The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1897-07-11
HER JEWELS.

| patiently waiting for the quarantine oili'
GERS TO finish Inspecting ;GN ship.
They were tlred OF ne sea and were
anxious 20 seek more comfortable quarters
| In the city.
| Madame was tho cHly passenger who
did not fret and worry over the delay. She
was seated ON deck, where she had n 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 a suit OF rooms
at the hest hote.,
so madame waited patiently and laugh
/ ed and jeStcd with the young men who
had been her companions ON the voyage
and who had sought her for farewell
\ chat.
] She was beautiful woman, this fair
7 French queen of the opera. Her golden
hair, brown eyes. faultless features ami
dazzling complexion inado the men &C
/ wild, and it was impossible 10 watch her
I graceful movements without discovering
shat her form had that ideal perfection Of
which sculptoIs dream.
"A glass Of wine, Marie, " said madame
70 her maid.
The young woman brought IL in a mo,
ment, and her mistress leisurCly siprcd IL,
talking in her sparkling way 10 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 oyertodrL"'
Madame laughed when she heard the
cry.
t.u,.-.,...,. s,tts.,,.t ~ H. ,,,o,,{,,,., are
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
it was evident that they had news TO COM
municate.
Madame, - said the captain, ''it is my
painful duty TO inform you that a terrible
accident has just occurred. Your hus-
band"-
"Non 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" d" said the doctor.
but be is a good swimmer, " interrupt
ed madame
"Alas," replied the doctor, before
coat 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. 40 you mean TO say my husband Is
deady'
"Yes, deaL, answered the captain,
swallowed by hark
Madame leaned buck in her chair, bat
she had not tainted, as the bystanders Ot
first supposed.
Her eyes bad peculiar stare, and her
hands moved neryously.
Try to bear it bravely, madame" " said
her manager in a sympathetic tone.
~ 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 madp'
Madame Is mistaken" -aid the maid, |
drawing the leather lag 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"
"Then am saved" madame said, with |
d half smile. "A glass Of wine, Marie" /
The stimulant made her completely her |
self again. and she called her manager.
~ shall sing tonight.
"Goodr' calculated the manager. but /
what will people sayY"
"Who cares? Let them attend 10 their [
own business II there had 10 be a 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 disgraccd If people pointed me
out as the widow Of man who had been +.
swallowed by a shark"
81 can appreciate your feelings" re-
piled the manager, 'but have just heard /
that sailor shot the shark only mo
meDt ago; 50 there will be funeral"
"Impossiblep' shouted madame. "Do |
you expect me to follow dead shark as
mournerf Where would you bury the thing?
No cemetery would receive my husband
body with big fish for its casket."
1.-THE situation is EN- barrassing, admit
ted the manager, "aDd you are doubtless
right, but what shall we do with the
sharkS"
Get the captain 10 sink IT, ,"
Inc manager nunteu up the captain ana
told him what madame had said
At first the captain was undecided, but
finally he ordered the sailors TO chain lot
Of old iron ard lead to the shark, and, bur
deDed with this weight, it sank rapidly 70
the bottom Of the sea.
"a glass Of wine, Marie, - said madame
when she heard the managers report.
The quarantine and custom house Of i
GERS occupied the next two hours, and then
madame and her baggage were permitted
to land.
That night the opera house was crowd
ed, and the famous French singer was at
her best. Ihe audience was wild with ca
thusiasm and everybody rayed over ma.
DANES beauty, her voice, her costume and
her diamonds.
'If your husband had only lived u ef.
JOY your triumph tonight" " said the man
sger attcr tho performance.
The dear, good ninB, murmureG nG-
dame. II shall never forget his kindness
in thinking vi my diaiHCnus before hU i,.l
overheard, aud l,J NE thank you again Ior q
attending To my wishes. IL would have
made ne too ridiculous, you know, If /
had put Oh "a black dress ana veil and fol-
lowed big, ugly fish to d iUEeu.l."