The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1894-05-18
PASTE OR DIAMOND?

said Wyse as he pulled the ring from
bis finger and banded it to us for in
spsction. HE left it to me by his will,
and 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 I
didn't think he could have afforded or
wotld 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, re-
Joined Wyse. II know all about it, for
bought it for him myself. l had quite
little adventure on the occasion.
"Teu as the story" we cried.
"Well," said Wye, taking pull at
his cigar and settling himself back in
his chair, lit is good many years ago
now. I was playing high comedy char
acters at the old Princess, and as had
been working very hard I set off for the
south of France as soon as the season
closed. It happened that Turenne, who
had proved himself a true friend to me,
wanted good diamond for a purpose I
needn t trouble you with, and before I
set out on my travels told him that if
I met with particularly fine one at
moderate price l would buy it for him,
and he, being too busy at the time to at
tend to the matter himself, gladly con
sented. I was staying at Nice when
there came to the hotel one of those tall,
loquacious Americans who are now 30
plentiful all over Europe. There seemed
to be nothing Objectionable about the
man, except that he was vulgar and
eternally talking about the United
States.
"On the evening after his arrival
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.
4 don't know much about the busi-
ness myself, said the American. but
l'm told by good judges that thar's
about as good stone as you'll SEQ in
days round
$50 saying he drew a ring from his
finger and handed it to me, who hap
pened to sit next him. 1t was indeed a
magnificent brilliant, set in ring of q
peculiar pattern. When the lamp was
removed, it seemed to gather into itself
the light out of the semidarkness and
ghttered like bit Of broken glass in
the sunshine. What is it worth?' asked
one of the men present.
That can hardly tell you, an
ewered the American, 'seein a friend at
Suenos sent it to me direct, and had
3t ont myself. But I'm tired of 1t and
seldom wear it.
- Would you sell it?' inquired out
o. curiosity.
might, answered the American,
especially as this European trip is clean
In me out faster than expected, and
don't want to go home to Vermont
skinned as neatly as a cod. Yes, you
may have that diamond for ESQ of your
money. stranger, and dirt cheap at that,
] should say
II looked at the stone again, and the
longer 1 looked at it the more liked
u Eighty pounds was quite as much
a. my friend wished to pay for stone,
but what if could get one for him
worth e100 for es03
Will you trader he asked.
"'I am not judge of diamonds my
self, said 1, returning the stone to it's
owner. I'm afraid couldn't buy with
out taking a lapidary's opinion as to its
value
"'All right, said the American care
lessly; If you care to hev it, we can 60
round to a jewelers. in the mornin.
And II he puts lower value on the
stone than did you can hev it at the
price he names. If you like to buy.
can't say fairer than that
''The offer did indeed seem very fair
one, and went to bed that night deter
mined to secure the jewel for my friend
II the expert reported favorably on it.
Next morning the American and
strolled down to the shop of the chief
5ewe1er of the town, and when we en-
tered the place 1 first of all paid my
footing by purchasing some trifle, and
then taking the ring from the hand Of
my new acquaintance placed 1t before
the jeweler and asked him to give me
an opinion as to its value.
"A ver' fine stone, SIR said the
Frenchman. I congratulate you on the
possession Of so fine diamond
1t is not mine. 1t belongs to my
friend here.'
'Ah, If that be the case, then con-
gratulate heem, said the polite trades
fnan.
What do you suppose it is worth3'
q asked.
, =" oh, it is difficult to say said the
Ssenohman, struggling his shoulders.
Won gentleman sinks Won price NOR
for him; another sinks
Yes, but what would you give if
suu were to buy it? Would you give
1.sDo francsa'
"The ieweler did not reply for few
seconds. He popped his microscope
once more into his eye, held the ring up
30 the light, examined the setting and
feil to making elaborate calculations
With a pencil on sheet Of paper.
"'I do not often buy such large
btunes, but will give you $500 francs
fx this oHe.'
1.-THE Yankee did not reply, and the |