The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-30
HER DIAMONDS.


They were tired OF the sea and were
anxious to seek more comfortable quarters
IN the city.
Madame vas the only passenger who
did not fret and worry over the delay. She
was seated on deck, where she had good
view of Rio.
She was to sing at the opera house that
night, and her managers agent had en-
gagged for her in advance q suit Of rooms
at the best hotel.
So madame waited patiently and laugh
ed and TESTED with the young men who
had been her companions on the voyage.
and who had sought her for q farewell
chat
She was a beautiful woman, this fair
French queen of the opera. Her golden
hair, brown eyes, fau1tless features and
de- zzling complexion made the men go
wild, and it was impossible to watch her
graceful movements without discOv ering
that her form had that ideal perfection of
which sculptors dream.
"A glass of wine, Marie, ." said ma
dame to her maid
The young woman brought it in a mo-
ment, and her mistress leisurely slipped it,
talking in her sparkling way to her ad-
mirers all the while.
just then there was an uproar at the
other END of the steamer, and cries of ter
rOr and alarm were heard.
A man overboardi''
Madame laughed when she heard the
cry
Fortunate fellow, = she exclaimed TT
would be better to jump into the water
and swim ashore than stay in this floating
prison another day"
The captain of the Victoria came for
ward, with the ships doctor. The faces
of the two wore a troubled expression,
and it was evident that they had news to
communicate
Madame, - said the captain, sit is my
painful duty to inform you THAI terrible
hos
band'-
mon Dieui'' cried madame. ''what has
happened to hims'
The captain was unable to proceed, and
tears stood in his eyes.
e In some way your husband fell over
board = said the doctor.
But he is a good swimmer inter
rupted madame.
Alas, - replied the doctor, before a
boat could be lowered the man eating
shark which has followed US for the past
two days seized him and dragged him
down. =
Mercy screamed the Mortified WON
an. Do you mean to say my husband is
dead2"
Yes, dead" answered the captain,
''swallowed by a shark
Madame leaned back in her chair, but
she had not tainted, as the bystanders at
first supposed
Her eyes had a peculiar stare, and her
hands move VIGOROUSLY
Try to bare it bravely, madame, - said
her manager In a sympathetic tone.
I cannot, I cannot, " sobbed madame.
Il am utterly ruined He had all my dia-
monds in a leather bag in his pockets
They cost 500, 600, and their loss leaves
me pauper Oh, shall go madl'
Madame is mistaken, said the maid,
drawing the leather bag from her bosom.
Monsieur gave me the diamonds an hour
ago and asked me to hide them until after
he, rms off 10 he Ghf
''Then 1 am saved, - madame said, with
a half smile. . A glass of wine, Marie -
The stimulant made her completely her
self again and she called her manager
II shall sing tonight"
tGoodr' calculated the manager. But
what will people say?'
Who caresf Let them attend to their
own business. If there had to be a funeral,
it would be different, but this affair is so
peculiar that I do not feel like wearing
mourning. The less said about it the bet
ter, especially in the newspapers I should
feel disgraced if people pointed me out as
the widow Of a man who had been swal-
lowed by a shark +"
I can appreciate your feelings, - replied
the manager, but have just heard that
a sailor shot the shark only a moment ago,
SO there will be a funeral.
.ImpossibleI' shouted madame. do
you expect me to follow q dead shark as
mourner? Where would you bury the
husbands body with a big fish for it's
casket.'
The situation is EN- barrassing ad-
mitted the manager, and you are doubt
less right, but what shall we do with the
shark?''
Get the captain to sink it. n
The manager hunted up the captain
and told him what madame had said
At first the captain was undecided, but
finally he ordered the sailors to chain a
lot of old iron and lead to the shark, and
burdened with this weight it sank rapidly
to the bottom Of the sea.
f "a glass of wine, Marie, . said madame
when she heard the managers report
The quarantine and custom house off
GERS occupied the next two hours, and
then madame and her baggage were per
mitted TO land.
That night the opera house was crowd
ed, and the famous French singer was at
her best. The audience was wild with en-
thusiasm, and everybody raved over ma
dame beauty, her voice. her costume and
her diamonds.
If your husband had only lived to en-
joy your triumph tonight, " said the man
ager after the performance.
The dear, good man, Durmured
madame shall never forget his kind
ness in thinking of my diamonds before
he fell overheard, and let me thank you
again for attending to my wishes. Tt
would have made me too ridiculous you
know, if I had put on black dress and
veil and followed a big, ugly fish to q
funeral. .
I agree with you, responded the man
ager. But can I serve you in any way
now2'
Yes; tell Marie to bring me glass Of
wine -
Later that night the Manager laughed