Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-05-02
LEIsLER's FATE.

suppose that never q man ivei
within more contracted sphere or de
voted his energies more assidously t,
the pursuit of single idea, than Far
quharson 1eisler, during the fall O
1869 and the winter of 20. And yet
while the fact was apparent, the caus,
was so obscure that men could do littl,
more than speculate regarding it. apt
in default of actual evidence, cireulat,
innumerable and extraordinary surm
ises.
Not many of his friends pretended t,
any acquaintance with his inner life.
think that among them all I was th,
only one who had any such knowledge
knew him, not as one may know an
other from casual intercourse or indif
ferent conversation, but with coinci
dence of feelngland an identity of senti
ment that is often found among those
who have grown up together and devel.
oped common sympathies and impulses.
We had been boys at the same school,
were in college together, and now were
studying law in the same Office.
His whole life was encircled by and
bound within the signet ring he habit
ually wore. It may seem an extrava.
CANT or rather frivious assertion, but
it was a fact, though none but myself
knew it was such.
The article in itself was peculiar
enough to excite any degree of interest.
He wore it on the fourth finger of the
left hand, and derived from it's propriet-
orship about as much misery as any
man ever gained from the possession Of
any simple object.
Without any circumlocution or dis.
tortiOn of realities, the article in ques.
ton was found in the stomach of q blue
fish which Leisler hauled in from the
water OF Jamaica Bay during a fishing
excursion summer before last. He had
been out all day with ill success. II
fact he had caught nothing, and was
just making for the inlet when his line
trolling through the water, attracted
the attention of large specimen of tn.
race and secured victim. During sucf
preliminary Investigations as were ne
cessary. the ring was found. How il
had got there, where it had come from
what were it's antecedents, We did no
know. The fact of its existence and O
its present purpose was evident. Leis
Ter appropriated it and placed it, Will
great satisfaction, upon the finger afore
said. The object was certainly q curi
osity: Apart from the singu1arity O
its discovery and the uncertainty at
tending it's previous history, it posses
sed intrinsic peculiarities that entitled
it to more than ordinary consideration
The ring was small, barely large enough
to fit Lelsler's rather diminutive hand
A broad, fiat band Of gold, surmountet
by large oval seal of chrysoprase. L
had evidently seen use, but when O.
how, or under what circumstances, wa
a profound mystery. On the face o
the stone were number of almost i'm
perceptible scratches, apparently th,
result Of some injury, and regretted b,
Leisler as impairing the value anit
beauty of the object. The ring was Ger
tainly an antique, and, though adver
tised, found NO owner.
! About q month or six weeks afte
the discovery began to notice chang
in my friend. His manner seemed ab
stracted, distract and troubled, Will,
the blithe, ighthearted look he hal
habitually worn gave place to a weariet
cheerless expression. At the tim,
he became unusually reticent, avoiding
conversation, particularly of persona
nature, and was continually absorbe,
in the perusal of an old volume tha
appeared from some recess of his desk
and which presented no legal appear
ance. / did not interfere with his re
Elections, confident that time would de
velop their character. And the day
passed. by, I working the more and b
the less, and exhibiting with the neg
lect an increasing devotion to the must
old tome.
One morning he closed the book will
the tired look that the last few week
had taught me to know, and restin,
his head upon his hand looked up a.
about to speak. He twirled the rim,
upon bis finger as he asked, with
melancholy smile:
| Rich, are yOu superstiti0us
looked at him in surprise. TIL
possibility of his being affected by sue
considerations had never occurred /
me. replied:
"Not in the least dear fellow. Ar
you9"
He mused for moment as he looke
at the ring, and said:
"1'm sure I don't know; I didn'
use to be-"
"What on earth then has brought j
to your mind now9" I enquired, Wit
curiosity and with tho intention Of hav
ing it out there and then.
Well." he said, slowly at first, a
though arriving at q conclusion. "no
that believe in any of the trash "
read, about manifestations and med
ums and the like. haven't seen an
ghosts, or been in any trance, but be
tween this internal ring and this abomj
nable book, I don't know what I believe
I'm thoroughly mixed" And he look
ed at me as though in uncertainty am
doubt.
The old book tells all about it.
don't know what evil spirit ever prompt
ed me to look it up; but I've done j
and found out my fate. don't trou
BILE you much longer" he sighed.
" Tell me all about, Far" I urged.-
" Let me hear what it is.''
"Well," said he, II don't know as
will afford you much comfort or sati.
faction but you might as we'll learn.
got the ring, and, while wondering wit
you about it's origin, remembering n
, | old book in orr library that fothor ~; nj