 1t really is wonder
FIJI stone"
Il should suppose so" politely inered-
ulous.
They say" went on Verbena. that
when uncle kept it in the little iron safe
let into the guest chamber wall. whoever
slept there used 30 dream Of beautiful,
SAD faced lady. who walked up and down
In marble terrace under the trees ard
wrung her hands That was Empress
Josephine, of course"
"O course still more incredulously.
And my uncle declares that the cosor
N tina Sf0ue IS alxavS din, and tr.rhsa