Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1872-05-09

determine. And SO the bleak winter
/ passed by and spring came, and with it
l hoped for change.
! 1t was a lovely day in March, such as
/ that variabl mouth sometimes devel-
/ ops as an earnestOf those to follow an
almost perfect day with no harsh winds
or chilling frosts to recall the season
/ that had passed. Leisier had spent the
afternoon over his old book, and put it
down only to go over its contents men
tally. l had begun to notice evidences
OF failing health with an increased de-
votlon to the pursuit of his idea. His
ealnestness was such that it impressed
me to a certain extent with the reality
of his suppositions, while at the same
I time it forced me TO the conclusion that
the imagination could be dispelled only
through Que 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 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 Mr.. TaLfourd, when | re.
membered needed a thermometer. and
took my friend in with me Edith was
/ standing by the counter. 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. / ex-
ressed my DIES res, and while inspect
ing the articles, entered upon 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 | look at your ring, Mr.. Leis-
lerf sae asked. 81 believe it is con.
sldered 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 a result. She
looked for a moment, and then asked.
What is the inscription, Mr. Leis
ler2"
inscription" he exclaimed.
Why, yes, said she, "there is
certainly an inscription there"
" wish there might be- he return
ed, with gloomy incredulousness.
"But there is, she repeated, with
70,
it ~ indicating the scratches on the
face of the stone. "The marks are so
regular that there can be no doubt of
it. Come TO the window, Mr.. Leisler,
and look through this microscope.
lyon look, Miss Talfourd / can't.
She fitted the microscope to her eye,
and bent over his hand. After min
ute she looked up, and saying, " it is
not sufficiently powerful" adjusted an
other instrument.
The strain was to severe for his over
tasked mind.
" Read it," he exclaimed. ''for
Gods sake, read it, Edith, if you can"
The flush daepened on her face rs
she looked. She simply said;
can read 1t, Mr. Leisler."
"Read it, F." he answered. as the work
ing of his face indicated his suppressed
excitement.
- 1t is a quotation, she said, "from
the Song of Solomon, and written IN
the original Hebrew. 1t reads Il will
seek him whom my soul loyeth. Mr..
Lelsler," she added, . / can tell you
the story Of that ring. 1t is as remark.
able, as it is true
" Go on, he said, as he grasped
Wondering, perhaps, at his anxiety,
but exhibiting in her eager manner her
interest in his behalf, she began:
My grandmother dear friend was
Saiomn Renwick, Jewess by birth, a
lovely character and talented mind.
She taught me out of her Hebrew
Bible the language of her fathers, and
told me Of their traditions. When |
knew her she was very old, though still
retaining all the charms that had made
her whole life brilliant. She was mar
Rcd, | think, in the year 1870, Her
husband died 20 years after, and thence
forth she lived with my grandmother.
Mr.. Renwick caused two rings to be
mhue, each an exact pattern Oh heiAHil,
the singer, as described in the Tai
mud-a broad plate of gold, joined to
an oval disk of chrysoprase, on which
was infinitely inscribed in Hebrew char
acters n sentence from the Cnnticles.
One of these he wore himself, the 9TH
er he gave to his wife His was buried
with him; the other his wife lost from
her finger in the Atlantic, at Cape May.
She often told me of the circumstance
and mourned the loss, while she de-
scrihed the object so particularly that