San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1892-07-05

You know, have never been abroad. d
No. fancy not, said Miss Lebour.
geois. You know. 1 went out very
little over there. was mere school
girl Bot there is one odd thing about
II. never saw either the locket o,
the ring before, either over there OF
here They must be family heirlooms
brought out this evening to do us
special honor My curiosity is going
10 get the better of my politeness. We
all know the Count so well.
Count de Fooliers," size said, ad.
dressing him personally, you are not
afraid of falling a victim to Mrs. As.
tors fate, are you Could be so rude
as to ask you for closer look at that
curious ring you wear and hint at its
history?"
All, mademoiselle, said the Count,
Il wish could crafty you without
fear of innocently infiicting an injury
on you. But that is impossible. There
Is more than one tragedy connected
with this ring, many l make no doubt
in the dark days of Venetian history
when we know not who were its wear
ers Just beneath that fiery tongue a
lions claw of steel is concealed, which,
by the slightest pressure in shaking a
friends hand. can be made 70 inflict a
fatal scratch-for that lions claw is
charged with deadly poison My
father wore the ring one night
at dinner like this, and mad.
vertently wounded the hostess,
Age had weakened the poison, but only
the skill of one who rivals the great
Pasteur himself saved that lady's life.
She has never fully recovered her
health. / had intended to have the
ring thoroughly disinfected before
coming to America. But it was over.
looked. To, night is the first time
have had it on for years You see
wear it on my left hand, so as to avoid
all risk to my friends. Tonight, Just
before left my hotel, found that my
valet had Numbered into bringing the
ring and locket out l did not care to
intrust them to him; for if l warned
him the more likely he was to
examine them and receive a
scratch. So 1 wore them myself
as the less of two evils The locket,"
the Count added, taking it off and pas
sing it to Miss Lebourgeois, lis curious
also. 1t is opened by sort ofcombina-
ton lock, whose secret | have noted
away, but do not now recall You are
at perfect liberty, mademoiselle, to try
your best to open it, or any one else
here. But | assure you in advance
that you will be baffied"
The locket was passed to everyb body
and everybody tried in vain to open it.
The Count smiled mysterious smile,
as he replaced it on the ribbon. The
result of the incident was that jewelry
was the only subject discussed, the
rare Indian necklace which Miss Le-
bourgeois was to wear at the Southern
ball being sent for and generally ad-
mired
The gentlemen fingered but a few
moments over the cordials and brandy
after the ladies had retired. They
soon joined them IN the library, where
coffee was served and smoking per-
mitted. AS it was Saturday night, the
little party broke up early. The Count
and Paul were driven to the formers
hotel, from which, after another bottle,
the Count sent Paul home in his car
riage.
What troubled Paul most, as he rode
along past the gas lamps, was why the
Count should have lied about never
having worn the ring before; for he
had it on when Paul encountered him
at the club.