Year: 1875

GN NlutnllN IH6 lOllOWllIS WOIuS III tIt OEUeT
in which | write them


EARTH


DIE.


AMEN


This is all Greek to me-" said |, after
looking at it a moment carelessly, 1.-THE
stone must have an interesting history
however, and | should be glad to hear it."
Very WE'LL" said my friend, Il have
never told it but once. and then | regret
ted it deeply; but no harm can come of
telling it now. You will say it is strange
story when | have finished, and you will
say truly; but l assure you it is true"


| fixed myself in a comfortable attitude
for listening, and he began.


Fifteen years ago, while was attend
ing college. North, had for a chum a
young Frenchman named DeFonville. He
had neither father, mother, brother nor
sister. Upon the death of his father, he
had fallen heir to few thousand dollars,
and having mastered English at a French
University, he came to this country for the
purpose of increasing his means through
speculation; but, becoming intimately ac-
quainted with me during vacation, and
being desirous, as he said. OF keeping his
first American friend in sight. he entered
college at the beginning OF the term and
took up his quarters with me


DeFonville was a remarkably handsome
young man, straightas an arrow, and per-
tectly developed in form. lie possessed
numerous accomplishments, yet unlike the
majority OF the other students, he seemed
to care very little for the female society of
the place, and appeared never so well sat
istled as when shut into our cOZy little
room with me, he with his guitar, which
he played with great skill. and | with my
great faculty for listening. | became
strangely attracted toward the yonng for
eigner, and though had hitherto partaken
freely of the different pleasures Of the col
lege town, | gradually forsook them apd
clung closely to the side OF my handsome
chum. Two brothers never loved each
other more steadiastly, and | always look
ed forward with regret to the time when
our college days would end, and our paths
in life diyerge.


Shortly after he entered college, | no.
ticed he had in his possession a large and,
doubtless, very valuable diamond. One
day, while he was carelesslv executing
monogram W ith it on one of the post office
boxes while we were waiting for the mail
to be opened, took occasion to warn him
against 50 careless an exposure of the gem,
and asked him if he was not afraid that he
might meet with violence sometime dur
ing one of his late rambles about the city


That reminds me Of something | have
been wanting to tell you for some time, .
he said AS soon as the mail is opened,
if you have no objections, let us return to
our room. Don't let me forget it,


The nimble clerks soon distributed the
precious contents of the mail bags, and
securing the contents Of the box which we
held in common, we returned to our quar-
terS.


"You were speaking of the diamond at
the post Office" began DeFonville, after
we had seated ourselves.


"Well, there is something on my mind
in connection with that diamond, which
have been intending to divulge to you ever
since we became intimately acquainted,
yet singularly enough, have forgotten to
do SO when we have been at leisure Know
that this gen. continued he. producing
the diamond, has been handed down from
father to son by the De Fonvilles tor many
generations, and furthermore, it has al
ways been considered never failing
charm against injury to the person OF its
possessor. There is superstition con-
nected with it which you with your purely
American hatred of such things, woulc
not thank me for repeating, and you will
undoubtedly, think me very foolish wher
| assure you that without that stone in my
possession, | would be the most pitiable
of towards. | lost it for a time during q
ramble on the mountains in my native
country once. A thunder storm came up
and though had never before felt fear OF
such occasions, | actually tainted away as
a deafening peal seemed to make the
mountains culver. | knew Arth, (his alb
breviation of my name-Arthur) that feal
was only the effect of an unhealthy super
sttion that has descended upon me like 6
blighting mist from the murky past.
knew as we'll as yourself that the diamond
as protector from violence, is utterly
worthless, yet | am too deeply tainteC
with the dark folly of my ancestors to en-
10Y peace OF mind unless know it is about
my person"


The handsome, sad eyes that looked
into mine, put on an expression of pain
as he continued:


81 have a presentiment, my dear friend
that | will, at no very distant time, die q
sudden death. | consider you my dearest
earthly friend, and ! wish you to continue
to watch over me in the future as you have
done in the past, and should my present.
ment be realized, send the diamond to this
direction -. Here he handed me thin
strip of silver, on which were engraved
the name and address of party in France
do not fail to do this" he continued
''for should that stone fall into speculative
| verify believe the angry spirits of my
unbearable SO long as this planet was youl
abiding place. Will you. my dear friend
solemnly promise to faithfully perform
what have asked of you?'


took his protfered hand and promised
He Immediately thereafter assumed his
usually happy manner, and, taking his
portfolio from the table, said


"By the way, my dear boy, ! have
made you another enigma, and if l an
not greatly mistaken, it will bother you
considerably"


DeFonville possessed a genius for com.
posing enigmas, and possessed. it seem.
ed, as great a genius for deciphering them
The apparent ease with which read all
the dark Writings and hieroglyphics he
submitted to me, annoyed him considera.
bly,, and it seemed to be the great aim O.
his leisure moments to clay me out" on g
regular stub and twisted intellect. / soor
handed him the enigma he had given me
and indulged in a hearty laugh as notee
the look of astonishment that swept ovel
his face.


He arose, and fixing his dark eyes upor
mine, said, with mock seriousness: