Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-01-02
TShe, Blue DIAMOND
ofIbhe~ GK4TEAU[ Of
\AANilK6R,- STEARsS

skill. Mr.. Stears supplied a name for
his elegant home by calling into use
the Breton word ker, in place Of dwell
ing, and adding his other family name.
few years ago the owner Of Ker-
Stears died, and his widow, q hand
some and a charming hostess, gave her
hand to a Breton gentleman, the Comte
de Rodellac du Porzic. They continued
to dwell In the great mansion.
The Comte and Comtesse are ia
nous for their hospitality. The most
convivial spirits are entertained there
every summer. They have as their
friends many distinguished persons,
men and women of title and people Of
distinction generally. NJ. Greger, a
Russian diplomat, and his wife, a most
engaging woman, were numbered
among their friends.
Having been left a vast fortune by
her late husband, Nine. de Rodellac,
having the universal feminine love of
jewels, acquired many gems of great
value. The most priced Of her cOllec-
ton was q magnificent blue diamond
set in q ring. Now, apart from the
enormous value Of the rare stone-a
blue diamond such as Nine. de Rodel-
laos would arouse enthusiasm any
where-this particular gem had the
additional interest of historical asso-
citation. It was one Of the Jewels in
the crown of Louis Philippe, and de-
scended to the Bourbon Due d'AumaIe.
Finally 1t passed into the hands of
Mile. Leonide lie Blanc, at whose sale
Nine. de Rodellac, then Nine. Sears,
purchased 1t for about $4,000 francs
say $4,000. It's value In the market
to-day would be much greater than
that sum.
So much for Ker- Stears and it's ia
nous blue diamond, which once adorn-
ed the crown of the King Of France.
Possessed of a magnificent home, a
kings jewel and titled husband, the
widow of the American millionaire has
not been entirely happy; at least, that
is the opinion Of one who has listened
to rumors and the tittle-tattle circulat-
ing among people of fashion.
When the widow married the Breton
Comte he was scarcely %, and she was
well, somewhat older The young
Comte de RodeIlac developed, or at
least revealed after his marriage, a
violent, brutal character. Some who
are his intimates say he is mad. Per
haps that is an exaggeratiOn, although
members Of his family have broken re
Iations with him, and he Is reported
to have once threatened the COmtesse
with a revolver. AT any rate, all has
not been we'll at the Chateau Ker-
Stears, and there has been a good deal
Of misery IN the midst Of luxurious
surroundings.
Nine. de Rodellac, regarding NJ. and
Nine. Greger in the light of conf
dants, spoke to them about her miser-
able marital existence. Having related
to her Russian friends a particularly
violent scene during which her hus-
band threatened to shoot her, she was
advised by NJ. Greger to sue for a di-
vorce. This statement, however, re-
quires affirmation. 1t is made on the
strength of the Russian diplomats as
sertiOn, but since the scandal about
the disappearance Of the ring and the
arrest of NJ. Greger for theft, Nine. de
Rodellac denies that she had been ad-
vised to seek a legal separation from
her husband.
The central figure in the drama is
NJ. Greger, at present Russian Coun-
cllor Of State, formerly Secretary Of
Embassy at Washington and at Rio de
Janeiro, and who was about to be
raised to the rank of Minister Pleni-
potentiary when the crash came.
Both the Russian diplomat and his
wife were welcome guests at Ker-
Stears. They were two of a pleasant
house party given at the chateau. On
the evening of their arrival, at dinner,
NJ. Greger is said to have expressed ad-
miration for the beautiful blue dla-
mond ring which the mistress Of the
mansion wore. With the pride Of a
collector she held forth her hand, that
her Russian guests might be enrap-
tured with the historic gem.
After dinner the guests went to the
large salon Of the castle, where Nine.
de Rodellac entertained them with an
musicale. Seating herself
at the piano, she stripped her fingers
of their jewels and removed her brace
lets. all of which she placed on a con-
yaDian+ r,{aoa Of firm i+11rn
AS the party was about to separate
for the night the Comtesse suddenly
she had forgotten to ex-
tinguish the lamps In the salon. NJ.