Smyrna times., 1878-11-06
An Unjust Suspicion;
OR, a SUPERSTITION OF THE WEDDING RING.

1t was an odd-ooking old ring, set with
single opal. Not the sort of ring, by any
means, usually chosen for a wedding ring.
But it was in the Redfern family for ever so
many years, and on the bright summer
morning when Jack Redfern was to make
Phyllis Lukehart his wife, he brought the
opal ring, and with it a string of old
fashioned, pinkish-tinted pearls.
have always heard that opals are un-
lucky said Phyllis. Why didn't you
get plain gold band, Jack ?"
The young mans eager face clouded.
"The fact is he said, sit has been in
my family so long l don't like to be the
first one to set it aside. 1t was my
mothers wedding ring, and my grand
mothers, and my reat-grandmother's and
may be even further back than that
Phyllis flung her arms about his neck.
" Forgive me- she said, "I was foolish to
feel superstitious. There can be nothing
to harm one in an opal, after all"
A year had sped by. In the waning
brightness of departing summer, Phyllis
sat in the old trysting place alone. The
quaint opal ring glittered on her finger
She touched it caressingly, turned the
stone to catch the sunlight, her pensive
eyes full of unshed tears, a tender smile
parting her lips, as she thought of the
happy bridal morning, only short yeaI
ago.
For Jack was gone; gone off over the
seas, never to return, perhaps. He haC
left in anger; left without kiss, or even q
tender word
Her knitting lay, unthought of on the
corner of the stone fence, and, twisting
the old opal on her finger, she sat anC
thought of her forebodings when the rims
was first given to her. She did not wait a
in days gone by, for Jacks coming. Sh'
| had no hope of that. But when the after
| noon sun struck the summit Of the greer
pine forest, old, Duff, the postman, woult
| go by on his spotted nag, and mayhap h
would bring her letter The old man hat
known her since she was a child, and had
hint of her trouble, too; if the letter cam
he would not fail to deliver it. SO Phylli
sat and waited, as she had waited so man
afternoons, through that dreary summer.
Jack was gone, and not one word or lin
had come since that terrible night of hi
going. But she waited and hoped, wit
that faith which is born of deathless love
Jack, fond and proud of her, in his ma
culine fashion, had been prone to be jealou
| -hlluOul CduStg as il0 COIlitSSCu UlIIlSGlI
but the morbid, miserable feeling SCENE
to be part and parcel Of his nature. II
could not hear to think that his wife fOun
pleasure in any society, or even in th
simplest pleasures when he was absent.
And Jack was a seafaring man. Frol
his very infancy he had followed the watt
for living.
During that brief, bright year of marie
| lifa hio EoI - e.
and far between and on one or two occ
sions he had taken his pretty bride wit
him.
Early in the spring there was talk of h
vessel being ordered abroad, and crcur
stances, beyond the control of either hu
band or wife, forbade Phyllis to accompar
him. Jack was greatly troubled.
II shall not 60, Phyllis" he said, OF
morning, when the rumor babe fair to be
certainty. at would go hard with me
leave you at any time; now, it is OF
of the question. I'll go down to-day to s
what arrangement | can make"
His wife put her white arms about
neck, and whispered her thanks in his e;
and Jack went his way.
Left to herself, Phyllis made her lit
home as tidy as a band-box, got up
tempting little dinner, made pretty toll
and then, in the cool Of the afternoc
went out into her garden to weed
flower beds.
The tulips were just beginning to sht
bright glimpses Of the gaudy splendor i
prisoned in their green tubes, and the
acinths, already in bloom, filled the
with sweet, suggestive fragrance, carryi
one back to departed days.
But busy little Mrs. Redfern, if she W.
at all susceptible to any such mystic
fences, was in no mood for them Il
If sunny afternoon. She only thought
. Jack, and her verbena beds, and work
away with will.
"Phyllis," called pleasant, lazy vol
: She dropped her rake and looked up.
- 1t was only Rob-her cousin, Rob Lu
rn hart.
al "Why, Rob, how you startled me r'
ng said. "Will you come in? But I'm v
cl- busy"
~ The young man sauntered in.
"You're always busy, it seems to
= Phyllis, when I'm about" he said, wit
ers smiling sort Of impudence. Won't
eh shake hands with fellow, for the sak'
his old times?"
lie A flush. almost as bright as the tt
4 streaks, rose in the young wife's chee
but she gave Rob the tips of her fingers
In her girlish days Phyllis had bee
- good deal admired, for her own sweet
at and winning ways, Tor the most part;
q ~ l. III