Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1872-12-12
sssss-, SaE Vol. III, No. II.

Mr.. Webster, that afternoon when
spoke of Lulu Raynor's betrothal. Die
you see the opal ring upon her hand th'
next day?"
"Yes, saw it, he answered, shortly
at confirmed your words, Miss Merri'
man, and proved to me how utterly
had been deceived in Miss Raynor. We
will not discuss the subject farther.
thank you for opening my eyes before
1 had added myself to her list of vic
tins.
He changed the subject abruptly, and
was unusually social the remainder Of
the walk. Helen invited him to call al
her friends when they parted, and he
left her, promising to do so soon.
He did call the next evening and the
next evening and the next, and Helen
Merriman's heart grew very hopeful.
Was she going to be repaid for all her
schemes at last?
The days went by until ten had passed
since Helen Merriman's arrival, and
still she fingered at Mrs. Bailey's. Mr.,
Webster called almost daily, and she felt
sure he was almost won. a heart
upon the rebouud' it would be if she
obtained him, but she did not care for
tbat Gho Inyod hin, ac nplu unmap
like her, passionate, crafty, seheming,
can love. Her love was wild and un-
reasonable, and would if she won him
die perhaps as suddenly as it had sprung
up. But opposition and difficulty only
famed the flame.
One evening just at twilight Carl
Webster strolled up the path to Mrs.
Bailey's residence. On the steps he met
the postman, and thinking the ladies
We're engaged with letters he concluded
not to disturb them, so seated himself
upon the verandah to smoke his segar
until they should make their appear
ance.
He had not more than seated himself,
when he heard q name which sent the
hot blood to his face, in quick tide. 1t
was Mrs. Bailey's voice, and it came
through the open window, from the
parlor.
"From Miss Raynor, did you say !?
nd vvhn &c ubat hoe ha copt
you an opal ring for?" the voice said.
And Helen Merriman answered:
"Oh, it is my ring and wished it on
her hand one day; you know there is q
superstition that an opal ring wished
on to lady's finger, will bring your
wish. So l tried it on Miss Raynor, a
young lady who was visiting at Mrs.
Wilson's. When 1 came away, neither
of us thought of the ring. Now she
sends it to me, hoping the charm has
worked. The letter was written some
days ago, but was addressed to my
home, and has been forwarded here.
By the way, do not mention this to Mr..
Webster. He has an utter contempt for
all omens and superstitions, and am
afraid should fall in his estimation, if
he knew believed in such things. So
please do not mention this before him."
Carl Webster waited to hear no more.
With quick, noiseless steps he walked
down the path, and to the depot. A
train would leave in just half an hour.
He paced the platform impatiently till
the bell rang, and then hurried on
board the train, and threw himself into
a seat. How slowly the Express train
ran. 1t seemed to him lie could walk
the distance quicker. Great was the
astonishment of the guests assembled in
Mrs. Wilson's parlors that evening,
when Carl Webster made his appearance
amongst them. He had returned as sud-
denly as he departed. They began to
think the elegant Carl Webster some
thing of lunatic. But Lulu Raynor,
on whose finger no hateful opal gleam-
ed, understood the whole mystery,
when he found opportunity to tell her
the story of that ring, and how and
why it had influenced his departure.
al could not believe Miss Merriman's
he said, "until 1 saw what l
to be the proOf-that opal ring
upon your finger. When my eye fell
upon it, it seemed to burn into my very
soul, and could not sit at the table. or
remain in the same house with you,
knowing you to be utterly lost to me.
Miss Merriman took pains to remind
me of the ring, when 1 next met her,
referring to it as proof of your engage
ment. Consequently, when overheard
her explanation to her friend, on the ar
rival of your letter with the ring, and
heard her earnestly request her friend
not to mention the occurrence to me,
my eyes were suddenly opened to the
whole plot. Without losing one mo-
ment's time, came to you, and 1 did
not come in vain. My darling, you
cannot know how well / love you
how blank life seemed when l thought
you lost to me-"
Lulu Raynor's eyes, glistening with
glade tears, answered him. And Helen
Merriman, sitting out on the moolit
porch, twenty miles away, little dream
ing that the man she was watching for,
would never come up that again; little
dreamed that her schemes and plots
and falshoods were all in vain, and at
that moment Lulu Raynor was pledging
herself, heart and soul, forever and ever
to Carl Webster.
She never could understand how
Carl discovered her plot. 1t is to this
day a mystery to her-but she is very
sure he knows all, since he has married
Lulu Raynor,and cut her acquaintance.
She hates the sight of her opal ring,and
can never be induced to wear it.-The
Saturday Erening Post.
Goats and the Epizootic.
A New York correspondent writes:
some of my friends has kept his horse
sound through all the epidemic by feed
ing boiled potatoes and meal, as hot as
it could be endured, and also by keep
ing a buck goat in the stable. This an