Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1872-05-08

ed at me as though IN uncertainty and
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 il
and found out my fate. [ don't trou.
bic you much longer" he sighed.
Tell me all about, Far" I urged
Let me hear what it is.
"Well,n said he, "I don't know as il
will afford you much comfort or salts
faction but you might as well learn ]
got the ring, and, while wondering with
you about its origin, remembering al
old book in our library that father pick
ed up In Europe, some medieval chron-
icles. [ thought that perhaps [ might
there find what I wanted. Here's the
thing" and he opened it on the desk
j before me. It was huge old volume
written in English, and as the text and
s 1etter-press indicated, very old and cor
respondingly valuable.
. Listen, said he, as lie proceeded
to read:
g And it befen at Ravenna that GER
tam ring was made yearly, to be cast
into the sea, that, perchance, the favor
of the seas might be gained. And for
asmuch as this did henceforth belong
unto the elements any one who did take
therefrom the offering should be judged
guilty of DEATH But if he should find
and wear it unknowingly, he should be
left to the mercy of the winds and
waves-and this should surely befell
him. Now, the ring was of pure gold,
very small, as for bride, and very
broad for protection. The same did
have an oval shield of green stone over
laid with a layer of white, and was every
year the same
He closed the book, and looked at me
IN silence. This, then, was his mystery.
L endeavored to disprove the state
ments-urged their unreliability, re-
ferred him to expositions of similar
tictions, and appealed to his reason and
Judgment, but to no purpose.
NO" said he, "I should be glad
enough to think with you, and accept
your views, but [ can't do it. [ am
not ordinarily superstitious, or even
susceptible, but look at the chain OF
circumstances here involved. My faith
er comes across that rare book alto
gether by accident. He buys it at an
extravaganS price. He is not an anti
VI ID CO4'tOUOls anu
a frugal man. The book is brought
home and within my reach. [ find this
ring i'll the only fish [ catch during the
day, and that when [ am returning
home, without expectation or intention
on my part. [ have no knowledge that
the article is Italian. [ have never
looked into the book. Yet am led to
consult the one with regard to the 9th
er, and [ find there a minute and par
ticular description Of the object, and
more than that, an awful intimation OF
the wearer's fate. Is all this mere
chance, and am to regard it as such
[ cannot believe it so. [ am required
to recognize the force of such a con-
junction. [ am bound to accept the
description, and in doing this [ cannot
ignore the prediction. l am a doomed
man, and my shadow walks ever with
me-"
Pausing for q moment, he abruptly
asked How can [ ever ask Edith
Talfourd to share it with me ? And I've
loved her for years."
The overtaxed system gave way, and
the poor fellow bowed his head and wept
like child,
L won't say that [ was astonished. /
think [ had already arrived at degree
of amazement beyond which any fur
ther attainment was physically impos-
sible. Even this last development fail
ed to excite the wonder, which under
other circumstances, it might have in
duced. [ believe [ was more affected
byi ts suggestivencss than by it's reality.
That man, such as know Leisler to
be, could be impelled by mere ideal
ism to such remuneration was simply
inexplicable. Certainly no words conld
do justice to the subject, or express the
varied and conflicting emotions of my
mind. 1t was a clear case of mono
mania, and needed measures was not
able TO apply.
During the winter [ saw Edith Tai
fourd occasionally, most frequently in
her fathers pew at Trinity, where I
went on Sunday afternoons. She was
a sweet looking girl, rather petite, with
golden hair and blue eyes, and visit
full expression upon her face as though
there might be something she sought
and had not gained. [ liked to watch
her as she bent over her prayer book in
all the sincerity of her pure and earnest
heart, and joined soft and sweet in the
intoned responses. Whether she ever
expected Leisler's love I dio not know,
though [ was assured that he had nev-
er revealed it in words. He had been
a frequent visitor at the little house in
Maiden Lane, where her father still
} lived and kept his opticians store,
though now for months he had never
been near the place. She could not
but notice his continued absence,
though how it affected her, with my
limited opportunities, [ could hardly
determine. And so the bleak winter
passed b. and spring came, and with il
: L hoped for change.
It was lovely day in March, such as
that variable month sometimes devel
ops as an earnest of those to follow al
; almost perfect day with no harsh winds
or chilling frosts to recall the season
that had passed. Leisler had spent the
afternoon over his old book, and put il
down only to go over its contents men
tally. I had begun to notice evidences
: of falling health with an increased de-
votion to the pursuit of his idea. His
earnestness was such that it impressed
me to a certain extent with the reality
of his suppositions, while at the same
time it forced me to the conclusion thai
the imagination could be dispelled only
through one means. [ was confident
that if the ownership of the article
could be definitely established, and the
conviction brought home to his mind
he might be saved. And to this
end [ labored; but as yet tc
no purpose. On this afternoon
urged him to put away his book an6
come out with me a suggestion which
to my surprise, he proceeded to follow
We walked through the streets slowly
and silently till we approached the lit
tie store of Mr.. Talfourd, when [ re
membered [ needed a Thermometer, anC
took my friend in with me- Edith wa:
| standing by the counter A slight col
or spread over her features as she bow
t ed to Leisler and myself. Her fathe-
was out, she stated, but she would b'
hoy ta - re- T