For you no fancy consecrates the scene Who that would ask a heart to dullness wed, What plaintive sobs thy filial spirit drew, What sorrow choked thy long and last adieu, Daughter of Conrad! when he heard his knell, And bade his country and his child farewell! Doom'd the long isles of Sidney Cove to see, The martyr of his crimes, but true to thee. That spark unburied in its mortal frame, "Yet, on the barren shore and stormy deep, One tedious watch is Conrad doom'd to weep; But when I gain the home without a friend, And press th' uneasy couch where none attend, This last embrace, still cherish'd in my heart, Shall calm the struggling spirit ere it part! Thy darling form shall seem to hover nigh, And hush the groan of life's last agony! "Farewell! when strangers lift thy father's bier, And place my nameless stone without a tear; When each returning pledge hath told my child That Conrad's tomb is on the desert piled; And when the dream of troubled fancy sees Who will protect thee, helpless Ellenore? Will woo thee from the shades of solitude! Inspiring thought of rapture yet to be, The tears of love were hopeless, but for thee! If in that frame no deathless spirit dwell, If that faint murmur be the last farewell, If fate unite the faithful but to part, Why is their memory sacred to the heart? Why does the brother of my childhood seem Peal'd their first notes to sound the march of Thy joyous youth began; but not to fade; Thou, undismay'd, shalt o'er the ruins smile, MY DIAMOND STUDS. "Diamonds of a most praised water."-PERICLES. SIR ❝IR," said the stranger, are mine." We were alone together, face to face. | The train was flying on at the rate of thirty miles an hour. It was already verging toward evening, and we were about half way between Liege and Brussels. I shrank back into the furthest corner of my little compartment and stared at him. His hair was dark, and hung in long, loose locks; his eyes were wild and brilliant; and he wore an ample cloak with a high fur collar. I thought the man must be mad, and I turned cold all over. "Did you speak, sir?" I found courage to say. plan by which to settle the question of ownership." My heart sank within me at the cool certainty of his voice and countenance. "Shall I go on ?" he asked, lighting a cigar. "O, by all means," I replied. "I shall be delighted." He smiled ominously to himself; then sighed and shook his head; passed his fingers twice or thrice through his elfin locks; crossed his feet deliberately on the opposite cushions, and fixing his eyes upon me, thus began: "Though a native of Russia and born in St. Petersburgh, I am of Hindoo descent. My grandfather belonged to the province "those studs of Hyderabad; but, traveling then while yet a young man, established himself at Balaghaut, and became a worker in the great diamond mines, commonly known as the mines of Golconda. A grave, silent, unsociable man was my grandfather, and little beloved by his fellow-miners. The superintendent, however, placed great confidence in him; and by and by, being promoted to the situation of overseer, he married. The only offspring of this union was Adjai Ghosal, my father. The Hindoos, as you must be aware, place a high value upon learning; and even the poorest evince such a respect for education as would do honor to the working classes of a more enlightened community. Of this feeling no man in his position partook more largely than my grandfather. Uninstructed himself, he was ardently desirous that his son should benefit by advantages which, generally speaking, were accessible only to the wealthy; and in pursuance of this ambition, sent Adjai Ghosal, at the age of eleven years, to a large native academy at Benares. People wondered at first, and asked each other what the thing meant, and where the overseer found means to do Have you found a lac of rupees lately?' inquired one. Do you intend to make a diamond merchant of the little Adjai?' asked another. But my grandfather only held his peace; and after a time the marvel died away, and was forgotten. Thus eleven more years passed on; and my father, at the age of twentytwo, was summoned home to Balaghaut to receive the last benediction of his expiring parent. He found the old man stretched upon a mat, and almost speechless. "I spoke, sir. You wear a set of studs-diamonds set in colored gold-very graceful design-stones of an excellent water; but they are not yours." "Not mine, sir!" The stranger nodded. I had purchased them only a week before. They captivated me from the window of a jeweler's shop in Berlin; and they cost me-no, I dare not say what they cost me, for fear my wife should chance to see this article. I took out my pocket-book, and handed it. the bill to the stranger. "Sir," I said, "be pleased to read this little paper, and convince yourself that the studs are mine, and mine only." He just glanced it over, and returned it. "I see," he said, shrugging his shoulders, "that they appear to be yours by right of purchase; but nevertheless they belong to me by right of inheritance. I can make this clear to you very easily, if you choose to hear my story; and no doubt we shall presently contrive some “‘Adjai,' he murmured- Adjai, my son, thou art arrived in time-in good time; for I could not have borne to die without seeing thee.' "Restore!' echoed my father. 666 Yes, my child. Thou hast education. It will make thee far happier than the "My father pressed his hand in silence, possession of ill-gotten riches; and I shall and turned his face aside. “Adjai,' said my grandfather, 'I have a terrible secret to confide to thee; one which my soul refused to carry to the grave. Canst thou endure to hear it?' "My father urged him to speak. "It is to my own shame to reveal it to thee, Adjai; but I bow my head to the punishment. My son, I have sinned.' 