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

/ suppose that never man uVeQ
within a more contracted sphere, or de-
voted his energies more assidorsly to
the pursuit of single idea, than Far
quharson Leisler, during the fall of
1869 and the winter of 10. And yet,
while the fact was apparent, the cause
was so obscure that men could do little
more than speculate regarding it, and
in default of actual evidence, circulate
innumerable and extraordinary surm-
ises.
Not many of his friends pretended to
any acquaintance with his inner life. [
think that among them all I was the
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 a coinci-
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 a frivious assertion, but
it was 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 its prophet
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 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 i'll success. In
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 the
race and secured victim. During such
preliminary Investigations as were ne
cessary, the ring was found. How it
had got there, where it had come from
what were it's antecedents, we did not
know. The fact of its existence and of
it's present purpose was evident. Leis-
ler appropriated it and placed it, with
great satisfaction, upon the finger afore-
said. The object was certainly d curl
osity. Apart from the singularlty of
it's discovery and the uncertainty at
tending its previous history, it posses
sed intrinsic peculiarities that entitled
it to more than ordinary consideration.
The ring was small, barely large enough
to fit Le1sler's rather diminutive hand.
A broad, fiat band of gold, sJ1rmounted
by large oval seal of chrysoprase- 1t
how, or under what circumstances, was
profound mystery. On the face of
the stone were a number of almost i'm
perceptible scratches, apparently the
result of some injury, and regretted by
Leisler as impairing the value and
beauty of the object. The ring was GER
tainly an antique, and, though adyer-
tised, found no owner.
About a month OF six weeks after
the discovery began to notice change
in my friend. His manner seemed ab-
stracted, distract and troubled, while
the blithe, hghthearted look ne had
| habitually worn gave place to a wearied
cheerless expression. At the time
he became unusually reticent, avoiding
conversation, particularly of personal
nature, and was continually absorbed
| in the perusal of an old volume thai
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-
yelop their character. And the DAYS
passed by, ] working the more and he
| the less, and exhibiting with the neg
lect an increasing devotion to the musty
old tome. .a
One morning he closed the book with
| the tired look that the last few weeks
had taught me to know, and resting
his head upon his hand looked up as if
about to speak. He twirled the ring
upon his finger as he asked, with a
melancholy smile:
" Rich, are you superstitious ?"
Hooked at him in surprise. The
possibility of his being affected by such
considerations had never occurred to
me- [ replied:
"Not in the least dear fellow. Are
you?"
I He mused for a moment as he looked
at the ring, and said: r.
"I'm sure [ don't know; [ didn't
use to be"
"What on earth then has brought it
to your mind now?" [ enquired, with
curiosity and with the intention of hay
ing it out there and then.
Well" he said, slowly at first, as
though arriving at conclusion, not
that / believe in any Of the trask we
read, about manifestations and med
ums and the like. [ haven't seen any
ghosts, OF been in any trance, but be