The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1894-01-17
A BAG OF JEWELS.

The exclamation came from beneath
the heavy. dropping white mustache of
the pasha--the white General
Templeton.
Yes, general your jewelsl We
want to see them!"
The speaker was a lovely girl, quite
creole in her dusky beauty. AS she
spoke she approached the reclining SOL
der from behind and placed about his
swarthy neck pair Of arms like coll
umns of smoked ivory.
The doughty general clasped the
wrists with his sunburned hands, and
drawing the willowy creature onto his
lap as he swung in the hammock re-
piled:
IL am sorry, Verna, but l cannot
show them to you. Your mother asked
to see them yesterday. They are not
here. How did You know | had jewels,
child?"
"Oh, we heard so. And the hint was
dropped that you came by them in
very romantic way"
The snowy head of the veteran was
laid back in the hammock and his pierre
ing eyes were fixed upon the full moon,
just rising over the liquid boulevards
of Venice. 1t was perfect night. The
soundless voices of million lights, tell
ing of the great floating city's gram
deur, spoke from all sides, and then an
swered back as they danced in the rip
ping waters. Nothing else disturbed
the poetic quiet of the night but the oc-
casional splash of gondolier's sweep
and the sweet laughter of this bevy of
lovely women who were assembled up
on the portico of the Palais du Regina.
TELL us all about it, won't you, I'M
cle2 Come here, girlsi Hear General
Templeton tell US storyl'
Handsome Verna was always leader.
Directly the passengered hammock
was surrounded by half dozen as
handsome women as ever an italian
moon shone upon. The SCARED veteran
thus environed drank in the aroma of
animated femininity, smiled admiring-
ly at the several upturned faces and said:
How much this reminds me of the
very night received the jewels VeIna
wants to see and hear aboutl And prob
ably it is in association of ideas that
find a willingness to do what never did
before-relate how they came into my
possession. have an idea, ladies, that
when conclude my narrative you will
feel disappointed, but my story has
moral, and If you absorb it, and the
point of my experience is not lost upon
you, then ] will not regret having made
you my fair confessors.
II was in command of the foot forces
of his majesty, crossing a corner OF
the desert. The march was very IA
tiguing. the outlook dismal, and l must
confess, soldier as | was, | felt very
much discouraged. To add to my de-
preston had not heard from my fiancee
in some weeks, and found my mind
dwelling more anxiously upon her daily.
~ may indicate the Importance of my
mission by adding that while l was
making all possible haste to relieve
Meldon Pasha had buttoned in my
jacket the entire outline of our cam
paign, which was to deliver to Meldon
in person from the minister of war.
might came upon US as we entered
piece of palm forest. We halted and
made camp. Late in the evening SOL
der came to my tent and informed me
a lady desired to speak with me. l was
very weary and utterly alphabetically
lovesick, am ashamed to say"
The grizzled veteran looked down into
the fair faces about him as he said this,
but they were absorbed in the story and
expressed none of that hurt he imagined
they would indicate at his last remark.
''Such thing as visit from lady
In that remote locality aroused my Curl
osity, and glad to have chance to talk
with one because she was OF the same
sex as my absent love l followed the
soldier to the very outskirts OF the
camp, where found an Arabian horse
of peerless majesty, and standing beside
him Moorish girl, who SO closely re-
sembled my affianced l uttered cry OF
astonishment This seemed to delight
the little woman greatly. They have
such naive ways about them and are
such clever judges OF human nature.
She instantly exclaimed;
81 remind the pasha of some one.'
AT the same moment she motioned
me to dismiss the soldier.
II did so.
~ confess, madam said, your
resemblance to dear lady friend in
England is very pleasing to me-.
I "Then she piled her arts as only the
educated Moor can. Never suggestion,
but such languishing sweetness and in
toxicating grace and winning articles;
they are indescribable.
I'M. Pasha,' she said in purest
French, j have come to you upon an
errand Of mercy, for bring you deliv-
ersnce from this life Of deprivation.
You are a young man, and bring you
the power ana the nlca 5 - srn to
England, wed your ladylovc and live in
peace and luxury for the balance Of
your days. Seer
"She was seated upon the soft sod
beneath the high leafed palms, through
which the moonlight streamed. In her
lap she unfolded parcel, and as she
opened it beheld the most magnificent
amethysts | had ever seen. They were,
/ should say, thousand in number,
both large and small.
. Sect she repeated. These are
yours, pasha, If you will but give me
the papers you have to deliver to the
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