The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-01-07

ends just inside the grave. 1t is
stronger than love or hate or honor;
it makes hero of coward and a
poltroon of brave man-sometimes
But the moral of this tale deals. not
with any of these things except in
directly; it concerns only this indis-
putable fact, that tomorrow is never
the day you think it is going to be.
To set the ball rolling. without
more ado or preamble: The Ponte
Necchio in Florence is, as every one
knows, devoted to jewelers. shops.
They hang On both sides of the
bridge, in blue and white and pink
stucco, mere bandboxes. You can buy
a silver bangle for "a franc or a pearl
r necklace for a hundred thousand
Last spring one shop particularly
interested me, H. Settepassi's, where
l was attracted by the loveliest emer-
aid l have ever seen. 1t was attached
to a collar of white and rose enamel,
diamond-shaped, with small brilliants
interlocking. The pendant was the
emerald, about half an inch deep.
round like, a five-franc piece or an
American silver dollar, and was pol
ished, not cut.
Below the emerald was a pink pearl
the size of large hazel nut, one side
of which was flat, as if some mis-
chievious mermaid had thumbed 1t
during some yawning period of the
oyster. Linked to this was another
polished emerald, pear-shaped. about
as large as the end of your thumb.
1 know nothing about the pearl or
the smaller emerald their adven-
lures, SO far as l am concerned, are
closed books. 1t is about the large
emerald my tale is woven.
For five mornings l stood with my
nose all but flattened against the
pane, envying and admiring.
On the fifth morning l happened to
catch, reflected in the window glass,
two serious faces, each slightly shad-
owed by the cooked hat of the Cara
binior l understood instantly From
peaceful author ambling about Italy
in search of color, l had, all in
moment, become suspicious char
acter. To stand before so rich dis
play of precious stones for five con-
secutive mornings, quite obliviGus to
the surroundings would have excited
suspicion in the mind of any con-
stable.
had to take those two chaps to
the American consulate and have my.
self properly identified.
We all had a good laugh over it.
But I shall always remember these
two Carabinieri: for had they not es-
corted me to the consulate l should
never have met the young man who
.old me the history of the Settepassi
emerald.
Even now, in my dreams some
times, I can see that pleasant young
man as he pulled off his chamois
gloves and exhibited his two hands.
frightfully notified with such scars
as only fire shall make.
The tale proper began in the spring
of 1902, began as all tragic episodes
begin, with triyialitT, in this in
stance, the bare knuekles of but
Ter on the door of his young masters
bed room, knocked gently. then quite
loudly. There was nc response.
As the issue at stake WAS VITAL as
his orders had been speremptory, he
opened the door and. entered. The
lights were stil on. The young man
in bed had forgotten to turn them off.
The butler shook his head sadly.
pressed the button to extinguish the
lights, and raised the window shades.
The occupant of the bed turned over,
but that was all.
mfr. Arthur"
No sound came from the bed; and
the servant reached down and shook
the sleeper. The sleeper presently
opened a pair of swollen eyes and
blinked. 1t took him a minute or two
q realize where he was. Then he sat
up wrathfully.
"Worden. what the dickens do you
mean by coming in and waking me
up in this fashion,"
81 beg pardon. sir, but your faith
ers orders were peremptory, had no
choice"
whats the row.
Il don't know. sir. My orders were
10 wake you up and say that it was
vital to you TO breakfast, dress and
be at the office at precisely 1880
o'clock"
1.-THE governor wants to see me at
the office"
Eyes. sir. And I should be very
careful sir. to be there on the min
ute. He was not in the best OF tenn
pers when he went down town."
IAN right. Bring me grapefruit
and cup of coffee. Well, what do
you think of that" addressing space.
since Worden was already on his
way to execute the order for break
fast.
Mr.. Arthur Cathew at the end of
a quarter of an hour had gotten as
far as his four -in- hand. He completed
the task and ste cd before the long
mirror. contemplating himself.
you must have had pippin last
night. You'll look nice in papa's Of
flee at 1890. What the devil can he
want? Did / get arrested? Let's see.
first made a call. perfectly sober.
proposed and she told me that she
wouldn't marry me il I was the last