Year: 1879

l could give you the pedigree of the stone
but the details are so long and so many they
might tire you. Sufficient to say that 1
bought it many years ago from an old Jew
in the lower part of Broadway, who told me
curious story concerning it. He said it
was a a talisman that four hundred years
ago it was owned by a Venetian family Of
ruined fortunes, who had long guarded it
with jealous care it had passed from them
in many ways to brothers of his in the mon
ey-lending way and should be mine if l
would pay him his price for it.


In truth the stone had strange and fiery
gleam At the first glance it seemed of the
purest water ; in an instant it changed to
pink, blue and a pale green, and then ir-
ridescent opal hues, emitting sparks of
fire.


Watched it curiously for nearly an hour
talking irrelevantly the while on other mat
ters, and reluctantly coming to the conclu-
sion that if ever precious stone possessed
uncanny properties this one certainly did. |
thought myself yielding to foolish supersti-
ton, or that my eyes were tired with long
gazing at the gem, and to rest them l turned
my glance to other diamonds in the case to
compare them with the talisman. The Jew
OWNED my thoughts. for he took from his
side pocket wallet and opened it, and from
a compartment brought out several small
tissue paper packets, opened them and
showed to me large and sparkling dia
moDds.


There is not one like that you have in
your hand he said. He was right. All
were bright in their glistening flash and
merciless gleam-wondrously beautiful, but
all were unlike the talisman.


why do you sell it" asked. with
all this wealth you cannot need money, and
if what you tell me of its talismanic prop
erty be true, the gem is priceless.
Il wish to sell it if you have the courage
to buy, he made answer.


1t seemed to me that he purposely made
his tone dramatic, and / smiled scorninlly.
As for the stone ITSELF liked it 4; the story
he told of its virtue, although | only half
| believed it, interested me. had no fear of
any evil supernatural influence it was Just
the size wanted to buy, and in shape and
cutting it was all that was to be desired.


The old Jew told me that when ] was
about to embark in any enterprise that
would prove successful, the stone would daz-
zle with unusual brillianoy. If misfortune
or death was to come upon me or mine the
stone would appear dull and almost neu'
tral.


Now am practical sort of fellow, but
| had no objection to take the mystery along
with the stone, provided it was thrown in al
a bargain and had not to pay extra for it
In few minutes had made up my mind anC
counted out to him four hundred dollars
the price he asked for it, and left.


wore the diamond for more than fiv
years at first in a ring, afterwards in


shirt stud and then again in ring. 1t nov


encircles the finger of lovely lady, who's


little daughter calls me "papa.' All thi


time there have been no tragedies in ou


family, and no dear friend hps died. M


own health has been excellent, and l al


quite resigned to have it put down to imag
nation on my part that, to me, my stone


bright or dull, according to the prospect


ahead, Only this affirm, that twice, whe
t to test it, went contrary to its warning, th
punishment quickly followed the ofiens
p Once | speculaied in Pacific Mail and 10


heavily, and once | asked sweet lad
y friend to be my wife and she refused me-
d plump


n Superstitious or not, as you will, / regal
e my diamond as my talisman, my mento


and ever since my unsuccessful wooing
have looked upon it with love not unmix'