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

''Rich, are you superstitious z"
| looked at him III surprise. The
possibility of his being affected by such
considerations had never occurred to
me. replied;
"Not in the least dear fellow. Are
youl'
He mused for moment as he looked
at the ring, and said;
"Tm sure don't know; 7 didn't
use to be. "
What on earth then has brought it
to your mind nowl" / enquired, with
curiosity and with the intention Of hav-
ing it out there and then.
& Well,n he said, Slowly at first, as
though arriving at a conclusion, not
that believe in any of the trash we
read, about manifestations and medi
ums and the like. | haven't seen any
ghosts, or been in any trance, but be
tween this internal ring and this abomi-
nable book, | don't know what believe.
I'm thoroughly mixed. And he look
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 it
and found out my fate. | don't trou-
BILE You much longer" he sighed.
''Tel me all about, Far" / urged
" Let me hear what it is.
"Well, said he, Il don't know as it
will afford You much comfort or salts
faction but sou might as well learn. /
got the ring, and, while wondering with
You about its origin, remembering an
old book in our library that father pick
ed up IN Europe, some medieval chron-
icles.' thought that perhaps / might
there find what / wanted. Here's the
thing" and he opened it on the desk
before me. 1t was a huge old volume
written in English, and as the text and
letter.press indicated, very old and cor
respondingly valuable.
Listen, said he, as he proceeded
to read;
4" And it befell at Ravenna that GER
tain 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
wayes-and this should surely befell
him. Now, the ring was of pure gold,
very small, as for bridc, and very
broad for a protection. The same did
have an oval shield of green stone over
laid with layer Of white, and was every
year the samo.
He closed the book, and looked at me
in silence. This, then, was his mystery.
|. endeavored to disprove the state
ments-urged their unreliability, re-
ferred him to expositions of similar
tctions, and appealed to his reason and
but to no purpose.
No, SAID he, q 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
eXtrayagant price. He is not an anti
quarian or collector, and is generally
a frugal man. The book is brought
home aud within my reach. | find this
ring III 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 n minute and par
ticular description of the object, and
more than that, I'M awful inttmation of
the wearer's fate. Is all this mere
chance and am | TO regard 1t as such
/ cannot believe it so. | am required
to recognize the force of such CON
Junction. | am bound to accept the
description, and IN doing this ! cannot
ignore the prediction. | am a doomed
man, and my shadow walks ever with
me.
pausng for moment, he abruptly
asked How can | ever ask Edith
Talfourd to share 1t with me And I've
loved her for years.
The overtaXed system gave way, and
the poor fellow bowed his head and wept
like a child
| won't say that ! was astonished. /
think had already arrived at n degree
of amazemeut beyond which any fur
Their attainment was physically impos-
sible Even this last development fail
ed to excite the wonder, which under
other circumstances, ii might have IN
NurpR Z hplipvp | was plDr- n Elected