The Portland daily press., 1880-08-30
THE PRESS.
THE OPAL RING.

AS fortune compelled me, / became the
travelling companion of Marie Rosis l
hardly loved migratory life, but she soon
grew to be the world to me, and her slave.
l had not travelled long with her when dis
covered that we had follower, or rather
partner. He never addressed us, but fol-
lowed US like shadow.
1t was after the stranger came that |
learned what madame was searching for. A
ring with heart upon it had mysteriously
disappeared from her finger one night while
she was sleeping-all that She had left of
NJ. Rosis.
at was" she said, ga ring he gave Inc
while dying. He said that a curse would
follow me if l lost it. l did not lose it. 1t
went away from me, and am not happy"
"Yeu are not to blame for what you
could not help"
''Ah. but if lover took it?" she said,
shaking her head slowly. SIT was taken
when l had fallen asleep on warm day in
the drawing-room."
As madame walked to and fro restlessly,
the stranger came noiselessly in and walked
beside her. She did not notice him. For
myself, grew angry and hea,ed at his bold
ness. As started forward to speak, the
man raised his hand to his forehead, and
saw something on it that glowed blood-red
in the sunlight. l looked at it eagerly and
saw tue shape of heart outlined on the
slender finger. My heart bounded. Here
was the lover that had stolen madame's
ring. 1t should be restored to her, and
once more she should know happiness.
While my lips were parted to speak and my
hand reached forth to touch his arm, he
was gone.
told her then of the gentleman who
walked beside her, of his appearance, and
that he wore ring with blood-red heart
L pray that may never on earth see face
so fearful as Marie's. She clutched both
hands about my arms, and held me close to
her, at the same time asking me how Idared
thus talk and act. Just then he was out
side looking in at the window. At that mo-
ment shrieked, and madame sprang to her
feet. A crowd came in to see us, and fell
back fainting.
The next day, on a summer morning, we
started away, and was growing in happy
mood. But ia looking around as she
turned towards me, felt some one touch my
shoulder. turned quickly, when 1 found
the stranger sitting near us on the train.
His presence seemed so real to me that /
spoke angrily:
'If you please, sir"
Madame looked around.
ITO whom are you speaking, Louise"
/ knew, then, that whatever | saw, wheth-
er man or evil one, Madame Rosis was con-
scious of nothing managed to evade an
answer. At night we came to our resting
place.
'sHere we shall find the ring said mad
anne, as we hurried out of the train. at is
like an inspiration. feel it through and
through
the town. 1t was dark night, Madame
had fro nm ado N 4 no ORC md NJ ri vii q
to be brought.
This is my home,' she said. ''No one
dare intrude."
No one? Was madame so sure? AS she
spoke, the pleasant-faced stranger, ghost or
man, came noislessly in, and sat by the fire.
He wore the same expression as when had
first seen him. CHANGING at his hand saw
the blood-red ring glowing upon his finger.
''You do not drink" madame said, as
sat holding the wine glass, ''What is it?'
put down the glass with a shudder.
Madame Rosis, 1 want to go home
This is your home. By day it is beauti-
full. Tonight l know there are shadows
and at is cold. We can have more fire.
THAT is not i'll want my sister. seem
to be sitting here.'
''Well, WE'LL will play to you. will
sing"
She threw open the piano. Good heav-
ems! What a wall came FROM it as her deli
cate fingers ran up and down the keys.
Wild unrest agony, despair, found voice
in the melody which she awakened. The
stranger listened at her side, and in an un-
certain light, they seemed to mingle and
waver together.
Was l in the atmosphere of tomb? /
cried out:
''Let me go, madame-in the name Of
mercy, let me CO."
''You need rest" she said. ''You shall
go to your room and have supper there.''
So she led me Ike child upstairs,
where was certainly more cheerful.
did not wait for supper. Thoroughly
exhausted bodily and mentally, 1 sank upon
the bed. l do not know how long slept
l started up suddenly from my pillow, a
fearful shrek entering through my brain.
1t was madame's voice that aroused me-
In moment there was sound of hurried
feet in the hall, a murmur of strange voices,
and some one threw open the door opposite
mine. 1t stole out and crossed the hall to
madame's room. There was a group of
strange people standing by her bedside.
A voice said, ''She is dead"
''What is it-what killed her?' asked
81 do not know. Probably her heart was
diseased. Some sudden fright did it. The
detectives have been on her track for
weeks"
''The detectives? Why?"
''She poisoned Monsieur Rosis, her hus-
band. That is the portrait yonder," said
the physician.
/ gave one glance toward 1t. l had little
need to look at it, since the face was so ter
ribly familiar
''She has escaped justice" some one said
solemnly.
''You are mistaken. She has gone to
meet it."
''Seer' cried another in startled voice.
"She wore his ring again"
Hooked down at the little waxen hand,
now clay cold. On the white fore finger the
heart of Monsieur Rosis glowed and burned.
ltSwas plain to me, no matter what others
thought. Madame had died of fright when
the ring was placed on her finger.
Her impression had been true. She had
that night found her ring, Let us hope,
too, that she found rest.
"0T TIpG