The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-07-09
hut. From the :German. !: !:
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7 The famous cafe Bauer, :*.''Unter den
Linden was crowded. Elegant toilettes
and glittering uniforms were everywhere
and the air rang with peals Of laughter
and the humning of many voices.
A hilarious but exceedingly select COM
pany was gathered In the corner, which
oy time-honored custom was reserved for
diplomats and their guests, and for the
time being they were eagerly discussing
two ladies, evidently strangers, who had
invaded the sacred diplomatic territory.
1t was clear that they were mother and
daughter, and the young girl, who Was
unusually pretty, was clearly not day
over eighteen.
Lieutenant Won BradengeIs, a handsome
young officer in the uniform of an exclu-
sive regiment of the guard, whispered 70
his neighbor, a young secretary from the
Austrian Legation: '"Thoroughbreds,I tell
you, Baron, there is no doubt about that.
How would 1t be to invite them to JOIN
us?"
why, of course, we will invite" Baron
Won Felden said, ''it is no more than our
duty to distinguished strangers
All the others readily agreed, and COL
onel Count Geroisheim of the Grand Cut
rasseers, who was the oldest in the COM
pany. politely approached the older lady
and extended a hearty invitation in the
name of his distinguished cumrades.
The older lady, though apparently at
first greatly embarrassed, at last gave
way to the Counts persuasion and few
minutes afterwards the ladies seemed
perfectly at ease among the aristocra tic
company.
The head-Waiter, VINO had evidently been
watching the proceedings, judging from
his sly smile, whispered something to one
of his underl1ngs and in moment the
r. rs IF
placed in front of the two guests of
honor.
The older lady still seemed to hesitate,
but the younger smllingly started to re-
move her elegant giants de Suede. The
gaze Of the men rested adrniringly on the
long, tapering, aristocratic fingers, adorn-
ed with costly rings One ring especially
attracted their attention. 1t was in form
of a. snake of dull gold, the head being a
large diamond of unusual fire ana color.
Not one of the gentlemen present had
seen anything like it in color and form.
Prince Slatory, a scion of one Of the
Oldest and bluest- blooded families of Pol
and, could not conceal his enthusiasm,
and exclained:
"Forgive my inquisitiveness,y your Grace,
but you have on your finger a ring, the
like OF which have never seen, though /
take great pride in my knowledge of dia-
mends."
Everybody laughed, and Baron won Eel
sen cried across the table: IT hope the
ladies will forgive my friend, for when it
comes to diamonds Prince Slatory~ is like
one possessed '~~
The young girl smiled. ::
II ann exceedingly sorry. that have to
disillusion the Prince, whose enthusiasm
will probably VANISH when / tell him that
I wear this ring because it was given to
me by a very dear friend. It is of no
value, except for the gold in it, the stone
being only Bohemian glass, very finely
cut but, after all, nothing but glass.
Her words came as surprise to every
body, and the Prince. shook his head.
Your Grace he said, IT am an ex-
pert on diamonds, and asure you that I
cannot. be mistaken. Wall you oblige me
by letting me look at it close .by?'' IT,.
:. She slipped the ring, from her. finger
and handed it to the Prince, who examin-
ed It very carefully. Then he suddenly
rose from the table. -. 1. "~ r.: T, : -: ~;
IF your: Grace will leave the ring with
me tor fifteen minutes, 4 should like to
take It to my 1jeWeler, 4 who Il ives only IL
few blocks from l1ere, and who can tell
the exact value Of Sc IA. {, 8 .:z ssI
tS vi III III greatest of pleasure,
my tear Priil 81 al
VIII q only beS disap