Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-04-15
THE
BEAUzLIEuz DIAMONDS.
THE
By Mrs HARRIET PRESCOTT SPoFFonD.
Copyright 1884, by Bachelor, Johnson &
Bachelor.

iNSfe Is s1ido,n Il lOyelicr vision
'a'.c-safcj - the world OF opera than
acl the Young Duchess Ges Sarazines
-,caGZlicux entered her box ana paused
moment. her great cloak of sables. IL
II fell, making the w:iiteac3s of he,
shoulders more white. When she turned
in her slcndcr Sta telincss, and bent to re
turn a sai2tgtion. her dress of pclcs.
primrose satin, threaded with gold, and
the sudden blaze OF her diamonds, made
the more poetical of the spectators
think of the yOung crescent moon in
The dark sky, that they had seen down
the length of some avenue before thev
entered.
AS for the diamonds she wore. they
were simply marvclous-thcir size,
their purity, their depth, their splen-
dora collar clasped about her throat,
with sunburst on the breast, and
double tillet in the hair, immense and
magnificent stones that seemed to
breathe as she breathed, and to shine
with spirit of their own. There were,
of course, none like them in the house,
and she wore them as if they were a
ribbon. "When she comes into her
box" the old Chevalier st. Malo
said, 81 see the stars rise in the sky"
There had been innumerable contes
told about those diamonds. They had
been in the possession of the Beauxlieux
since the time of theuCrusades, for all
that men knew to the contrary. The
BeauXlieux of that day had spoiled the
Saraccns of them, barbaric and half-cut
stones, one legend ran; others said that
the Beauxlieux of the time Of
Charlemagne, who had carried on the
futile negotiations for the emperor's
marriage to the byzantine Princess
Irene, had been enriched with them
before leaving the east. 1t was
certain that they had been recut and
many times reset, and it was believed
that no woman Of all that proud and
long-descended race had worn them
with the grace and beauty and
nonchalance of the present duchess.
Tall, supple, her dark skin colorless
and clear, her dark eyes like liquid
light, her features modelled in ivory, as
you might say, the waves of her black
hair carved out Of ebony, the delicate
curve of the red lips opening on q
smile that took one captive, it was
hardly a wonder that the last duke had
married her from her home in the
Bases Pyrenees, without portion.
The duke had gone down to his
estates in the islands with a couple OF
friends for some shooting. At least
that was his errand ostensiblv. In re
atty he had crossed the border TO meet
representative of the Spanish court il
some cndcavor to compose the endless
quarrels of tho hostile kinspcople Of
the royal families and bring fresh
forces to urge upon the hesitating king
at homo the necessity Of strong meas
ures. He was returning, unsuccessful
from his attempt, hoping to make the
pass before dark, when his horse went
lame Just where the road wound below
the wall of 4 single tower, much like
the solitary petitioners of Ireland
set on q shelf of the mountain spur
and looking. in the dim light, as if il
might be tenanted by bats and owls O,
by any company of brigands.
"Juste ciel!" exclaimed the duke.
1.-THE last misfortune has arrived to us
And the night coming on in the last
quarter of the moon, here in this land
of brigandage!"
II would like better, confess, to be
guest at little supper with la dame
Blandic," said the chevalier. How
goes that, Eticnne?"
"You have had little suppers and to
spare, chevaliee," was the reply.
"Harl1, what IS that?"
| twas 4 voice, a sweet fresh voice
from somewhere high in the tower, sing
ing an evening song to the Virgin, a
young girls voice it might be, as soft
and clear as the twilight itself here
among the hills, and that the echo
took and refined away to a very voice
of the air.
"Good!' said the duke. eff there are
brigands where that voice is, my purse
is at their service. Come, is there n
| gate, door, o postern, to this cnchan-
ted castlc?"
And suddenly wild alarm of baying
and believing rose, drowning the sing
ing voice, and an old man stood in the
gate with his hounds lcaping about
him, and looked at the riders question
ingly. Then bidding the dogs bcgonc,
lie asked the strangers to ride into the
paved court, dismcunt and be welcome.
'yVe arc three gentlemen OF France,
said NJ. Etienne, land one OF our horses.
as YOU see, has gone lame. Can You
give us shelter for a night, and perhaps
put us in the way of another mount to-
morrow"
my house is yours was the reply
"Take the brides, Ambrose" And an
other old man who followed him
closed and barred the gate and led
away the horses, while his master
threw open the inner door and babe his
guests enter.
As the duke glanced at the arms
carved above the great door, 1t is
Baron Rene VauX," he said, IN a
low tone to NJ. Etienne. "Hc was one
of those that went wild over the Cor
sican. / remember hearing that our
friends had stripped him of everything
and dismissed him to-"
Not so, monsieur" said the quick
cared old baron, towering over hiin'