The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1903-03-05

Of country was ready TO sacrifice
all for this lump Of sparkling crystal
For three years he served this SEMI
barbarian pOtentate as Jacob served
Laban. He falsified frontiers, he con-.
niyed at murders, he unjnstly con-
demned and executed & brother officer
who had the misfortune to displease
the rajah by some honest freedoms.
Lastly, at a time of great danger to his
native land, he betrayed body Of his
fellow, soldiers and suffered them to be
defeated and massacred by thousands.
In the end he had amassed magni1-
cent fortune and brought home with
him the coveted diamond
t'Years passed." continued the prince,
"and at length the diamond is acciden-
tally lost. It falls into the hands of a
simple and laborious youth, a student,
minister of God, just entering on a
career of usefulness and even distinc-
ton. Upon him also the spell is cast.
He deserts everything, his holy calling,
his studies, and fees with the gem
into foreign country. The officer has
brother, an astute, daring, unscrupu-
lous man, who learns the clergyman's
secret. What does he do? Tell his
brother? Inform the police? No. Upon
this man also the Satanic charm has
fallen. He must have the stone for
himself. At the risk of murder he
drugs the young priest and seizes the
prey. And now, by an accident which
is not important to my moral, the
Jewel is passed out of his custody into
that of another, who, terrified at what
he sees, gives it into the keeping of q
man in high station and above re-
proach.
"The officers name is Thomas Van
deleur," continued Florizel. "The stone
| is called the rajah's diamond, and'-
suddenly opening his hand-"you be,
hold it here before your eyes,"
The officer started back, with cry.
I'VE have spoken of corruption" said
the prince. ''To me this nugget of
| bright crystal is as loathsome as though
| it We're crawling with the worms of
death; it is as shocking as though it
were compacted out of innocent blood
I see it here in my hand, and know il
is shining with hell fire. l have told
you but hundredth part Of it's story
What passed in former ages, to what
crimes and treacheries it melted men OF
| yore, the imagination trembles to con
celve. For years and years it has faith.
fully served the power of hell Enough,
l say, of blood, enough of disgrace
enough of broken lives and friend
ships. All things come to an end, the
evil like the good, pestilence as we'll as
beautiful music, and rs for this dia-
mond, God forgive me if I do wrong,
but it's empire ends tonight"
The prince made sudden movement
with his hand, and the jewel, describ-
ing an arc of light, dived with splash
into the flowing river
Amen" said Florizel, with gravity
Il have slain a cockatricev'
"God pardon me!' cried the detective.
''What have you done? am a ruined
man."
Il think" returned the prince with
a smile, ''that many we'll to do people
in this city might envy you your ruin"
ALIAS, your highness!' said the off.
Ger, "and you corrupt me after allr' :.
1T seems there was no help for it,
replied Florizel. "And now let us "a
forward to the prefecture"
Not long after the marriage of Fran.
CHS ScrymgeOur and Miss Vandeleu1
was celebrated in great privacy, and
the prince acted on that occasion as
groomsman. The two Vandeleurs sur.
prised some rumor of what had hap.
pened to the diamond, and their vast
diving operations on the river Seine
are the wonder and amusement of the
IDLE. 1t is true that through some
mlscalculation they have chosen the
wrong branch of the river. AS for
the prince, that sublime person, hay.
Ing now served his term, may 20, alona
with the Arabian author, topsy turvy
into space. But If the reader insists
on more specific information I am
happy to say that a recent revolution
hurled him from the throne of 30.
hemla in consequence of his continued
absence and edifying neglect of public
business, and that his highness now
Keeps a cigar store in Rupert street
much frequented by other foreign refu.
gees. l go there from time to time tc
smoke and have chat, and find him as
great creature as in the days Of his
prosperity. He has an Olympian air
behind the counter, and, although a
sedentary life is beginning to tell upon
his waistcoat, he is probably, take him
for all In all, the handsomest tobacco.
mist in London. p
THE END, .-~@
Valued His ODini0n IIfrhlx