Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1894-05-10
A DIAMOND RING.

said Wyse as he pulled the ring IRON
his finger and handed it to us for IN
spection. "He left it to me by his
will, and l keep it in memory of one
of the best actors and one of the best
men | ever knew.
Meanwhile the ring was passing
from hand to hand, and the universal
verdict was that none of us had ever
seen a finer stone.
''Turenne was rather a wealthy
man" said one of our little circle,
"but l didn't think he could have
afforded or would have cared to spend
so much money on an ornament as
that ring must have cost.
"He wanted it for some special pur-
pose which afterward fell through,
reioined Wyse. Il know all about it,
for I bought it for him myself l had
quite little adventure on the occa-
sion"
"Tell us the story" we cried.
well, said Wyse, taking puff at
his cigar and settling himself back in
his chair, "it is a good many years
ago now. l was playing high comedy
characters at the old Princess, and as
l had been working very hard | set
off for the south of France as soon as
the season closed 1t happened that
Turenne, who had proved himself a
true friend to me, wanted good dia-
mond for purpose | needn't trouble
YOU with, and before | set out on my
travels I told him that if met with
particularly fine one at a moderate
price | would buy it for him, and he,
being too busy at the time to attend
to the matter himself, gladly consent
ed. | was staying at Nice when
there came to the hotel one Of those
tall, loquacious Americans who are
now so plentiful all over Europe.
There seemed to be nothing objection
able about the man, except that he
was vulgar and eternally talking about
the United States.
"On the evening after his arrival a
few of us happened to be sitting in the
billiard-room, and by some chance or
other the conversation turned on the
subject Of diamonds.
II don't know much about the
business myself said the American,
but I'm told by good judges that
thars about as good a stone as you Il
see in a days round.
80 saying he drew ring from his
finger and handed it to me, who hap
pened to sit next to him. 1t was in
deed magnificent brilliant, set in a
ring of a peculiar pattern. When the
lamp was removed, it seemed to gather
into itself the light out of the semi
darkness and glittered like bit of
broken glass in the sunshine. What
is it WORTH asked one of the men
present.
THAT I can hardly tell you, an
swered the American, 'seein' friend
at Buenos sent it to me direct, and |
had it cut myself. But I'm tired of
it and seldom wear it.
Would you sell it?' l inquired
out of curiosity,
II might, answered the American,
especially as this European trip is
cleanin me out faster than | expected,
and l don't want to go home to Yer
mont skinned as neatly as a cod. Yes,
YOU may have that diamond for ESQ
of your money, stranger, and dirt
cheap at that, l should say.
Il looked at the stone again, and
the longer I looked at it the more |
liked it. Eighty pounds was quite as
much as my friend wished to pay for
a stone, but what if could get one
for him worth e1OO for ESQ?
"'Will you trade?' he asked.
"'I am not a judge of diamonds
myself, said l, returning the stone to
its owner. I'm afraid couldn't buy
without taking a lapidary's opinion
as to its value
"'All right said the American
carelessly; if you care to hev it, we
can go round to jewelers. IN the
mornin'. And if he puts a lower
value on the stone than l did you can
hev it at the price he names, If you
like to buy. can't say fairer than
that.
1.-The offer did indeed seem very
fair one, and I went to bed that night
determined to secure the jewel for my
friend if the expert reported favorably
on it.
Next morning the American and
strolled down to the shop of the chic
jeweler OF the town, and when we en-