The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-03-20
WON By LOYALTY.
THE TALE OF a DIAMOND
ROBBERY.


AT that time ] was engaged (and very
pleased TO be) to most enlgmaucal
young person. She spoke rarely and in
way always a little mysterlously,
making voluntary secrets of al hundred
little actions of life, and loving solitude
ln an alarming manner
All this was Offset by eyes so beauti-
iul, by culoriug so marvellous, by an
expression SO divine, that I had not the
courage to reflect on the singularity of
her character. j loved her. and / often
passed hours Of the night sitting before
her doorstep. simply dreaming that
she lived here and meditaling on her
presence AS does the believer on the
I did not know. i'm the first place,
whether she loved me or not, she all
ways refused TO answer that question,
referring to tine wishes of her parents
and her confidence in their wisdom. If
insisted. she generally ended 10y say
l1E that she knew nothing about 1T.
but that she falt mo antipathy toward
me. and that. according 90 her ideas,
marriage. In vain j suuplicated IN
marriage" Ia vain 1 supphcanted. in
vain 7 tzied TO animate this enigmaucal
being. she remained as distant as the
manner in which She loved as unknown
as she was dominating
one evening ass j was dreaming a lit
tle sadly of ihese things a commotion
.ras heard iu the house I returned to
the salon. where everything was i'm dis
order IIy hosts We're distressed. J4leIt
friends embarrassed and troubled, and
old Mime. Laroche horribly pale ana
trembling
What in the world mas happened2" L
asked. They explained incoherently that
Nine Is oche's diamonds We're stolen
old family diamonds OF great value All
The servants had been summoned into
an adjoining room-ir short, a formal
search was 10 be instituted. An old gem
tlemau a. Gufpe had been unanimous
ly selected 10 direct this investigation
Just as I WAS entering, and his first
proposition was that everyone should
submit or. rather. offer himself to be
searched although the thing was rath-
er offensive no one protested, and it
was decided that. after the servants,
each person present should be examined
To tell the truth, all this seemed of
small Importance beside my personal
cares, and. with several others, I await
ed The end OF the adventure. while NJ.
Cope. his Two Witnesses and our host
began the inspection of the domestics
Very soon I fell again into my medi-
taucu. MY eyes fixed on the fireplace as
though there were fire, when suddenly
4 feit a light touch on my elbow
raised my head with a start. to see my
uaucee looking q Z me most beseechingly.
we were alone near the Preside and
could talk i'm low tones without being
overheard She murmured very low;
III you love me. arrange that they
search you first. then try to be near
me and. without being seen, try to con-
zeal the object that / shall pass you
from behind"
My blood ram cold. This annoying i'm
cident became terrible. filing me with
the most passionate trouble. / looked
a- the girl i'm agony, but forced myself
10 smile. and whispered.
IN shall be as YOU wish.'
Aly knees trembled. my mouth was
hot and dry. The feeling that over
whelwed me was inexpressibie 1t was
g strange mingling Of bitterness and
pleasure. that nv loved one should be
weak 20 such "a degree 81 forced myself
IN have "a sort of disdainfu pity. and il.
reality love beat ardent. strong stern
ln ms breast. understood. in flash.
how beauty could become divine above
DaseucSs or soul. and how one could re
FDect it even in dishonor-aud a hun
dred other things i'm which were con-
FUSED -erVenI love, devotion without
limit. desire noble ana Derverse.
Jeanne mad thanked me with hardly
perccptible movement of the lips: she
stood by the wall with an air of indif-
ference and rridei
They are very long about it," she
Hala sfarnly. NJ. Cope is a man of
me thod. % someone replied. And a silence
Followed, which told more and more on
one s. nerves, for even the waiting in "A
peacefui frame Of mind finished by dis
AuFniug and emptyin. the brain, like e
pump However the moment arrived
Wnen the searching of the servants end
CO. me qQor opened. disclosing our host
~ Two Witnesses and the old gentle
NY heart beat furiously. I felt my
ser become terribly pale, but, conceal
ing my agitation and steadying my
voice, asked to be searched first
a. Coo9e smiled at what he consid-
cred the whim of q young man. and
proceeded methodically to my examina-
ton biushed. I became pale, without
anyone finding that peculiar under the
circumstances When it was over T made
Two or three steps backward and I
found myself near Jeanne. She low
cred ner ian and handed me something
win coolness that was only equaled
by my calmness in Selling the object
and placing 1t in a pocket Of my coat