The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1912-02-06
womah's foveIIness7

dow In her boudolr and sat gazing into
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 ond
OF her big house. In little while
n footman raped on the door Of her
boudoir. It 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:
ut 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 acquaintances
would venture upon such liberty. If
It we're 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
net ultraconventional, but the request
for on Interview at that time Of day
nm hour that almost might be called
time of nlght-was beyond the scope
of even her liberal views. However
curiosity conquered. rs It has been do
| ing in the cases Of women. Jewels, and
apples since the world began and she
informed her maid she would sec the
visitor in the library.
She controlled her eaGernoss for
understanding Of the request. never.
theless, so well .hat wton in a leisure
ly way she reached the big room on
the main floor, the visitor was already
within Il. He stood az n window look
ing into a street and shielding him
self behind a curtain from chance
glances. AS his head was bare. it was
not until tho second glance that che
recognized the Swami She was not
only astonisheG. but startled by the
recognition. What could this mysteri.
GUS student Of the occult want with
her? What could possibly be tho 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-
sionSr 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"
"Is it posslble!" she exclaimed.
at is more than possible. 1t Is a
fact accomplished" he answered
Taking from an inner pocket n pack
age in silk tissue, he extended IL
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 Che whole
necklace-the Maharanoe!" cried Mrs.
Missioner How did you find these
and not find that?"
al have not said that did not re-
cover It," said the Swami "On the
contrary, confess to you that I
gained possession OF the Maharanee
at the time when ! got these; but It
must not, cannot, b. restored 90 you"
81 am grateful for what you have
done" the widow said gently; "but
am unable 20 understand your atti.
tude In regard 10 the missing stone
Why should / not have that too? It
is mine"
Madam" said the Oriental, in tho
courtliest way, 81 would not for the
world say anything to disturb your
faith in your husband. There Is no
need Of doing so, 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. no was not speaking the
truth. The renegade who sold that
Jewel 20 your husband did not buy It
from Maharanee. He did not buy It
from anyone. He stole III"
Stole IT." the widow cried, with a
little wall in her voice. "Impossible!"
Pardon me once more. madam. II
is so far from being impossible that
II is the strict truth. Nor was tho
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 we'll enough in
hand TO follow the Swami's narrative
| calmly.
THAT diamond" continued the sage.
once blazed in the forehead Of the
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 II was the undlsputed property
OF Buddha himself when he walked
the earth In his latest incarnation"
Mrs. Missioner's lips were parted.
Her eyes We're fixed upon the Oren-
tails in the intensity Of her interest.
"One night" the sage went on,
when band OF militant priests as.
signed TO guard the shrine OF Buddha
| In the great Delhi temple relaxed its