The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1892-05-04
A String Of Pearls.


Herei is q very curious jewel story
which We are told Is authentic. On the
night other first ball little Miss B. wore
s lovely string Of pearls. belorging TO her
mother, which quite came in for their
shzreof the general admiration accorded
to the pretty debutante and her toilet.
"Yes, they are very beautiful, said Mrs.
B. n reply TO the enthusiastic comments
Of a friend, "and they have, moreover, a
very interesting history, which, as /
have lived 50 long in seclusion abroad,
you have probably never heard.
AT one time, you know, before my
husbands death, went out great deal
in London, and as my pearls, which are
really remarkable for their size and col
or. are immensely valuable, had du-
plieate string made Of Roman pearls
which wore on all ordinary occasions.
leaving my own precious stones in the
safe at home. About that time a cousin
of mine, who was an extremely pretty
girl, bat rather badly of in the way Of
worldly gear, came over from America to
stay with me, and on the occasion other
first dance l took great pleasure in see
ing thst her undoubted beauty was ad-
vanced by becoming toilet
As she had no jewels 7 cl&sped the
string Of Roman pearls around her neck,
saying, 4 vii! gi7e you these as they are
so becoming, and can easily have an
other string made If should want them,
The child was a great success, and Il the
aed of the season was married to the
Count Won s., Of the Austrian legs-
tioa, who fell in love with her pretty
face, and wooed and welded her despite
the want Of dover.
@Just before the wedding my French
maid, who had been with Us for years,
and in whom I had always had the
greatest confidence, disappeared, and
with her ny pearls. Ny loss was the
talk of5he town st the ti.. e. E1orm-
Gus rewards were offered, and both Eng
fish ard French detectives were busy
over the affair for months without, how
ever, the slightest result The disappear
ance Of such valuable jewels puzzled ey-
cry one, and the mystery was only ex-
planned q few years ago, when my eldest
daughter came ont in Paris
Count Won s. vas there with his
family, having attained 10 the rank Of
first secretary Of the legation, and on the
night Of NY Bertha's first ball my cousin, |
Mme. Won s., came over to cur apart I
nent with the identical string Of Roman /
pearls I had given her several years be-
fore. 4 have always kept them, she /
said, put away carefully, aud nOw l want /
Bertha to have them as they brought me /
such good luck
The clasp, however, appeared TO be
imperfect, and Nine. Won s. offered /
70 leave il al the jewelers. on her way /
home. 1t Is the affair Of half an hour I
she said, and they can easily be sent /
back in time for the BALI An hour lat
er the card Of q well-kn0wn jeEeler vas
brought 70 me, and wondering what he 4
wanted, I gave orders 70 have him ad-
mitted. An elderly gentleman presented i
himself. I have brought back the pearls /
myself, madame he said, bOEing re-
spectfUily. on account Of th-ir great
value I prefeIred 70 deliver them person /
ally into your oEn hands
AMUSED TO see one Of the trade so ea- |
silly deceived, I answered, And what I
should you say was their value p Not les /
than e. 600 AZ their lowest valuation be /
responded promptly I have examined I
them carefully; they are without flaw,
and are -emarkabiy perfect Ny dear, l /
nearly fzinted, for 4 Wild idea suddenly /
occurred 70 ne, What If these were the /
real pearls after all, and my clever maid /
had only taken the duplicates Well, /
the long and the short Of it Vas that /
that vas exactly shat had happened. /
Bertha wore the bona ide jewels to the /
embassy ball, and again they seemed 70 /
bring good fortune, for she Vas happily I
married 20 Lord A., whom she met /
that evening; and nov it Is little Mary's I
turn, and l have been wondering al the I
eveaing what VIII lie her faie.--Nco /
York T-r'tuls.