The Delta independent., 1911-11-03

a sky pink and gray with daybreak,
trying to solve her real feelings In
regard to the recovery of the Mahara
nee diamond. She was in the midst
of her meditation when she heard the
faint ringing of bell at the other end
of her big house. In a little while,
a footman raped on the door of her
boudoir. 1t awakened her maid, and
the girl, her eyes swollen with sleep,
approached the widow with a card
bearing no name. but inscribed with
the message:
at is important that be permitted
to see you at once"
At such an hour? Mrs. Missioner
was astonished by the request. Who
could her early visitor be? Surely no
one in her own circle of acquaintance
would venture upon such liberty. II
1t were a question of life or death,
there was still the telephone. Secre
cy was indicated by the attempt of
the person to see her face to face
Haste breathed in every word of the
scholarly scrawl. Mrs. Missioner was
not Unconventional but the request
for an interview at that time of day
a time of night-was beyond the scope
Of even her liberal views. However
curiosity conquered. as 1t has been do
ing in the cases of women, jewels, and
apples since the world began. and she
informed her maid she would see the
visitor in the library.
She controlled her eagerness for
understanding of the request. never.
theless, so well that when in a leisure.
~ way she reached the big room on
the main floor. the visitor was already
within it. He stood at window look
ing into a street and shielding him.
self behind a curtain from chance
glances AS his head was bare, 1t was
not until the second glance that she
recognized the Swami. She was not
only astonished. but startled by the
recognition. What could this mysteri
her? What could possibly be the OBJ
ject OF his visit to her home at such
an hour? He was an old acquaint
ance in a sense. but one Mrs Mis-.
sioner had not cultivated in this part
of the world.
He waited until she was close to
the hearthrug before he turned. and
said with a profound bow:
Madam. my intrusion is excused
by the fact that I can restore your
Jewels"
rs 1t possibie," she exclaimed
at is more than possible. 1t is
fact accomplished" he answered
Taking from an inner pocket a pack.
age IN silk tissue. he extended 1t
toward her with the words:
You will find in this parcel. madam,
all the diamonds of your necklace,
with the exception of the largest
the Maharanee"
But the big diamond of the whole
necklace-the Maharanee!" cried Mrs.
Missioner. How did you find these
and not find that?"
81 have not said that did not re-
cover It," said the Swami ION the
contrary, I confess to you that I
gained possession OF the Mabaranee
at the time when l got these; but It
must not. cannot, be restored to you"
81 am grateful for what you have
DONE" the widow said gently; but I
am unable to understand your atti-
tude in regard to the missing stone.
Why should l not have that, too7 1t
is mine"
Madam" said the Oriental, In the
courtliest way, 81 would not for the
world say anything to disturb your
faith in your husband. There is no
need Of doing 80. Your faith is war.
ranted. Mr.. Missioner. when he said
that. thought he was telling the truth
Unfortunately for you. as well as for
many others. he was not speaking the
truth. The renegade who sold that
Jewel to your husband did not buy It
from a Maharanee. He did not buy 1t
from anyone. He stole it,"
stole it," the widow cried. with
little wall in her voice. "Impossible!"
Pardon me once more. madam. 1t
is SO far from being impossible that
It is the strict truth. Nor was the
theft the only crime of which the man
was guilty. In stealing that jewel, he
committed a dreadful sacrilege."
Mrs. Missioner was SO overcome by
her emotions that she was obliged, in
spite of her intention, to sit down,
and therefore to extend to her visitor
an invitation to be seated also. before
she could get herself well enough in
hand to follow the Swami's narrative
calmly.
THAT diamond" continued the sage,
once blazed in the forehead OF tho
great Buddha. in the Temple of Delhi.
1t was revered by thousands, hundreds
OF thousands. by millions. as the most
sacred work Of the god; for tradition
says 1t was the undisputed property
of Buddha himself when he walked
the earth in his latest incarnation"
Mrs. Missioners lips were parted.
Her eyes were flxed upon the Orien.