Middletown transcript., 1872-01-27
the ring, and said
I'm sure don't know. ! didn't use

to be-"
What on earth. then. has brought II to
your mind now!" inquired. with curios-
i.y and with the intention Of having il out
then and there.
WE'LL" he said. slowly at arst, as tho
arriving ut q conclusion, =" not that be.
lieve in auy Of the Trash We read about.
manifestations. mediums and the like.
havp't seen any ghosts. or been in any
trnhce, but between this Internal ring and
this nboninablc book, | dop't know what
] do believe. I'm thoroughly mixed"
Aud lie looked At me in uncertainty aud
doubt The old book tells me ali about
il. l don't know what evil spirit ever
prompted me to look it up but I've done
il, and found out my fate. | won't trou-
bic you much longer he .,hrd.
Tell the all about it. Far" urged -
- Let NE hear what il is"
WELL" said he, " | don't know TINT
il will afford you much comfort or salts.
faction. but you might AZ well learn, /
got the ring, aud. while wondering with
you about IT'S origin. rs,nembcrcd an old
book IN our library. that father picked up
III hur"n., some medieval Italian chron-
'e'.s. thought that perhaps nigh,
there find what | wanted " Here's the
thing, ani he opened il on the desk be-
tore nc, Ii wa, huge volume. written
in English. and as the text and letter
press Indicated. very old aud correspond
ingly valuable " Listen" said he, as
proceeded To read
Aud it bcfcll in Ravcnna. that u GER
tain ring was made yearly. to be cast into
the sea, that, perchnnce, the favor Of the
seas might be gained And furasmuch
as ,hi. did hcnccfor,h bclon g.i To the elc-
mcn,s, any one who did 'ase thcrcfrom
the offering should be judged guilty of
death Blu, it he should fad aud wear il
unsnowingly, he should be- lef, to the
mercy Of the Winds aud waves. and thi,
should surely bcfall him. Now, the ring
was Of pure gold very suall, ns for n
bride. and very broad as for protection
The same did have an oval shield Of green
stone crerlaid with layer of white, and
was every year the same"
lie closed the book, aud looked at me
in silence. This. then was the mystery
| cndaavnrrd to ii,prove the statements
urged their unrcliabii'y, referred him to
expeditions Of similar iciion. and appeal.
ed 10 his rcnsag aud judgment. but TO no
purpose,
NJ" said he. IL would be glad
enough TO think with you aud accept your
views. but J cant do il, a.a not ordi-
nrrily supcrslitioss, or even pcrccp,iblc.
but look at the chain Of circumstances
here involved, My father comes across
tina, rare book altogether by accident lie
is not an antiquarian or collector, and is
generally u frugal man. The book is
brought home a.d is within my reach
find this ring in the only fish | catch du-
ring the day. and that when am return
ing home. without expectation or in,cn.
ton on my part have M knowcdge
thai The article Is Italian. have never
loosei i,s, ile book Yet ! am led to
consult the one with regard to the other.
aud | find there minute aud particular
description Of the object, and more than
thar, a, awful iniiua,ion Of the wcarer's
fate. Is al this mere chance. aud am
to regard it 40 such: | canno, believe il
50. nin required to recognize the force
ut such conjunction. | am doomed
man, and my shadow walks ever with me.
Pau>ing for II moment. he abruptly asked.
" i,ow can ever ask Edith Taliourd to
share it With ne, Aud I've loved her
for years
The overtaskcd system gave way. aud
the poor fclloy bowed his head aud wept
like a child.
| won't say that was astouished |
think ! had already arrived at a degree OF
amazen,ent beyond wbc, aay further at.
,ain,nent was physically lmross,nl. Even
this last dcyclnpemcut failed To excite the
wonder which. under other circumstances,
it might have Induced. believe | was
more affected by its sugges,iycncss than
By its realty. That man, such as |
knew Leislrr 10 be, could be inpclcd by
mcrc idcalisn to such remuneration was
simply inexplicablc Certainly no words
couli do justice to the subject. or express
the varied aud conflicting emotions Of my
mind, II was clear case OF monomnnia.
aud needed measures was not able to apply
Daring tho winter | saw Edith Tafourd
occasionally. most frequently in her fathers
pew at Trinity. where went on Sunday
afternoons. She was sweet looking girl,
rather petite, With golden hair and blue
eyes. aud wistful expression upon her
face as though there might be something
she sought and had not gained liked
to watch her ns she bent over her prayer
book in all the sincerity of her pure and
earnest heart. aud joined sof, and swcetly
in the iutoued rcspnpces. Whether she
ever suspected Leislcr's love | did not
know, though | was sure he had never
revealed il in words. He had been fire.
quen, visitor at the little house in Maiden
Lane where her father still lived and kept
his opticians store, though nov for months
he had never been near tho place. She
could not but notice bis continued absence.
though how II affected her. with my limit
cd opportunities, Icould hardly determine.
And so bleak winter passed BY and spring
came. and With il hoped for change.
1nwnnv L. M...l -