The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-21
HER JEWELS i.

The passengers on the British mail
steamer Victoria In Rio harbor were I'm
4 patiently waiting for the quarantine OIL
GERS to finish inspecting the ship.
They were tired of the sea and were
anxious to sock more comfortable quarters
In the city.
Madame was the only passenger who
did not fret and worry over the delay. She
was seated on deck, where she had q 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 suit of rooms
at the best hotel.
20 madame waited patiently and laugh
ed and jcsted with tho young men who
had been hor companions on the voyage
and who hid sought her for farewell
chat.
She was beautiful woman, this fair
Frcnth queen of the opera. Her golden
hair, brown eyes, faultless features and
dazzling complexion mado the men go
wild, and IL was impossible to watch her
graceful movements without discovering
that Ler form had that ideal perfection Of
which scnlptors dream.
"a glass of wine, Marie" said madame
to her maid.
The young woman brought 1t In mo.
ment,a her mistress leisurely slipped 1t,
talking in her sparkling way to her ad-
mirers all the white.
| Just then there was an uproar at the
other end Of the steamer, and cries of ter
ror and alarm were heard.
"a man overboardp'
Madame laughed when she heard the
| cry.
Fortunate fellowl" she exclaimed. at
would be better to jump into the water
and swim ashore than stay in this floating
prison another day."
The captain of the Victoria came for
ward, with the ships doctor. The faces
of the two wore troubled expression, and
1t was evident that they had news to COM
municate.
Madame" said the captain, ait is my
painful duty to inform you that terrible
accident has just occurred. Your hus-
band"-
"Mon Dieu" cried madame. "What
has happened to him?"
The captain was unable to proceed, and |
tears stood in his eyes,
In some way your husband fell over
board" said the doctor.
but he is good swimmer, 4" interrupt
ed madame.
"Alas," replied the doctor, "before o
boat could be lowered the man eating
shark which has followed us for the past
two days seized and dragged him down."
Mercy" screamed the Mortified wom-
an. do you mean to say my husband is
deadf'
EYES, Dead" answered the captain,
swallowed by shark"
Madame leaned back in her chair, but
she had not tainted, as the bystanders at
first supposed.
Her eyes had peculiar stare, and her
hands moved neryously.
Try to bear it bravoly, madame" said
her manager in sympathetic tone.
II cannot, cannot" sobbed madame
II am utterly ruined. He had all my dia-
monds In leather bag in his pocket
They cost 100000, and their loss leaves
me- pauper. Oh, shall go madl''
Madame Is mistaken" said the maid,
drawing the leather bag from her bosom.
Monsieur gave me the diamonds an hour
ago and asked me to hide them until after
the custom house officers left the ship"
"Ihen am saved" madame said, with
half smile. IA glass of wine, Marie"
The stimulant made her completely her.
self again, and she called her manager.
II shall sing tonight"
"GoodW calculated the manager. "But
what will people saya"
who caresP Let them attend to their
own business If there had to be d fu-
neral, it would be different, but this affair
is SO peculiar that do not feel like wear
Ing mourning. The less said about it the
better, especially in the newspapers.
should feel disgraced II people pointed me
out as the widow of o man who had been
swallowed by shark"
II can appreciate your feelings" re-
Piled the manager, "but have just heard
that sailor shot the shark only mo-
ment ago; so there will be funeral"
"1mpossiblep' shouted madame. "Do
you expect me to follow dead shark as a
nournerP Where would you bury the thingP
No cemetery would receive my husbands
body with big fish for its casket.'
The situation is embarrassing, admit ,
ed the manager, "and you are doubtless
light, but what shall we do with the :
bark p' .
Get the captain to sink it,"
The manager hunted up the captain and
old him what madame had said
AT first the captain was undecided, but
nally he ordered the sailors to chain lot Z
old iron and lead to the shark, and, bur-
ened with this weight, 1t sank rapidly to
DO bottom of the sea.
:" A glass of wine, Marie" said madame :.
hen she heard the managers report. il
The quarantine and custom house off
ers occupied the next two hours, and then I,
ladame and her baggage were permitted
, land NJ
huf MI 1ho }
|, and the famous French singer was at
Or best. The audience was wild with en- l.
'usiasm and everybody raved over ma
lme's beauty, her voice, her costume and
IT diamonds. -
"lf your husband had only lived to en- n
y your triumph tonight" said the man NJ
er after tho performance. IN
'Ihe dear, good man" murmured ma
me. II shall never forget his kindness
thinking of my diamonds before he fell su
erboard, and let me thank you again for mi
tending to my wishes. 1t would have I'M
ide me too ridiculous, you know, If I gr
d put on black dress and veil and fol- mf
we'd big, ugly fish to funeral" l
. agree with you" responded the man in,
81. But can serve you in any way ist
VIZ ns
Yes; tell Marie to bring me glass Of en-,
me-"
Later that night the manager laughed
I'D in the solitude of his room at the
tel.
'Hurrah for madame!" he cried, clap M
q his hands together. "Whata womanl
at IA womanP'-Wallace p. Reed in At
ia Constitution. II
at
No Law Point. .g