The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-06-07
HER JEWELS.

patiently waiting for tho quarantine OIL
GERS TO finish inspecting tho ship.
They were tired Of tho sca and were
anxious to seek more comfortable quarters
In tho city.
Madame was tho only passenger who
did not fret aud worry over the delay. Sbo
was seated on deck, where sho had good
view OF Rio.
She was TO sing at the opera house that
night, and her managers agent had en-
gagged for her I'm advance suit Of rooms
at the best hotel.
60 madame waited patiently and laugh
ed and jestcd with tho young men who
had been her companions on the voyage
and who had sought her for u farewell
chat.
She was q beautiful woman, this fair
French queen Of the opera. Her golden
hair, brown eyes, faultless features and
dazzling complexion made the men 60
Wild, and II was impossible TO watch her
graceful movements without discovering
that her form had that ideal perfection OF
which sculptors dream.
"A glass Of wine, Aarie," said madame
to her maid.
The young woman brought IL In mo-
ment, and her mistress leisursly slipped IL,
talking In her sparkling way to her ad-
mirers all tho white.
Just then there was an uproar at the
other end Of the steamer, and cries Of tar
ror and alarm were heard.
"a man oveSboardp'
Madame laughed when she heard the
cry; .,.
would be better TO Jump into the water
and swim ashore than stay In this floating
prison another day"
The captain Of the Victoria osme for
ward, with tho ships doctor. The faces
Of tho two wore troubled expression, and
IL was evident that they had news TO COM
municate.
Madame" said the captain, ST n my
painful duty to inform you that q terrible
accident has just occurred. Your bus-
band"--
"Mon Dieur' cried madame. "what
The captain was unable to proceed, and
"In some way your husband fell over
board" said the doctor.
"But he is good swimmer, interrupt
cd madame.
"Alas," replied the doctor, "before q
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''
"Yes, 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 nervousiy.
"Try to bear 1t bravely, madame" said
her manager In q sympathetic tone.
II cannot, cannot" sobbed madame.
II am utterly ruined. He had all my dia-
monds in q leather bag In his pocket.
They cost 800, 900, and their loss leaves
me pauper. Oh, shall 60 mad!"
Madame IL 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"
"Then am saved" madame said. with
Q half smile. IA glass Of wine, Marie"
The stimulant made her completely her-
self again. and she called her manager.
II shall sing tonight"
"Goodl" calculated the manager. "But
what will people sayP''
"Who caresp Let them attend to their
own business. If there had to be q 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 Ia the newspapers.
should feel disgraced II people pointed me
out as the widow Of q man who had been
swallowed by a shark"
II can appreciate your fealings," re-
piled the manager, "but have just heard
that sailor shot the shark only mo-
ment ago; SO there will be funeral
"Impossible!'' shouted madame. "Do
you expect me to follow dead shark as a
mourner? Where would you bury the thing?
No cemetery would receive my husband g
body with big fish for It's casket.''
"The situation Is embarrassing" admit
ted the manager, "and you are doubtless
right, but what shall we do with the
sharkr"
"Get the captain to sink It."
The manager hunted up the captain and
told him what madame had said.
At first the captain was undecided, but
finally he ordered the sailors to chain lot
Of old iron and lead to the shark, and, bur-
dened with this weight, it sank rapidly to
the bottom Of the sea.
"a glass Of wine, Marie" said madame
when she heard the managers report.
The quarantine and custom house OFF,
oers occupied the next two hours, and then
madame and her baggage were permitted
to land.
That night the opera house was crowd
ed, and tho famous French singer was ut
her best The audience was wild with en-
thusiasm and everybody raved over ma
DANES beauty, her voice, her costume and
her diamonds.
"If your husband had only lived to en-
JOY your triumph tonight" said the man
ager after the performance.
"Tho dear, good man." murmured ma
dame ~ shall never forget his kindness
in thinking of my diamonds before no fell
overheard, and let me thank you again for
attending to my wishes. 1t would have
made me too ridiculous, you know, II I
had put on black dress and veil and fol-
lowed big, ugly fish to q funeral"
II agree with you, responded the man.
lger. But can serve you In any way
howl"
eyes; tell Marie to bring mo glass Of