66 ever. My father became more curious than die in peace, knowing that reparation will be made. As for the few remaining rupees, I think, if thou art not over scrupulous in the matter, thou mightest almost be justified in keeping them. They will help thee to begin the world.' "Indeed!' said my father, with a curious sort of smile flitting about the corners of his mouth. "At this moment the old man changed color, and a shudder passed over him. "Thou wilt not despise my memory, "I-I have told thee just in time, AdAdjai?' jai,' he said, falteringly. "I feel that—that "By Brahma, no!' said my father, I have not many moments to live. raising his hand to his head. "Then hearken.' "The old miner lifted himself upon his elbow, and collected all his strength. My father knelt down and listened. "It happened,' said my grandfather, 'just three-and-twenty years ago, and I was then but a working miner. I chanced one day upon a vein of extraordinary richness. My son, I was tempted: the evil one took possession of my soul; I secreted five diamonds. One was incalculably valuable larger than a walnut, and, as far as I could judge, of admirable water. The other four were about the size of peas. Alas, Adjai! from that hour I was a miserable man. Many and many a time I was on the point of confessing the theft, and was as frequently deterred by shame, fear, avarice, or ambition. I married, and a year after my marriage thou wert born. Then I resolved to dedicate this wealth to thee, and thee alone; to educate thee; to enrich thee; to make thee prosperous and learned; never, never to profit in my own person by my own sin.' "Generous parent!' exclaimed my father, enthusiastically. "When I took thee to Benares, Adjai,' continued my grandfather, 'I sold one of the four smaller diamonds; and with this I have defrayed the expenses of thy education. I never spent one fraction of the sum upon myself; and some few golden rupees of it are yet remaining.' 6 "Indeed!' said my father, who was listening with the greatest attention. And the rest of the gems?' Come hither, that I may give thee my blessing.' "My dear father,' said Adjai Ghosal, 'you have forgotten to tell me where the diamonds are hidden.' "True,' gasped the dying man. 'You will find them, my son-you will find them but thou wilt be sure to restore them as soon as I am dead!' "How can I restore them,' said my father, impatiently, unless you tell me where to find them ?' "True, very true, my Adjai. Look, then, in the roll of matting which I use for a pillow, and there thou wilt find the three smaller gems and the large one. See-see the superintendent—Adjai—my my—' "A rapid convulsion, a moan, a heavy falling back of the outstretched hands, and my grandfather was dead." The stranger broke off abruptly in his history, and laid his hand upon my sleeve. "And now, sir," said he, "what do you suppose my father did?" "Went into mourning, perhaps," said I, deeply interested. Kept them, sir! that's it," said the "The rest of the gems, Adjai, thou stranger, rubbing his hands triumphantly; canst restore when I am gone.' 'and, in my opinion, he was quite right too. Well, sir, to continue. As soon as my venerable ancestor had been consigned to the grave, my father left Balaghaut for | Calcutta; and embarking there on board a Russian vessel, sailed for St. Petersburgh. Arrived at that city, he consigned the gems to a skillful artist, by whom they were cut and polished. Sir, when cut and polished, it was found that the larger stone weighed no less than one hundred and ninety-three carats! My father knew that his fortune was made, and applied for an audience of the Empress Catherine II. The audience was granted, and the diamond shown; but the empress was unwilling to accede to my father's terms; and he, believing that in time he should obtain his price, suffered the matter to drop; took a beautiful mansion overlooking the Neva; naturalized himself as a Russian subject, under the name of Peter Petroffski, and patiently bided his time. Thus nearly a twelvemonth passed; and my father, who had long since parted with the last of his golden rupees, began to feel nervous. The event proved, however, that he had done wisely; for he one morning received a summons to the palace of Count Orloff, and sold his diamond to that nobleman for the sum of one hundred and four thousand one hundred and sixtysix pounds, thirteen shillings, and fourpence. Count Orloff was then Catharine's favorite; and to her, on her birthday, he presented this royal gift, some few days after he had made the purchase." chant princes of Russia. During many years he devoted himself utterly in the pursuit of riches; for gold, I must confess, was my father's weak point. At last, when he had obtained the reputation of being at the same time a millionaire and an irreclaimable old bachelor, he married; married at sixty years of age, just thirtyeight years from the time when he left Balaghaut. The object of his choice was a rich widow, in every way suitable as regarded money and station; an excellent woman, and the best of mothers! I respect her memory." Here the stranger paused, and wiped his eyes with a very fine cambric handkerchief, which filled the carriage with an overpowering perfume of patchouli. Presently, conquering his emotion, he resumed: "But for my birth, which took place within two years from the date of my father's wedding, the newly-created family of Petroffski must have become extinct. As it was, therefore, my appearance was hailed with extravagant rejoicings. I was christened after my father, Peter Petroff ski. My schoolfellows called me Peter the Second. I remember little of my boyhood, excepting that I had always plenty of roubles in my pocket, a pony, and a mounted servant to attend me to and from school; and plenty of indulgence from all my teachers. No boy in the academy played so many pranks, or was so readily forgiven as myself; but money covers a multitude of sins, especially at St. Petersburgh.' "Is it possible," I exclaimed, almost breathless with astonishment, "is it possible that these are