Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1899-04-14
THE BLACK PEARL.

"The heroine Of my story, said the
dealer in precious stones, lighting a
cigarette, sis pearl, beautiful full
black pearl of extraordinary size and
rare luster. 1t is difficult to express its
value in figures. And this is the story:
1t is just about 30 years ago when
one morning a young woman entered a
large jewelry store in Budapest. Every
inch Of her dress bespoke the back
woods; her bonnet was a composition of
glaringly disharmonious colors; in one
hand she held parasol of old, large
Powered, faded silk. Every one of her
motions betrayed the country girl Any
salesman of experience who had watch
| ed her entrance into the store would
have thought at once, "Ah, she wants
a cheap plated bracelet, with the word
Souvenir engraved on it, as memento
of this her first visit to the city" And
under ordinary circumstances he would
have been about right in his conjecture;
but this time he wasn't. She appeared
so simple and artless, in spite of her
handsome, vivacious black eyes and the
dimples in her red cheeks, that the
salesman attending to her omitted
offering her a seat.
The young girl, however, did not
seem to notice this slight and unlimited
dropped down on a small red plush
fauteuil, principally used by the noble
customers of the store. She opened the
reticule hanging on her arm and drew
out a small package carefully wrapped
in tissue paper. After she had peeled
off layer after layer of the envelope she
took out the nucleus. beckoned to the
owner of the establishment and exhibit
ed to him something she held between
her thumb and index finger.
'What is the value of thisf" she
asked in a melodious voice.
The ieweler started visibly and took
the object from her hand.
It was the above mentioned pearl, Of
such beauty and size that he hardly
trusted his eyes. At one place it had a
barely noticeable flaw, which might
have been done by former setting.
"The pearl has one defect, " the jew
eler said.
'Indeedr the stranger answered,
bending forward to inspect the small
spot.
The jeweler ''sized up the girl Her
establishment was genuine, artless. 1t
was not tinged with the shadow Of by
pocrisy.
where did you get that pcarl2' he
asked.
"That is perhaps an irrelevant ques-
ton, she answered smilingly. "But
to give you some sort of satisfactory
answer l will say carry on a little
pawnbroker business, out in the coun-
try, Inherited from my father. A noble
man desires to pawn his pearl with me-
but demands much money. Please tell
me what it is worth. and will pay for
the trouble
II cannot appraise it, 3" said the jew
eler, regarding it with an admiring eye
"Why not? Why can you not fix its
value p the girl rejoined in vexed
tone.
"Well, we'll, 4" the man said appeas-
ingly. 81 only desired to express there
by that the pearl is beyond appraise-
ment because of its great rarity. Its
value belongs among the fancy
prices.
The young girl pondered moment;
then, regarding the jeweler attentively,
she asked;
"Can advance 1000 forms on itf"
"Most certainly"
"And 5, 000T'
"Also 8, 000."
"And 10, DOOR,
The jeweler smilingly repeated.
"And 10, 900.
The country beauty evidently became
feverish. Perspiration showed in her
face, and her youthful black eyes gilt
tered with fire superior to that of the
costliest diamonds in the store. She
asked for glass of water The former
" inattentive salesman rushed to get it.
"And will you pay me 10, 900 forms
for the pearl if feel disposed to sell it
am also authorized to sell it., she
said, with certain show of suspicion,
fearful lest the jeweler was simply
hoaxing her.
NO
J ''Ah," she exclaimed, II OWNED
you were hoaxing mel"
} "Oh, mol God forbid the jeweler
responded evasively. at is simply be-
} cause have no use for the pearl There
} is only one firm in Austria that would
buy 1.-THE jeweler for the court.
; "Would you please furnish me with
his addressf"
"Willingly."
He wrote the address on piece Of
paper, which he handed to her; she in
closed it in her reticule, drank the glass
Of water courteously offered by the
salesman, and, in spite of protests,
placed a form piece ON the counter
to pay for the appraisenent and went
out
Twenty-four hours later the same
young woman, dressed if possible, in 8
more glaring suit, entered the store Of
! the jeweler of the court The suit Of
stores are situated An den Graleen, the
most fashionable street of the capital
Vienna. (the reciter of this occur
rence) received her. was the princi
/, pal business manager. She showed me
FIFf IL. 80.