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

fictions, and appealed to his reason and
judgment, but to no purpose.
No." said he, II should be glad
enough to think with you, and accept
your views, but I can't do it. I am
not ordinarily superstitious. or even
susceptible, but look at the chain of
circumstances here involved. Ny faith
or comes across that rare book alto.
gether by accident. He buys it at an
extravagant price. He is not an anti
quarian or collector, and is generally
. frugal man. The book is brought
home and Within my reach. find this
ring in the only fish catch during the
day, and that when I am returning
home, without expectation or intention
on my part. Ihave 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 l find there 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 I to regard it as such I
I cannot believe it so. I am REQUIRED
to recognize the force of such con-
junction. I am bound to accept the
description, and in doing this cannot
ignore the prediction. am doomed
man. and my shadow walks ever with
me-"
Pausing for moment, he abruptly
asked: How can I 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 went
like child.
I won't say that I was astonished. I
think had already arrived at a 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
duoed. believe I was more affected
byi is suggestivencss than by it's reality.
That a man, such as I know Leisler to
be, could be impelled by q mere ideal
ism to such remuneration vas simply
inexplicable. Certainly no words could
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 10 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
q 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. I 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 did not know,
though was assured that he had new
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 bis continued absence,
though how it affected her, with my
limited opportunities, I could hardly
determine. And so the bleak winter
passed by and spring came, and with it
1 hoped for change.
It was q lovely day in March, such as
that variable month sometimes devel-
ops asan earnest of those to follow an
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 it
down only to 60 over it's contents men
tally. had begun to notice evidences
of failing health with an increased de-
votion to the pursuit of his idea. His
earnestness was such that it impressed
me to certain extent with the reality
of his suppositions, while at the same
time it forced me to the conclusion that
the imagination could be dispelled only
through ono 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 L labored but as yet to
no purpose. On this afternoon ]
urged him to put away his book and
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 MIR. Talfourd, when re.
membered needed a thermometer, and
took my friend in with me- Edith was
standing by the counter. A slight col.
or spread over her features as she bow.
ed to Leisler and myself. Her father
was out, she stated, but she would be
happy to attend to our wants: I ex.
ressed my dee res, and while inspect.
ing the articles, entered upon a gener-
al conversation into which, with some
effort, Leisler was drawn. AS his hand
rested on the case, the ring came under
Miss Talfourd's observation.
" May I look at your ring, Mr.. Leis.
sidered a curiosity"
Excuse my taking it off," he an.
swered, with some hesitation, as he
extended his hand.
The simple interest on the face of the
one contrasted peculiarly with the NOR.
bid excitement exhibited by the other.
The scene. was study for the artist
stood apart and waited result. She
looked for a moment, and then asked.
"What is the inscription, Mr.. Leis
ler7"
"Inscriptiona" he exclaimed.
"Why, yes," said she, "there il
certainly an inscription there
"I wish there might be" he return.
ed, with q gloomy incredulousness.
"But there il" she repeated, with
: evident excitement. "Can't you see
it," indicating the scratches on the
face of the stone. "The marks are &c
regular that there can be no doubt Of
:. it. Come to the window, Mr.. Leisier,
and look through this microscope"
"You look, Miss Talfourd /; can
not"
She fitted the microscope to her eye,
and bent over his hand. After a min
: ute she looked up, and saying, /" it il
not sufficiently powerful, " adjusted an
other instrument.
The strain was to severe for his over
tasked mind.
Read it," he exclaimed. "fol
Gods sake, read it, Edith, if you can.
/ The flush deepened on her face a
l she looked. She simply said:
: =" can read it, Mr.. Leisler.'