Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1895-11-12

the aid Of many chemicals known only
| to himself
BY and by he produced perfect ruby;
but, alas! that, too, cost more than it
was worth. Could no have succeeded in
framing large one, like Mana Sahibs
ruby, which he had seen and held in his
hand, he would have been wealthy, for
the worth of stone Of that size is be-
yond estimate, but when he passed be-
yond two or three carats the action Of
the chemicals became faulty, and though
the gem looked right 1t would not de-
ceive an expert
But he did not give over the effort
Years were spent bending over his vessels
in the laboratory and toiling night and
day His sons became discouraged, all
but the youngest, Arnik, who assured
him that he would succeed.
At last strange success came to the
old man he made perfect ruby of 80
carats- In every respect it was equal 70
Mana Sahib's ruby, except that it was
not so large. lt was as hard, as brilliant
and as luminous IL would preserve all
these qualities, but only for time. At
the end Of go days-almost to the hour
lit would Of itself dissolve into gas
and few crimson particles.
Having been ruby for that period,
it would cease 10 exist The great man
could do nothing more and was so worn
out from his years of thought and labor
that one day, while at work in his shop,
no was seized with fatal faintnessL
Ny husband was alone with him. Know
ing he had but few minutes TO live,
he told Luchjid the secret, making him
promise to explain it TO his brothers,
Arnik and Parjee.
Arnik entered a few minutes before
his father died. He babe his son good
by and told him that Luchjid had tho
secret, which might be made very valu-
| able. and would let him know all about
it. So ho died.
When the body Of the old man had
been placed away in the tomb and tho
season Of mourning had passed, Arnik
and Parjee asked their elder brother for
the secret, for they saw the prospect of
great gain. Ny husband felt that TO
share with them would lessen his prof
its, and so he wisely refused TO enlight
en- them. He did we'll
Note. - Observe the complacency
with which this perfidy is dismissed by
tho beautiful woman who called herself
Mrs. Howard when in America.
The younger brothers were very an
cry and threatened the life Of my good
husband He and | therefore left India
secretly. In London Luchjid hired a
place and followed the directions his
father had left to him His success was
complete. He made three rubies Of ten
carats each and sold them for large
sum.
We hastened from London, for tho
truth was sure to become known soon.
We meant TO visit the capitals Of Eu-
rope, but we thought of dear America
The people there were longing for Us
to come TO them. The dear people ap-
preciate genius.
There was but one cause Of trouble.
Luchjid's brothers seemed TO grow an
grier and followed Us everywhere They
were wicked enough to wish TO do my
good husband harm merely because be
chose 10 keep valuable secret TO him
self
We first intended to hir9 rooms In
New York where my husband could toll
alone with his chemicals, but he was
wise. Then Arnik and Parjee might
hire skillful men who would trace him
and compel him 10 give up his secret,
or they would find it out for themselves.
In making the rubies the chemicals
give off All overpowering odor, TO which
my husband and | had become accus-
toned. The odor was so strange that IL
would be- sure 10 attract attention in
great city. Officers Of the law might
make inquiries, thinking we Were max
ing money unlawfully, and so discover
the truth.
| said we must find secluded place
in the country among the simple folk,
who had no curiosity, and where We
could be on our guard against approach
from any direction. We found such
place and removed thither
But we were greatly in fear Of those
bad men, who were somewhere in New
York. They were evil enough to hire
others TO watch and follow us. So we
took all precautions we could, my hus-
band and | not recognizing each other
In leaving the city until We reached the
country town near which We made our
home part OF the time.
My husband staid at tho Astor House
when in New York because it was con-
venient to Maiden lane, the home of
most of the great jewellers | went to a
hotel farther up town, both Of Us using
our American names, because We were
not afraid to appear openly and honest
ly before the public.
Luchjid succeeded in making the fin
est ruby of all in the workshop at our
country home. 1t was at my suggestion
that he called it Mana Sahib's ruby, for
nearly every one knows that that is the
greatest ruby in the world He placed
1t in the hands of jeweler named
Brown to sell for him.
On the little box in which the ruby
was placed my husband always put
mark which told him the exact age Of
the stone. Knowing that at the end OF
30 days it would decay. vanish, turn to
nothingness, he must Of necessity COM
plete its sale within that period, or he
would have nothing to sell.
After he had left the Mana Sahib
ruby with Mr. Brown my husband be-
came very much frightened, believing
he had made mistake as TO its age. he
had given Mr. Brown a week in which
to sell it, but Luchjid feared 1t would
not live that long He sent me TO call
ON Mr. Brown and learn the truth.
did so. When admired the jewel
and turned it over in my hand and
looked at the box, made the dreadful
discovery that within l2 hours the ruby
would pass out Of existence. II payment
was not secured within that time or a
little more, all our calculations would
60 amiss.
Mr.. Brown is very kind hearted
man. purchased small ruby of him
to keep in his good graces, but there
was no need Of that, for he was so i'm
pressed with my appearance that he
acted very foolishly and showed that he
had fallen in love with me.
Mote by Mr. Brown. "A base libel.
There's not word Of truth in what she