Fair play., 1920-01-03
Jane Bunker
copyriaht The robbs.h .herrill Co

| CONSERVATION reigned 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-and 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 El.
| 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
anti it may be, natural shrinking on
the part of the lady from the embraces
Of husband minus an upper lip, a
nose and q 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 fast
recovery by the aid Of his devoted
mother in spite of HIS nose and his
chin and his lip!
Stlll, the news of the unpremeditated
marriage was a tonic all around-es-
pecially 70 the messenger. Oscar cut
off his head and hung it out Of the win
dow to air and then promptly got well
in q way that gave him grim satisfac-
tion and his mother considerable IN
easness 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 10
call "faithless" and the brother whom
he designated as "an 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 II 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
I blood as a sacrifice in the appeasing Of
his righteous wrath. Then she called
; her most faithful maid-of-all-work and
said: "Lady-in-waiting, I deliver this
Y into thy keeping. Now fetch me my
= golden goblet, lock the door and ask
5 no questions"
5 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 a dagger in her bosom and
r died.
!. The faithful lady-in-waiting obedi-
j emily caught the blood as it fell
0 seven great drops. But, Oh, miracle
0 when she looked into the golden goblet
= what did she behold? Seven drops,
$ unmixed as when they fell from the
S gaping wound of her beloved mistress
n seven glorious blood-red diamonds!
n But she was strictly honest. The
r letter and the diamonds still in the
n golden goblet. were conveyed to Oscar
y at the appointed hour, and at sunset
t, the two brothers united their tears
above the bier of the beautiful FL.
: freda.
e Such was the legendary origin Of the
4; most wonderful diamonds in the world
f IA collection created by miracle; and
e thenceforth, in keeping with theii
S mystic origin, they assumed a peculiar
e role in the history of nations, binding
bargains and sealing treaties of peace
pnf lnt hoH
n dowed the stones with occult power!
" which were impaired to their posses
II sors-the renewal of youth, wealth
n untold energy of mind and spirit.
v A century after the stones were
X taken to Venice and cut and their rea
10 glory was revealed to the world; anC
at last they excited the envy of Bis
IS marck and came into the possession o
ir the emperor. grandfather to the pres
n ent William, thence to William tn,
a. present
lg To this legend Billy and had lis
Is tened with unblinking interest. Mon
T. sieur told 1t in the sustained manne
TO of one immured to secrets of state.
is was he who broke the spell Of ou
ir silence by asking me for glass O
water.
er carried the water to him an
IN turned away my eyes while he held tn
glass with his two hands to his lips.
e. THAT'S quite yarn" observe
a. Billy, blowing out cloud.
ul "YarnT" questioned monsieur.
re ry--tale-narrative." Billy e,
ne planned. "Une historic" on whic
to monsieur frightened and declared
"C'est une veritable historic"
ed ''rrue when 1t happened" translate
'e, Billy. "But what don't see is, wher
IS you come in on the diamond DEAL"
he "I?" said monsieur, giving me a loo
- that asked: "Is there anything ha,
gh not beautifully explainedT