Asheville daily citizen., 1894-12-22
HER DIAMONDS.

The passengers on the British mail
steamer Victoria in Rio harbor were i'm
patiently waiting for tho quarantine Off
GERS to finish inspecting tho ship.
They We're tired of the sea and were
anxious to seek more comfortable quarters
in the city.
Madame was the only passenger who
did not fret and worry over tho 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
cd and jestcd with the young men who
had been her companions on tho voyage,
and who had sought her for a farewell
chat.
She was beautiful woman, this fair
French queen Of the opera. Her golden
hair, brown eyes, faultlcss features and
dazzling complexion mado tho men go
wild, and 1t was impossible to watch her
graceful movements without discovering
that her form had that ideal perfection Of
which sculptors dream.
"A glass of wine, Maric," said ma
dame to her maid
The young woman brought it In mo-
ment, and her mistress leisurcly slipped 1t,
talking in her sparkling way to her nd
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 ovcrboard!'
Madame laughed when she heard the
cry.
Fortunate fellow, she exclaimed. 1T
would be better to jump into tho water
and swim ashore than stay In this floating
prison another day"
The captain of the Victoria came for
ward, with the ships doctor Tho faces
of the two wore troubled expression,
and it was evident that they had news to
communicate.
Madame, " said the captain, "it Is my
painful duty to inform you that terrible
accident has just occurred. Your hus-
band
"Mon Dicu" cried madame. "What has
happened to him.
The captain was unable to proceed, and
tears stood in his eyes.
"ln some way your husband fell over
board" said the doctor.
But he Is good swimmer" inter-
rupted madame.
Alas" replied tho 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" scr amcd tho Mortified wom-
an. "Do you mean to say my husband is
dcad'"
"Yes, Dead" answered the captain,
swallowed by q shark"
Madame leaned back In her chair but
she had not tainted, Us the bystanders ut
first supposed.
Her eyes had u peculiar stare, and her
hands move nervously.
Try to bare 1t bravely, madame" said
her manager In sympathetic tone.
II cannot, ! cannot, sobbcd madame.
Il am utterly ruined. He had all my dia-
monds In u leather bag In his pocket.
They cost 800, 900, and their loss leaves
me n pauper. Oh, shall go mad"
Madame Is mistaken" said the maid,
drawing the leather bag from her bosom.
"Mon,ieur gave me the diamonds an hour
ago and asked me to hide them until after
the custom house officers left the ship"
"rhen am saved" madame said, with
% half smile. "A glass Of wine, Marie"
Tho stimulant made her completely her
self again. and she called her manager.
Il shall sing tonight"
Good calculated the manager. But
what will people sayi'
who carcsi Let them attend to their
own business. II there had to be funeral,
1t would bc different, but this affair Is so
peculiar that do not feel like wearing
mourning The less said about 1t the bet
ter, especially in the newspapers. should
feel disgraccd II people pointed mo out us
the widow Of man who had been swal-
lowed by shark"
II can appreciate your feelings, replied
the manager, but have Just heard that
q sailor shot the shark only n moment ago,
SO there will be funeral"
"Impossiblo!" shouted madame. "Dc
you expect mo to follow dead shark as a
mourner' Where would you bury the
things No cemetery would receive my
husbands body with big fish for 1t.
caskct."
'The situation Is embarrassing" ad
mitted tho manager, "and you arc doubt
less right but what shall We do with tht
sharkt"
Get the captain to sink It,"
The manager hunted up tho captair
and told him what madame had said.
At first tho captain was undecided, bu
finally ho ordered tho sailors to chain I
lot Of old iron and lead to the shark, ant
burdencd with this weight 1t sank rapid!
to the bottom Of the sen
"A glass of wine, Marie" said madam,
when she heard tho managers report.
Tho quarantine and custom house Off
GERS occupied the next two hours, ant
then madame and her baggage we're per
mitted to land
That night the opera house was crowd
cd, and the famous French singer was a
her best. The audience was wild with en-
thusiasm, and everybody raved over ma
danes beauty, her voice, her costume an,
her diamonds.
"If your husband had only lived to en-
Joy your triumph tonight" said the man
agcr after the performance.
Tho dear, good man." murmurc'
madame II shall never forget his kind
ness In thinking Of my diamonds befor
hc foil overheard, and lot mo thank 20,
again for attending to my wishes. I
would have mado mo too ridiculous, 20,
; know, II hnd put on black dress an
, veil and followed big, ugly fish to
funeral"
II agrcc with you, responded tho man
ager. But can serve you In any wa
nowr
} 'Ycs; tell Marie to bring mo a glass Q
wine"
Later that night the manager laughe
aloud In tho solitude Of his room at th
hotel.
"Hurrah for madnmcl" he cried. clar
ping his hands together. "What a won
AMI What omanl'-Wnllace p. Rec
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