The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1869-03-25

Alice looked up, growing very pale
what did | say? o, grandfather.
what should TsnyY Grand tie you'll
let me be his wife Z"
Bless the little brides heart, Of
course l will, soothel Simeon. 80
you do love him very muchl'
Allce's check aud eyes answered =
there was no necessity for speech!'
But it was not until the evening
lamp was lighted, and the three sat
round the rude pine table, with the
stars shining mellowly through the open
window, and the everlasting thunder
Of the ground.swell filing the out-df-
doors silence, that Mrs. True saw the
sparkle of some new, strange ornament
on Alice's fore finger.
Child! what is that you have on
your handr
Alice held out the brown, yet sym.
metrlcally shaped hand smiling proudly
"Hal put it there, grandma; it is my
eng cement ring"
IL was translucent, pearly stone,
shot with CLEANS Of reddish fire, set
round with very small diamonds, and
mounted in antique gold
1t is an opall" shrieked Mrs True,
dropping the girls hand "Simeou
cur girl is wearing an opall"
"Well, why shouldn't she wear itY'
demanded honest Simeon.
"Child, tear it off your finger! Don't
carry it about you" said the old wo.
man, iu deep warning. ats AN un.
lucky stone; it brings a deadly spell
with it. Why did he ever give you
that fatal jewelY
Grand mother" said Alice, timidly
sit is ring he found when be was q
boy, washed ashore just after the wreck
of the Adonais, and he said then he d
always keep it for the girl he loved the
bestw
"He had better have thrown it back
into the ocean, cHild! Washed ashore
Yes-and don't you see il brought the
doom of death upon it's wearer then =
Give it to me, child; let me hide il
away before it works more mischief"
But Alice shook her head resolutely
Halls ring will never bring me mis-
chief, grand mother; and never, nev
er will part with i'll"
In vain Mrs. True urged, and rea
soned, aud persuaded, bringing up q
host Of old world supcrstitious aud flesh
creeping stories. Alice was frm
though more than once her cheek
blanched, and the brave little hear
seemed to stand still within her bosom
mo, grandmother! Gods love and
care are stronger than fate, and l never
shall take Harry's ring from my finger
again.
That's right, puss," Said Simeon
True. "Dou't let granny's queer no
tions frighten you out of your common
sense"
"Pve said my say" announced Han
nah, solemuly. Hereafter, whatever
happens, don't lay blame to me-
And Alice, looking down upon he,
ring, iancied the pearly light guivered
through it like tear just ready to fall
She never told her lover what Mrs
True had predicted of her engagement
ring, however; aud the summer waued
into autumn, and still ali went we'll.
0ctober's golden glorious moon wa.
in the sky, aud ere it waned into glib
bous sadness Alice was to be married
to Hal Pierson. Very soon now-yery
soon.
"Grand father, can | have the boat
this afternoon just to row over to the
Point? Helen Piersou hasa dress pat.
tern that she has promised to lend me. "
wait till sundown, pet, aud III take
you myself
But would rather 90 now, grand.
father. There's no need Of your going. ?
"She wants to have a good chat with
Harry" thought the old man; SO he
kissed her fresh forehead aud said:
swell, run along; only be back by
sunset, for shall want to use the boat
then"
Alice promised, and trippcd away
down the beach, singing as she went.
And the old grand father watched her
until the boat, rocking lightly upon the
blue serenity Of the tide, had shot past
the socky headand and disappeared
from view
"She handles the boat as cleverly as
| could do it myself" thought Simeon,
with thrill Of pride.
But hardly an hour afterwards little
cloud, scarcely larger than man's hand
edged the glittering horizon line, and
the wind began to moan low and sullen,
like u giant aiar off. The old pilot knew
the threatening signs, and eyed the
waves with troubled glance. a
IL wish Allie hadn't goner' he nut.
tered
Still more did he wish it as the storm
darkened over the Octobe. afternoon,
with wind and rain, aud roaring tide;
and the white caps" threw their foamy
fringe up to the very cottage gate, hsh.
ed into madness
"She'll be at Persons by this time"
he thought.
Thesudden gust was over. The waves,
yet restless, moaned upon the beach;
but the sun was setting gloriously when
Harry Picrson rowed round the head.
land; and to the little craft he managed
was fastened another boat, empty aud
rocking on the waves like light shell.
"Harry@ t4is4s
Simeon True was holding to the table
for support as the young aan came in
with flushed cheeks and jetty hair all
sprinkled with the salt spray. Mrs.
True, white as ashes, sat by the FIRE,