all facts?" "Facts!" echoed the stranger, indignantly. "Turn to the article on diamonds in any encyclopædia, and convince yourself." Facts, indeed! Why, sir, that inestimable gem now adorns the scepter of Russia!" "I beg your pardon," I said, humbly; "pray go on, sir." He seemed vexed, and remained silent; so I spoke again : He paused for a moment, and a question which had long suggested itself in my mind now rose to my lips. "You have not yet told me," said 1, what your father did with the three smaller diamonds." "Sir," replied the stranger, "I am coming to that presently." So I bowed, and waited in silence. "From school I went to college; and, as my father's position excluded me from the college of nobles, I traveled into Ger "In what year did you say this hap- many, and studied for five years at the pened ?" University of Heidelberg. "Peter,' said my father, as we parted, remember what a priceless life is yours. Above all things, my darling son, be careful not to injure your health by over application.' "In the year 1772," he replied, falling back insensibly into his narrative. My father now found himself in a position to command immense commercial influence; so he embarked a portion of his wealth in the fur trade, and became in process of "Never was good advice more scruputime one of the foremost among the mer-lously followed. My studies at HeidelVOL. XI.-6 from your grandfather's pillow of matting just sixty years ago.' "From this time I led an enviable life. I owned the handsomest droshky, the finest horses, and the smallest tiger in St. Petersburgh. My pleasure yacht was the completest that lay alongside the quays of the Neva. My stall at the opera was next to that of young Count Skampsikoff, the great leader of fashion and folly, and close under the box of Prince Ruffantuff, who was at that time one of our most influential nobles, and generalissimo of the Russian army. It was not long before Skampsikoff and I became the firmest friends in the world; and before six months were over, I was known far and near as the fastest, the richest, and the most reckless scapegrace about town. "It was at this period, sir, that I first beheld the peerless Katrina." The stranger paused, as if he expected me to be surprised; but finding that I only continued to listen with a countenance indicative of polite attention, he looked at his watch, ran his fingers through his hair, hemmed twice or thrice, and then went on with his story. berg were pleasant rather than profound, and consisted chiefly of rowing, drinking, and fighting. By dint of strict attention to these duties, I earned for myself the rank of a mossy-head;' and, indeed, I may say, that I graduated in Bavarian beer, and took out my degree in saber cuts. At length I reached the age of twenty-one, and returned to St. Petersburgh, just in time for my birthday. On this occasion my father threw his house open for a succession of dinner parties, balls, and suppers. On the morning of the actual day he called me into his study, signifying that he had something to say and something to give to me. A small morocco case of triangular form was lying on his desk. From the moment I entered the room I felt convinced that this was intended for me; and my attention, I fear, wandered sadly away from the wise and affectionate discourse which my father (leaning back complacently in his great arm-chair) was pleased to bestow upon me. He said a great deal about the extent of his trade, and the satisfaction it was to him to have brought up a son who should succeed him in it; informed me that from this day I was to fill the position of junior partner, with a munificent share in the yearly profits; and finally, taking up the morocco case, bade me accept that as an earnest of his parental love. I opened it, and beheld a superb set of diamond studs. Each stone was a brilliant of the purest water, and about the size of an ordinary pea. Their value, I feel convinced, could not be less than three hundred guineas of your English money. For some moments I was speechless with delight and astonishment, and could scarcely stammer forth a word of thanks. Then my father smiled, and told me the history which I have just related to you. I had never heard anything of this before. I knew only the common story current in the city, that my father had been a great Eastern mer-expressive of pride and defiance. Gazing chant before he settled in Russia, and that he had sold a wonderful diamond to the Empress Catherine many years ago. If, therefore, I had been amazed before, I was now still more so, and listened to the narrative like a man in a dream. "And now, my dear boy,' said my father, in conclusion, these diamonds, as I dare say you have already guessed, are the three remaining stones which I took "You will ask me, perhaps, who was the peerless Katrina? Sir, she was a violet blooming upon a rock; a rainbow born out of the bosom of a thunder cloud. She was the dream, the poetry, the passion of my life! Katrina, sir, was the only child of Prince Ruffantuff, whose name I have already mentioned. Strange that the fairest, the most ethereal of beings, should come of so stern a parentage! As Katrina was the gentlest of women, and the most loving, so was Ivan Ruffantuff the fiercest of soldiers, and the severest of fathers. He carried the discipline of the camp into the privacy of his home, and made himself dreaded as much by his household as by his troops. I never saw so forbidding a countenance, or one more upon the delicate creature seated beside him in his box, one wondered how nature could have played so strange a turn, and sought in vain for the faintest trace of apparent consanguinity between them. Prince Ivan was a giant in stature; Katrina was almost childlike in the graceful slightness of her proportions. Prince Ivan was swarthy of complexion, and his features were molded after the flat, unintellectual type of the Tartar tribes; Katrina's |