The Somerset reporter., 1899-03-02
THE BLACK PEARL.

1.-THE heroine of my story said the
dealer in precious stones. lighting
cigarette. lis a pearl. a beautiful full
black pearl of extraordinary size and
rare luster It is difficult 10 express its
value in figures And this IL the ste1y
1t is Just about 30 years ago when
one morning 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 Instantaneous colors in one
hand she held parasol Of old. large
lowered, faded silk. Every one of her
motions betrayed the country girl Ant
salesman Of experience who had watch
ed her entrance into the store would
have thought ut once. All. she wants
a cheap plated bracelet. with the word
Souvenir engraved on it, as a memen
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 t
salesman attending to her omitted
offering her 4 seat.
The young girl, however. did n,
seem to notice this slight. and uninvit,
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
ont 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 this" she
asked in melodious voice.
The jeweler started visibly and took
the object from her hand
1t was the above mentioned pearl of
such beauty and size that he hardly
trusted his eyes. AT one place il had
barely noticeable flaw. which might
have been done by former setting
1.-The pearl has one defect. the jew
eler said
Indeed 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 hy
pccrisy
where did you get that pearf" he
asked
THAT is perhaps an irrelevant ques-
ton, she answered smilingly. "But
to give you some sort of satisfactory
answer | will say | carry on a little
pawnbroker business. out in the conn
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.
Il cannot appraise it, :" said the jew
eler, regarding it with an admiring eye
why not7 Why can You not fix its
valuef' the girl rejoined in vexed
tone.
We'll WELL g" the man said appeas-
ingly. Il 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 a moments
then. regarding the jeweler attentively.
she asked
"Can advance 2. 900 forms on itf"
"Most certainly.
"And 5, DOOR
"Also D, 900.
"And 10, 000f"
The jeweler smilingly repeated.
"And 10000.
The country beauty evidently became
feverish Precipitation 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 a 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 7
am also authorized to sell it. she
said. with certain show of suspicion,
fearful lest the jeweler was simply
hoaxing her.
Mo-
"Ah. she exclaimed. II OWNED
you were hoaxing mel
"Oh, no God forbid, the jeweler
responded evasiyely ut is simply be
cause | have no use FOX the pearl There
is only one firm in Austria that would
buy it the jeweler for the court.
Would You please furnish me with
his address p
Willingly.
He wrote the address on a piece of
paper, which he handed to her; she in
closed it in her reticule. drank the glass
Of water courteously offered by the
saesman, and. in spite of protests,
placed a 8 form piece on the counter
to pay for the appraisement and went
out.
Twenty -four hours later the same
young woman. dressed, if possible, in
more glaring suit. entered the store OF
the !@weler of the court. The suit Of
stores are situated An den Graleen, the
most fashionable street of the capital,
Vienna. | 1.-THE recitef of this occur
rence) received her. | was the princi-
pal business manager. She showed me
the pearl The attire of the woman was
out OF keeping with the v:,lue Of the
| jewel entirely
Before taking any other steps. miss.
it will be necessary for You to go with
me to the chief of police and explain in
| what manner the Dparl came int vOur