St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1886-05-02
A BETROTHAL RING.
A Future Bride Who Betrothed
aJeweler.
Thrilling Romances Invented to Help
Her make Up Her Mind.

and suaye, but his customers seemed de-
termlned to tax his powers of endurance to
their utmost limit. The lady had no idea
OF what she wanted. The gentleman was
merely there in the role of paymaster-
whatever she bought he would indOrse with
dollars and cents. He had no ideas of his
own on the subject, and offered no advice
Whatever shall get?" said the fair
customer presently, in accents of despair.
II declare, if had thought that it would
be SO hard to choose an engagement ring l
would never have been engaged. No, John,
you needn't look at me in that manner. I
repeat that L would never have been en-
gagged"
The gentleman appeared vexed at this
display OF feminine veXation; the jeweler
smiled and rose to the occasion. Rays of
amusement struggled through the misty
annoyance which had been clouding his
cOuntenance. II don't mind devoting half
an hour to the explanation of the signiti-
canoe of rings, he said, presently. "Of
course | don't want to lose my time, YOU
know"
lit shall not be lost, " interposed John,
hastily. II promise that / will buy a ring
from you in any case. So kindly advise
my wife that is to be, upon the selection of
fitting one"
with pleasure" said the jeweler as he
motloned his customers to seats, took one
himself, opened a case which scintillated
with variety of richly studded rings, and
cleared his throat with the caution of the
would-be orator. ''Of course you know
he began. that most of the
SUPERSTITIONS ATTACHED TO RINGS
and the wearing of rings date from the fif-
teenth and sixteenth centuries, and are pop
ularly supposed to be completely extinct at
the present enlightened time. There never
was such mistake. Ring superstitions are
as rife to-day as they ever have been,
though no one would dare to confess that
he believed in them. / have scores of
people come to my shop armed with an
array OF facts-alleged facts, should say
concerning precious stones which would
fill an octave book without difficulty. The
other day lady and gentleman came in.
They were in the same pleasant relations
which-ahem!- am pleased to observe, in
my present customers" (The lady blushed
and the gentleman looked blandly uncon-
cerned.)
''She was about to present him with a
ring, which she insisted that he should &C.
cept. he had declined several times upon
the ground that it was not customary for a
But she was adamant and he was forced to
comply with her request 1t appears that
he lived very disspated life, and that she
was quite aware of the fact. She selec ted
sapphire ring from the case l showed to
her. 1t was the only one there, and she
put it on his finger without any hesitation.
"'Wear that. she said, for my sake
81 know what you mean," he said, color
ing wildly, and growing extremely indig-
nant. 81 know something about the mean
ing of rings, and let Inc tell you, Estella,
that do not appreciate the generosity
which prompts you to offer me this"
''Wear it," she said holly, ''or l will
break the engagement. If you know what
it MEANS so much the better. Ii you do
not l shall never tell you-be quite sure of
that Accept that ring. l ask it as the
very greatest favor you can do me-" They
wrangled over the purchase a great deal
more, and both grew very angry. But a
woman generally gets her own way, and
when they left my shop he wore the ring
on his fourth finger"
"What did she mean?" asked the lady
customer much interested.
Remember" am only telling you this
for-for recreation" stammered the Jew
eler. Don't imagine that mean to in
sinuate anything. A sapphire ring is sup
posed to
POSSESS VERY GREAT MORAL POWER.
No man would dare to wear one in any
haunt of dissipation if he had any knowl.
edge of the subject. Should he be ndiscreet
enough to do so, his action will at once be
known to the one whom he holds dearest
Now, you may suppose that sensible
people wouldn't believe such story.
But they do-hundreds of them, ]
can assure you. The sapphire is also
supposed to signify piety and godli-
ness. In the olden times clergymen were
very partial to the stone, and it was con-
| sidered quite appropriate for them to veal
it in ring. Every one knows that opals
are considered exceedingly unlucky," con-
| tinued the jeweler. Il don't believe that
superstition will ever be overcome" he said
emphatically. Ask any jeweier in New
| York city and he will tell you that he sells
! SO few opals that his stock rarely contains
but half dozen. l never sell any, !
tell you frankly, and tits great pity, fol-
| in my opinion there is no more beautiful
stone. People say that in time the faint
will be forgotten and opals will be as popu-
lar as diamonds or pearls. / don't believe
it. Strange to say the belief in the unlucki-
ness OF opals does not date from ancient
times. The Greeks wore them in prefer
ence to any other stone. They used to i'm
agine them to be fragments broken from the
car of PhGbus. Thus an opal was sup
posed to possess the power of be-
slowing the gift of foresight
upon the owner; of acting
as an antidote to poisons; of relieving
melancholy; of driving away melancholy,
and OF bringing lovers together. Now
that is all changed. You will find men of
the world and women of education to tell
you that an opal foreshadOws misfortune:
that coming events can be foreseen by the
brightness or dulness of the stone, and
that the constant thought of this fatal at
tribute brings sorrow and anxiety to the
owner"
L don't think I'll have an opal, john -
| said the lady customer, clinging slightly to
the gentleman's arm.
''Pshaw!' said John: ''what have old
Roman and English superstitions got to do
with brand-new America? But as you
choose"
''Rubies are more suited for young low
ers." continued the jeweler placidly. He
| omitted to state that they were also more
expensive. 1.-THE people of the Burmese
| empire believe that ruby is a human soul
Buddha, and consequently in the last stage
OF TRANSPORTATION. A ruby is the emblem
of the most passionate and absorbing love.
(The lady placed her hand gently upon a
large ring set with the rosy stones. The
gentleman more practically examined the
hgures on the ticket attached to it, A
| ruby
IN THE OLD DAYS OF CHIvALRY
was fupposed to lead knight to conquest,
to cause obstacles to melt away, and to in.
spire him with bravery and zeal. 1t also
kept his honor unstained and his character
without a blemish"
you want one of these. John, dear,
cooed the lady.
Pearls are greatly in request among
ladies about to be married." resumed thu
jeweler, not noticing the interruption
pearls have always been the particula
emblems of purity, l suppose on account O
their color. They are also credited witt