The weekly herald. [volume] (Cleveland, Tenn.) 1876-1888, 1879-04-10
Cousin Bob.

1t was an odd-looking old ring, set
with single opal. Not the sort of
ring, by any means, usually chosen
for wedding-ring. But it had been
in the Redfern family for ever so many
years, and on the bright summer
morning, when Jack Redfern was to
make pretty Susan Wheatley his wife,
he brought the opal ring, and with it
string of old-fashioned, pinkish-tinted
pearls.
81 have always heard that opals are
unlucky," said Susan, "Why didn't
you get plain gold band, Jack"
at was my mothers wedding-ring,
and my grandmother's, and my great
grandmother's, and maybe even fur
ther back than that"
A year had sped by. In the waning
brightness of departing summer, Susan
sat in the old trysting-placc alone. The
quaint opal ring glittered on her finger.
She touched it caressingly, turned the
stone 10 catch the sunlight, her pensiye
eyes full of unshed tears, a tender
smile parting her lips; as she thought
of her happy bridal morning, only one
short year ago.
For Jack was gone! Gone off over
the seas; never to return, perhaps;
gone, and not one word or line had
come to her since that terrible night of
his going. But she waited ard hoped
with that faith which is born of death
less love.
Jack, fond and proud of her in his
masculine fashion, had been prone to
be jealous. without cause, as he con-
fessed himself, but the miserable fail
ing seemed to be part and parcel OF his
nature.
One afternoon, Susan had gone into
her garden to weed her tlOwer-beds,
while awaiting her husbands return. e.
"Susan" called pleasant, lazy
voice.
She dropped her rake and looked up.
1t was only Bob-her cousin, Bob
Wheatley.
"Why, Bob, how you startled me-"
she said.
win you come in? But Pm very
busy"
The young man Sauntered in.
you're always busy, it seems to me,
Susan, when Pm about" he said with
smiling sort of ilnpudence. Won't
you shake hands with fellow, for the
sake of old timesW
A flush rose in the young wife's
cheeks; but she gave Bob the tips of
her fingers.
In her girlish days, Susan had been a
good deal admired-for her own sweet
face and winning ways, for the most
rart; but in few cases, the fact that
she would inherit the old Wheatley
Homestead served to enhance her at
fractions.
Her cousin Bob had been one of her
most assiduous admirers. lie followed
her like shadow and even after her
engagement to Jack Redfern, was a
little disagreeable by his marked de-
votlon.
After her marriage, on one occasion,
Cousin Bob had excited jacks jealous
anger by making NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
to Susan, and some pretty hard
words had passed between them.
Bob took the finger-tips she offered,
held them an instant, and then carried
them to his lips.
"How dare your" cried Susan,
snatching her hand awav; then picked
up her rake ana went on with her
wedding.
"Iet me do that for you, Susan" lie
said after minute. "1f you were my
wife, you shouldn't drudge like a
slave"
Susan gave him a blazing glance.
'But am not your wife, and glad
enough am of it," she replied. $50
away Bob; | don't wantyou here when
Jack is absent"
Bob laughed an ugly, provoking sort
of laugh. m
81 suppose not. You're afraid he'll
come and find me here, the Jealous
brute. But am not going"
'Then ri go myself" said the
ung wife, and lett the garden.
Rob stood irresolute a minute, hall
,grettlng what lie had done, half in
lined TO follow his cousin, ana beg
her pardon, Something glitterlng in
the mound at his feet caught his eye.
lie stopped and picked up the old opal
ring, which had always been u little
large for his cousins finger.
His first impulse was to return 1t to
Susan at once; his second was to keep
it, and pay her Off for treating him so