The Ordway new era., 1920-04-09
M Jane Bunker
copyrish. Tho fohbs-herriil Co

Inc HelInet, tueTeDy loSiuS uose, III
upper lip and chin; and was now In
the throes of dissolution.
CONSERVATION relgned In the castle.
broken by the sobs Of the fair Elfreda.
the shy glances of the bereaved broth
er-who would become the heir appar-
ent-nnd the wise silence of the old
kinglet.
1t was not long before a decision
was reached satisfactory to all per-
sons-except Oscar, lying in his tent
comforting himself with thoughts of
the grief of his beautiful betrothed,
whom he had never set eyes on; for
the two young people, Fritz and Ell
freda, knowing that marriage be-
tween the families was greatly to be
desired. and warmed with high sense
of duty to the fast-departing Oscar
nIitl 1t may be. a natural shrinking on
the part Of the lady from the embraces
Of a husband minus an upper lip. a
nose and chin, and plus some sixty
various and sundry other wounds and
scars to boot-hastened the ceremony
and were united by the castle priest in
the bonds of holy matrimony before
the sun rose.
Imagine the messengers feelings on
arriving at the castle and finding Os-
car. instead Of lying at peace In the
family chapel with solemn candles at
his head and his heels. making a fast
recovery by the aid of his devoted
chin and his lip!
Still, the news OF the unprecedented
marriage was tonic all around-es-
pecially to the messenger. Oscar cut
off his head and hung 1t out of the win
dow to air and then promptly got well
in a way that gave him grim satisfac-
tion and his mother considerable un-
easiness for her darling; and no soon
er was Oscar able to sit his horse than
he directed his attention and his army
against her whom he was pleased to
call "faithless" and the brother whom
he designated us ian unholy bandit"
Then did the fair lady call unto her
her own private scribe and she indited
beautiful letter in her own hired
handwriting. and In It she told the
noble warrior that the mistake was
hers-as she saw by his gloriously
SCARED face-and she took all the
blame and offered herself and her
blood as sacrifice In the appeasing of
his righteous wrath. Then she called
her most faithful maid-of-all-work and
said: Lady-in-waiting. deliver this
into thy keeping. Now fetch me my
golden goblet, lock the door and ask
no questions"
And with this attended to, Elfreda,
stationing the lady-of-all-work in the
proper attitude with the goblet In
readiness to catch her hearts blood.
plunged dagger in her bosom and
died.
The faithful lady-in-waiting obedl-
emily caught the blood as 1t fell
seven great drops. But, Oh. miracle
when she looked Into the golden goblet
what did she behold7 Seven drops,
unmixed as when they fell from the
gaping wound Of her beloved mistress
seven glorious blood-red diamondsl
But she was strictly honest. The
letter and the diamonds. still in the
golden goblet. were conveyed to Oscar
at the appointed hour. and at sunset
the two brothers united their tears
above the bier of the beautiful El-
freda.
Such was the legendary origin of the
most wonderful diamonds in the world
"A collection created by miracle; and
thenceforth. In keeping with their
mystic origin. they assumed peculiar
role in the history of nations, binding
bargains and sealing treaties Of peace
But now the later legends had en-
dowed the stones with occult powers
which were impaired to their posses
sors-the renewal of youth. wealth,
untold energy Of mind and spirit.
A century after the stones were
taken to Venice and cut and their real
glory was revealed to the world; and
at last they excited the envy of Bis
marck and came into the possession of
the emperor. grandfather to the pres
ent William. thence to William the
present.
To this legend Billy and had lis
tened with unbiinking interest. Mon
slcur told 1t In the sustained manner
of one immured to secrets of state. II
was he who broke the spell of our
silence by asking me for q glass of
water.
carried the water to him and
turned away my eyes while he held the
glass with his two hands to his lips.
"That's quite yarn" observed
Billy. blowing out cloud.
"'YarnT" questioned monsieur.
"Story-tale-narra Billy ex.
| nI,linnI 4.
monsieur Frightened and declared
"C'est une veritable historic"
"True when 1t happened" translated
Billy. "Bur what don't see is, where
you come In on the diamond deal"
"I?" said monsieur, giving me look
that asked: ''Is there anything have