The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-01-27

he said suddely; "what are you
about ?"
His tone was so abrupt and fierce
that Tstared at him in surprise. .You
object to my trying it on ?" 1 asked. a
Indeed do; it is dnlucky.'
handed him back the ring, little
piqued by his manner. -,
,,,'. ELL your glass, and will satisfy
yonr curiosity concerning it. You
must not be annoyed with me because
1 prevented you from tryingit on. 1t
was on your account, not my own.
We touched our glasses, and he be-
gan.
"This ring has been in our family
for generations. 1 know not when,
or by whom, the curse was entailed
upon us, but as far back rs our records
reach land We 1haye authentic docu-
ments reaching back five or six hun
dred years-we find it mentioned as
one of the heirlooms of the race. It
has come down from father to son
with all our broad lands and posses
Esions, being frequently specified in
our ancient wills. Our lands9 and
possessions have passed away, as such
things will, but the ring remains, as
you see. 1t has belonged at times to
various branches of the family-4men
of widely different minds and temper.
aments. Some lived in peaceful days
and died at a ripe old age; others
perished young, slain in battle For
broils. Many fell by their own hand.
But it mattered dnot what was the, for
tune of its possessor, he was the slave
of the ring s.er,.,o, utiIl "a,
"But in what sense ?" ] inquired
What you have related may be plain
fo " ON, AbdfII must confess it is vague
to me. In what manner, and to whom
has the ring been curse?" -
% "To ali who have worn it, myself
among the rest. As to the manner
of the curse, it has taken q thousand
shapes. Some ofus have been hurled
from the pinnacle of wealth and power
Aothersshavei been raised to almost
regal dignities. This was in the old
time, when we ranked among the
nobility. In these latter days of buy
ing and selling, our fortunes have
Bbeen porestable; the~majerity .ofHhe
FGurneys are rich."s "a - -Ho9sG
"Then you have one thing" I said,
t'to counterbalance the curse of the
ring. would 1 had your wealth. III
lack nothing but that. 1 have health
and strength, a light heart, and clear
head. l have no inordinate desires,
no impossible longings. l possess
myself lfthorohghly, my heart, my brain
my will" slla"
"And yet you sigh for wealth T. Y on
must beNnistaken in yourself; you are
not so strong as you think. What
reesld money give you that you15do
not already possess? s7ss5
/" Many things, sir" said bitterly,
thinking of my past ,priyations and
| present sorrows. at would give me
the hooks that need, the pictures that
a4eye. Z could build myself a cot
ktage III the c6tmtry or III were fool
4eenoA sh tS desire it d palacein Parve-
inu sq6afes I could g6 to Europe, to
tLOfidon, Paris, or Rome.
s'sAhy thing eise7 Es+.r-
8 ssYes," q, answered sharply. pro-
-Yoked by his GOODNESS. al could
nrpbabls save the life of my child" 4
had forgotten that you were
married, Mr.. Tracy: Tel me of your
wife and child" VI d -.
He spoke kindly, tenderly even, but
11 repnlsed' him. 4 sThere is nothing to
tell, save that my child is sick, per-
haps dying roa ,oo
"Poor fellow!" He fell into a
] bfown,stddy yyfwirling the, Jasper, sig
net in his fingers. $50 @
Ns@ I gather fromaw hat you say, ,nIfre-
sumed, I" that you think the Gurney
I family are an Auniucky one, but you
1E.hayeb ebno5t FOL me what the ring has to
dowith it. II am not disposed toad
nit inyhu1nan affairs eitherlthe capri
t;ioousi ciouuss interference int OF fortune or the
iron 9desp,,o6tismn Of fate; still less cair
admit. the influence of so trivial d
4 thing AZ ajasper signetarI can imag.
| inc that, your ancestors were fooled OF
terrified in, the age of astrology, but it
is UNIV worthy you and this age OF
Enlightenment. !. If yonr6 family has
] ,beeatunfortnnate, Mr. Gqrney, it il
Ibecause some member of tttransmit,
4 ted some weakness to his descend.
ants, 80, IL q n9ilagfstaaa
d srt The fault, dear Brutus is not In our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings."
"As you please; did not expect
you to believe me. But the facts are
Hhe same neYert hsIess. I None of oul
family have ever been happy, or eyel
J bwill be. Wretehedness is 5ourdoom
: Our motto SHOULD be Aisserfmus, oul
! crest a bleeding heart. 5r We are rich
but we take no pleasure in ouriiriches
We are loving, but we are seldom
) loved, oriwhat weleve dies. In shor
y We are miserable, thanks to the jaspeI
h Itsignet." =,qrs0 .zsirz3d3 ..ift..el
"In the name ofcommOn sense, thei
3t'why keep It among you ?" | exclaimed
, / E'"swhy not destroy it or give it away
Yopcan powder it in the fire, ! sup
p pose, or throw 1t Into the sea. 1t will
! burn or sink" st ,.asf arr
{ d7 ait will do neither, sagacious poet
/ For one Of my ancestors who dabble'
, in alchemy century or two ago, bal
b difled in his search for the philosopher
stone, the impossible Aaruas PotahfI
i wreaksa his. yengence on the ring
h. which he conceived to be the cause o