The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-02-18

OF juliet ClRyDufn b secret engagement
throwing a shadow between her father
and mother. where n shadow had neveE
been before. T. T. II a'''f ~ &
"You must not wear this ring" said
Mrs. Clayburn. 'tIt will be sure to be-
tray you. Your father observes you 80
closely, I wonder he has not seen it ere
this"
IT have never given him an opportp
nity," said Juliet.
''Take it off at once" advised Mrs.
Clayburn, proceeding to put her words
into execution. .@r
"Do not-do notr' cried Juliet, catch-,
ing 1t her hand. b Alasl the ring wa&soH
and rolling slowly across the floor. Jtf:
liet sprang after it quick as thought, and
jerking it up frantically, placed It again
upon her finger. 1t had not been off 10
minute, perhaps not second, SO quickly
had it all happened; but Juliet thought
of Karl's words by the river bank at
Ashburn, and fell into such n violent
paroxysm of grief, Mrs. Clayburn be-
came truly alarmed. She tried in vain
to soothe her. Juliet continued to wiring
her hands wildly, to throw herself on
the lounge and moan and cry, with
heart-rending anguish, and then rising,
look at her ring through binding tears
and sohs, after which, she would weep
more violently than before. To her ex-
cited and over-wrought imagination, it
seemed some charm, some virtue had de-
parted from her ring; the Jewels no
longer glowed with the same old luetre
and brightness.
"Oh, mother-mother- she
moaned.
Mrs. Clayburn began to weep herself
She arose from her chair and totterad
feebly toward the couch.
"My daughter, my sweet child, tell
me what is the matter? What can there
be in my taking off your ring to cause
you 30 much sorrow? Did Karl place it
on your finger? Never mind, he will
soon be back and will put it on for you
again"
No answer but the sad wall ooh,
mother! mother!"
At last Juliet essayed to speak and
Mrs. Clayburn could barely distinguish
the words
"You have ruined my happiness,
mother"
II hope not. my darling" answered
her mother, wiping away her own and
Juliet's trickling tears; II would rather
die than do that. But, my daughter, it
seems to me there is no cause whatever
for all this affliction. Will you not lave
some consideration for my feelings and
tell me what it all means? Control
yourself, implore you, and speak to
me-"
Thus entreated, Juliet did struggle to
regain composure, and after many efforts
succeeded. Mrs. Clayburn took her
scat beside her daughter, drawing her.
head down on her shoulder, caressing
her repeatedly and calling her affectionate
names of endearment.
II will never be Karl's wife now,
mother" said Juliet, bursting out
afresh. she told me, when he put the
ring on my finger, never to remove it
for moment; for if did, it would be
on evil omen to our happip ess-a sure
sign that I would never become his wife.
Mother, cannot marry Frank-indeed,
I cannot-I would pray to die first"
''And is that the cause of your dis
tress? Fie, Juliet!-fe, my love! how
can you be so silly? AS if the mere
taking off, or putting on ring. could
possibly affect your destiny. I am sur.
prised at your want of good sense. AS
for Karl, dare say, he attached no i'm
portance whatever to his own words.
He was only testing you, Juliet, to dis
cover if there was any superstition in
your nature.
Indeed, he was not; he spoke in the
most solemn manner, evidently labori ng
under the conviction that his words were
prophetic. But l cannot believe it,
mother"
"Nor l." said Mrs. Clayburn; "it
seems too ridiculous"
"But I haven't yet fully explained"
interrupted Juliet. "This is O very old
ring, m ancient relic of the family,
which has been in their possession for
hundreds of years, and which they be-
lieve possesses extraordinary attributes.
I will tell you the legend as Karl told it
to me-" which she did. Mrs. Clayburn
listening with the most earnest attention.
When Juliet finished, her mother said,
with smile:
"a very pretty legend, to be surel
quite an interesting tradition, and no
doubt entirely true, only it will not do
to believe this German twaddle. Do
you not see it's alEnonsense to suppose
the mere accidental removal Of this
pledge Of your, mutual love can doom
you both 20, eternal Separation? Reject
the thought as once; dismiss il from
your mind forever as "a monstrous piece
of absurdity. It is nothing more. If