The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-02-26
N Jane Bunker


CONSERVATION reignsd in the castle.
broken by the sobs OF the fair Elfreda. |
the shy glapoes OF the bereaved broth !
er-who would become the heir appar.
ent-and the wise silence OF the old |
kingiet.
Il was not long before a decision
was reached satisfactory 70 all per
sons-except Oscar. lying In his tent
comforting himself with thoughts OF
the gries OF his beautiful betruthed.
whom h, had never set eyes on /: for
the two young people. Fritz and FL
freda. knowing that a marriage be-
tween fbs families was greatly n be
desired and warmed with s.sh sense
OF duty q the fast-departing Oscar
ami 4 may be. natural shrinking on
the part of the lady from the embraces
Of a husband minus On upper lio. 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 hcly 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 o fast
recovery by the aid OF his devoted
mother in spite Of his nose and his
chin and his llpi
Sun. the news Of the unprecedented
marriaEr was a tonic all around-es-
pecially 70 the messenger. Oscar cut
of his head and hung Il out OF the win
dow to air and then promptly got well
in 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 hts army
against her whom he was pleased 10
call "falthless- and the brother whom
he designated as "sn unholy bandit"
Then did the fair lady call unto her
her own priva3e scribe and she indited
a beautiful letter In her own hired
handwriting. and In IL 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-o fall-work and
said: "Lady-in-waiting. / deliver this
into thy keeping. Now fetch me my
golden goblet, lock the door aud ask
no questions"
And with this attended to. Elfreds.
stationing the lady-of-all-work in the
proper attitude with the goblet in
readiness 10 catch her hearts blood,
plunged a dagger In her bosom and
died.
The faithful lady-in-waiting obedi-
entity caught the blood as II fell
seven great drops. But. Oh. miracle
when she looked into the golden goblet
what did she behold? 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 10 Oscar
at the appointed hour, and at sunset
/ the two brothers united their tears
above the bier of the beautiful FL
/ 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 a peculiar
role in the history OF nations. binding
bergains 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 iegeni Billy and I had lis
tened with unbllnking interest. Mon
sieur told II 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 a glass OF
/ water.
l 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 a cloud.
"Yarnr" questioned monsieur.
"Story-taie-narra Billy ex-
planned "Une historic" on which
monsieur frightened and declared: /:
"Cest une veritable historic"
True when II happened" translated
Billy. "But what don't see Is. where
you come In on the diamond deal"
1T" said monsieur. giving me look
that asked: rs there anything have
not beautifully sxplsinedr'