The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-08
MY OPAL RING.

dent 70 my mind. Again | bad gone down
70 nv daily rnonotonous duties in the Brown
Paner Office lat wretchedly inadequate
stipend. seeing the country's wealth ana my
abilities. a gentleman Of certainly aristo-
cratic appearances shall we say inteliec-
tual featuresi-but with considerable num-
her Of unpaid bills at his lodgings and tastes
far too expensive for the sordid pay iur-
nished by cheese pairing government. Az
u. IN. was the betrothed lover OF Miss Mabel
Pmmley. who was OF age-and little over
and sole mistress Of various admirable IN
yestments producing 81 o. year
She lived with her aunt-a woman OF cor
peous and ford taste in costume and sur
roundings-on the Bayswater side OF hyde
park. The eligible family residence was her
own for the remainder Of long lease, OF
which seyenty-iiyo years were unexpired'
Stocks, shares, house property and SONG up
impeachable old fashioned foreign bonds
-tofmed the basis Of her wealth. A careful
study at Somerset house Of her la;e uncle,
-Jabez Plumley, the wholesale groeer's WIZ,
had informed my official mind Of these most
interesting facts. 70 do myself mere justice,
however, must add that, until | had been
Father epris with Mabel at Lady JoTox's
garden party at Hendon, did not study the
financial aspect of the matter. For Mabel
Ind personal attractions She was 70,
blonde. "large, languishing and lazy" as
Lord Byron beautifully expresses IT, OF regu-
lar features, azure eyes ana Of apparently
most equable temper. She was somewhat OF
"a gourmand, and think / won her heart 10y
nv almost juvenile fondnesS for strawoerries
and cream Of which we partook largely and
lazly while the rest Of the party played lawn
tennis. which my fair one dislikect, and as
NIL the other fellows as well as all the other
girls were enthusiasts in that line, and we
both hated the game, we had another taste
in common as we ate our stra" berries ana
cream and satirized all the other people
After this we met on several occasions, and
on this particular day took my courage III
both hands, as the French say, and proposed.
] was accepted.
/ had procured from confiding jeweler,
with whom | had had. some outstanding
transactions and 10 whom / gave some hint
of nv hopes Nor he was cautious mani,
very handsome diamond and pearl ring,
which ] slipped Oh Mabels taper finger. She
glanced at her well jeweled hands and drew
off an opal ring Of curious fashion Wear
this, dear Fred. for me-" she said ut was
my dear uncle's, but | should like you to
wear it now we arc engaged. can't say
much appreciated the romance Of the gift,
for old Plumley had been one Of the most
prosaic, not to say disagreeable, wholesale
vrocers who ever lived, and il flashed across
Il. f.al
being very unlucky stones Alas how iorci-
bly, the popular notion was illustrated IN our
case this story viii tell
However, the ring was snowy, and, as
vny friend, the jeweler-who in view Of
future events, was most c0mplacent-as-
{sured me. n valuable one, 50 | wore 1t, much
to Mabel's satisfaction, and vowed priced 1t
more than anything possessed. 1t was set
in a quaint and original fashion, and GER
tainly a unique ring.
Neither Mabel nor ! we're particularly po-
etical or rhapsodizng lovers, and IA very
matter Of fact fashion 1t was settled we
should be married in the following spring
Mrs. Lester, her aunt. was very well satisfied
with me, and many an admirable little dinner
we three shared-all equally appreciatiyc-in
with secret complacency, felt myself pros
pective master My colleagues al the Is. T..
Office envel me, and the chief Of the depart
mcnt condcsccnded to take rather more notice
Of me than he had done. So merccnary IS
human naturcl 1 was asked 70 heavy din
ners with some Of the leading men IN The va
rious "rooms,n and more attention was PAID
10 me in month than for years my refined
-Aspect and brilliant talents had Of themselves
only suiiiccd 70 procure. Moro important
than all, found il far easier TO procure al
vances, at interest Of high character, II is
true. on my note Of hand, for | had taken
the precaution 10 obtain and show an Official
copy of the late Mr.. Plumley's viii Mabel's
ring, too, was not unimportant piece Of
evidence.
Among my intimate acquaintance was
Dick EvertOn, a brieileSs barrster, OF Bohe-
milan tastes We had that friendship for
each other which is based on reciprocal
ability for ecarte and "a persistent endeavor
20 get the better Of each other. Beyond the
natural readiness TO win money Of eacn
other we were very intimate in many ways.
We backed each others bills, and, generally
spcaking, we were in alliance DICK and /,
however, were something like horse dealers
friendship never interiered with chance OF
looking after ones own interests. Dick was
a paragon of impudence, and when, as some
times happened, he got a stray old Bailey
brief from some practitioner IN that line
who was7harmed by his fund Of amusing
limitations ard fuH favored stories az the
Den. q small Bohemian club Of big thor
oughfare, and which WIS fullest at the small
est hours, he bearded the most august Judge
who happened to preside with as much non
chalance as be would show 10 the chairman
of free and easy" and be was much given
70 practical joking lie hado Machiayeiliar
facility for secrecy about him, despite Las
usual rolhcking manners, which took III most
people. Nay, II even took in me. But tnl'
is anticipating.
oWell, old man. said Dick, as we sat smok
ing our pipes one night after card party al
nv rooms, where he and /, laying aside oui
usual antagonism, had been partners and
had both won fairly. 81 congratulate you
on your engagement, and when you're a big
swell in Tyburnia with u bank account don't
forget Your old friends"
Go, shall not forget them, Dick you may