Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1895-11-09
THE LOST EARRINGS.

THE LUST EAk.klNGS.
It was In the palmiest days Of the
Second Empire. 1t was an evening In
midwlnter. The Paris season was at
Its height, and brilliant audience had
assembled ut the Theater Francois to
witness the performance Of Jules san
deau's delightful play, "Mademoiselle
de Ia Seigliere."
The empress was present, graceful
and beautiful; the emperor at her side,
wrapped In his favorite air Of gloomy
abstraction, whicA. like Lord Burleigh's
celebrated nod, was supposed to mean
90 much, yet which, viewed by the I'M
partial light Of subsequent veraclous
history. seems to have signlfled 30 lit.
tie. Several officers In glittering uni
forms were In attendance, sparkling
with decorations showered upon them
by grateful sovereign; and among
these gallant warriors, conspicuous by
reason Of his attire. was Q solitary,
humble, black.coatcd civilian, In ordi.
nary evening dress, with the inevitable
speck Of red at his buttonholc.
In q box almost Immediately opposite
that occupied by their imperial ma
jesties was young and exceedingly
handsome Russian lady, Countess Ivan
on, concerning whose manifold graces
and destinations the great world Of
Paris elected to interest itself consid.
erably at this period.
The beauty and the wit Of this fair
northern cnchantress were the theme
Of every masculine tongue, and her
magnificent diamonds the envy and i'd
miration Of all feminine behOlders. Tho
countess was accompanied by her hus.
band. man Of distinguished appear.
ance.
The curtain fell after the first act.
The emperor and empress withdrew
during the entr'actc. Many humber
mortals followed their example; among
them Count Ivanoff, apparently In no.
wise disturbed by the fact that the
golden youth In the stalls were bringing
. small battery Of opera glasses to bear
upon the dazzling charms Of his beauti.
ful wife.
The countess leaned back In her lux.
urious fauteuil. tanning herself, Sc.
renely Indifferent to the interest she
was exciting. In the dim light Of her
curtain.shaded box, the glitter Of her
splendid diamonds seemed to form q
sort Of luminous halo round her grace.
full head; myriad starry brilliants
cleaned among the masses Of her gold.
brown hair; and two priceless stones
dashed and twlnkled like twin planets
In her little shell.tinted ears.
Tho count had been gone but few
minutes, when there was gentle knock
at the door; and, In answer to the coun.
tess "Entrez," the ouvreuse appeared.
and said deferentially:
pardon, Nine. Ia Comtesse; o gen.
&lcman charged with message from
her majesty the empress waits In the
corridor, and desires to know II mad.
anne will have the goodness to receive
him."
"Certainly! Enter, beg Of you. mon.
sieur." replied the countess, as she rec.
ognixed the distinguished looking civil.
ian she had already noticed In close
proximity to the emperor In the impe.
rial box.
The visitor advanced q few steps,
and, still standing In deep shadow,
said. with grave dignity:
II trust my intrusion may be par.
doned. 1 am desired by her majesty
to ask favor Of Nine. Ia Comtesse. and.
at the same time, to beg that she will
have the goodness to excuse o some
what unusual request"
1.-THE obligation will be mine II can
fulfill even the least Of her majesty's
Wishes" answered the countess.
"The case 10 this" explained the gen.
tleman. IAN argument has arisen con.
corning the size Of the diamonds In
your earrings and those Of the Countess
Woronzoff. The empress begs that you
will intrust one Of your pendants ia
her care for few moments, as the only
satisfactory method of disposing Of the
vexed question. I will myself return I,
the instant her majesty gives 1t back
Into my keeping"
"with the greatest pleasure" agreed
tuc COuutcoos uct0Suih6 tue pTCCiOue
Jewel forthwith, and depositing 1t, with
out misgiving, In the outstretched palm
of the imperial messenger. The coun
tess bestowed a smile and gracious bow
OF dismissal upon her majesty's dlstin
guished ambassador, who responded
by profoundly respectful inclination
as he made his exit.
Shortly afterward Count Ivanoff re-
turned. II have been talking to Du
mont" he remarked, as he seated him
self. "Clever fellow, Dumont. l am
not surprised at the emperor's PARTIAL
ty for him; he must ind him useful
when he Is In want Of an idea"
"Who Is Dumont?" inquired the coun
tess. with languid interest.
"That Ia rather o difficult question,
replied the count, smiling; "there arr
several editions Of his biographical
different, probably none Of them true
Look, he has just entered the emperor
box-the man In the black coat"
us that N. Dumont?" exclaimed thu
countess; III 30, he has been here Will,
you were away. He came on the par
OF the empress. and carried OF one o.
my earrings, which her majesty wisAet