The morning call., 1892-03-24
TROUBLE CAUSED BY A GEM.

"EhY' said Uncle VenabIe. you
want-to-get-marred
"If Won don't mind, sir" said Verbena.
dropping her pretty head, while blush like
the lining of pink sea she'll crept over her
face.
"Bat what nonsense that is" said Mr..
Venalle. shutting his cabinet drawers.
leaning back in his chair and looking at
Verbeua with eyes like gimlets. b" Who is
the young man?
Please, uncle, it's Fritz" whispered Yer
bena, half inclined to run away and hide
herself.
FRITZ roared Mr.. yenable. That
farmer fellow?'
He's a farmer" admitted Verbena,
but he owns his own farm. sir, and his
mother is very anxious for me 10 come
there, because"
"Ob. can imagine thatv' said Mr.. Ven
able with sneeT You, a Nena0le, talk-
ing ab0nt marrying farmer gu, the
heircss Of the MalmaiS0n emerald 0nr
that might take any part in society that you
wish when once the value OF the gem IS
known, TO talk Of allying yourself To CLOG
hopper like that, who doesn't know an opal
from moOnStone!
Verbena burst into tears.
HE isn't clodhopper," said she. And
| wish there wasn't any such thing as tue
MalmaisOn emerald"
Mir. Venable transfixed his niece through
his spectaces with glare that might have
paralyzed her.
Silence missv said he do you know
it is on the reputation of the Mamaison
emerald that the ' ENABLES Will go down TO
fame? The Empress josephine"
Il don't care for the Empress Josephine,
said VerbeHa, who. having drawn the
sword, was now minded 10 cast the sc3b-
bard away. And Pm not particular about
fame. and don't suppose l shall be Yen-
able forever"
This sort Of talk wont do. Verhena."
said the old gentleman, S0iemnly. where
would society lie if every one refused to
bear the responsibilities and shoulder the
cares of his station? YOu are not merely
my niece, Verbena. You are the represent
ative-the last surviving representauve-of
the Nenabes. To you in my will is left the
guardianship of the Malmaison emerald"
"Pm sick OF hearing Of II, yehemently
protested NeTbena.
And" went on Mr.. Nenable, Il desire
you 10 give up al idea of marrying this
young man. It's entirely out OF the ques-
ti0n-enurely."
H.
But what is this about the MalmaisOn
emerald?" asked Fritz Elc0mbe, in a be-
wildered way, when he found Ferbena cry
ing by the sitting-roOm window 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 MaimaSon
emerald ~
That's my meaning exactly admitted
Fritz. DO consider in my behalf that I've
OQ!y been here year, and have much still
TO learn"
well, listen" said yerbena, half crying,
hoTf atft'- a 20 mo Of
"Oh. it is, is it,"
"Aad it used to belong to the Empress
Josephine"
Did il, indeed9"
And she wore it in those days at Nal
mai>on-
"Hence the name ell %
Il supposeso. And Queen Hortense gave
il 70 some one who sold II TO somebody else,
and It was finally given TO one Of the Fena-
bles. who was a surgeon in tile English
army. by dying officer out in HjRGostan.
10 whom he had been able to tender kind
Offices; and 81 it has come down to Us. 1t
REALLY IS a wonderful stone"
Il should suppose so, politely incredu-
lous.
They say" went on Yerbena that
when uncle kept it in tie little iron safe let
into the guest chamber wall whoever slept
there used to dream Of a beautiful, sad
faced lady, who walked up and down in a
marble terrace under the trees, and wrung
her hands. That was Empress Josephine,
of course"
"Of course" still more increduodsly.
" And my uncle declares that the color in
the stone IS always dim and turbid when
tie anniversary cf the poor ladY'S death
comes around" further added Verbena.
Yes, that IS exceedingly probable" dryly
observes Mr.. Ec0mbe.
My uncle has been offered a great deal
of money for the gem" said Verbena with
sigh, and wish TO goodness he'd sell it.
But he won't. And what is worse. he wants
me TO marry hateful. specialized little old
man In New York, who, next to himself, is
the best judge of Jewels in New York, and
who owns a green ruby which is a dead
match to Uncle FenabIe's unset emerald.
He calls IL an archaeological alliance"
well, l should think il partook some
what OF that nature" said Fritz, thought
fully.
''He is going up TO New York to-morro "
TO lapidarieS convention" said Verbena.
And suppose he will bring Mr.. Twistle-
ton back with him. Oh, Fritz!
Don't be alarmed, hearts dearest" said
Fritz. eonsolngly, encrcling her waist with
his arm. The only way in which we can
guard against this complication Of ills is
Yes, Fritz?"
gone"
'Oh, FRITZ l wouldn't dare openly defy
him ke that He has been very good e
me-" futtered Verbena.
I'm be good to you, too, my darling"
Nonsense. Fritz! You're spelling NIX
hair. Do stop. FRITZ" protested the girl.
Then promise me, Verbena."
mo, I'll promise nothing"