Rock Island daily Argus., 1888-12-01
MY OPAL RING.

The deed was done, and certain amount
OF self congratulatory relief made itself evi-
dent to my mind, Again l had gone down
to my daily monotonous duties in the Brown |
Paper Office lat a wretchedly inadequate |
stipend, seeing the country's wealth and my |
Abilities, a gentleman of certainly aristo- |
cratic appearance-and shall we saw inteIlec- |
tual featuresi-but with considerable num-
Der of unpaid bills at his lodgings aud tastes |
far too expensive for the sordid pay fur
njshed by a cheese pairing government. AtG
P. m. was the betrothed lover of Miss Mabel
Plumley, who was of age-and q little over
and sole mistress of various admirable in
\ vestments producing 90 coo year
She lived with her aunt-a woman of gor-
geous and florid taste in costume and sur
!. roundings-on the Bayswater side of pyde
nark. The eligible family residence was her
own for the remainder of long lease, of
which seventy-five years were unexpired.
locks, shares, house property and some un-
sapeachable old fashioned foreign bonds
..oossRned the basis of her wealth A careful
study at Somerset house Of her late uncle,
Jabez Plumley, the wholesale grocer's will,
had informed my official mind OF these most
interesting facts, To do myself mere justice
however, l must add that, until | had been
rather epris with Mabel at Lady Jorrox's
garden party at Hendon, did not study the
financial aspect of the matter For Mabel
had personal attractions. She was 26, a
blonde, large, languishing and lazy" as
Lord Byron beautifully expresses it, of regu-
lar features, azure eyes and OF tapparently)
most equable temper. She was somewhat of
rl~1aS a el. L 4
my almost juvenile fondness for Strawberries
and cream, of which We partook largely and
lazily while the rest Of the party played lawn
tennis, which my fair one disliked; and as
all 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 Strawberries and
cream and satirized all the other people
After this we met on several occasions, and
on this particular day took my courage in
both hands, as the French say and proposed.
was accepted.
- had procured from a conlding jeweler,
with whom l had had some outstanding
transactions, and to whom gave some hint
of my hopes flor he was cautious mani, a
very handsome diamond and pearl ring,
which slipped on Mabel's taper finger. She
off an opal ring of curious fashion. Wear
this, dear Fred, for me- she said. 1T was
my dear uncle's, but l should like you to
wear it now we are engaged" l can't say
much appreciated the romance of the gift,
for old Plumley bad been one OF the most
prosaic, not to say disagreeable, wholesale
grocers who ever lived, and it flashed across
me that there was popular idea ns too pals
being very unlucky stones. Alas! how forci-
bly, the popular notion was illustrated il our
case this story will tell
However, the ring was snowy, and, as
my friend the jeweler-who, in view of
future events, was most complacent-as-
sured me, & valuable one, so wore it, much
to Mabels satisfaction, and vowed priced it
more than anything possessed. 1t was set
in quaint and original fashion, and Ger
tainly unique ring.
Neither Mabel nor l were particularly po-
etical or rhapsodizing lovers, and in very
matter Of fact fashion it 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 app eciative-in
in my tlance's house at Bayswat of which.
with secret complacency, l felt 7sef pros
pective master My colleagues at the B. P.
Office envied me, and the chief Of the depart
ment condescended to take rather more notice
of me than he bad done. So nercenary i:
human nature! l was asked to heavy din,
ners with some Of the leading men in the va.
rious ''rooms and more attention was paid
to me in a month than for years my refined
aspect and brilliant talents had Of thenselve:
only sutticed to procure. More important
than all, l found it far easier TO procure ad
vances at interest Of high character, it /.
true, on my note of hand, for 1 had taker
the precaution to obtain and show an ofticia
copy Of the late Mr.. Fiumley's will Mabel
ring, too was not unimportaut piece o
evidence.
IL
Among my intimate acquaintances wa
Dick Everton, 4 brieless barrister, of Bohe
mian tastes. We had that friendship fo
each other which is based on q reciproca
ability for ecarte and persistent endeavo
TO get the better Of each other. Beyond th
natural readiness to win money of eac
other We were very intimate in many way
We backed each others bills, and, general
speaking, we were in alliance. Dick and
however, were something like horse dealers
friendship never interfered with chance
looking after ones own interests. Dick W,
paragon of impudence, and when, as som
times happened he got stray old Bale
brief from some practitioner in that lii
who was charmed by his fund of amusir
limitations and full favored stories at Il
Den, small Bohemian club Of a big the
oughfare, and which was fullest at the srna
est hours, he bearded the most august jud
who happened to preside with as much no
ak.1o, 4, 4 -i,r =, +t,,
of a free and easy" and he was much Civ
to practical joking. He had Machiavelli
facility for secrecy about him, despite
usual rollicking manners, which took in mt
people. Nay, it even took in me. But Il
Is anticipating.
'Well, old man. said Dick, as we sat srnC
ing our pipes one night after a card party
my rooms, where he and |, laying aside {
usual antagonism, had been partners a
had both won fairly. "l congratulate Y
on your engagement, and when you're a
swell in Tyburnia with bank account do
forget your old friends"
go, l shall not forget them, Dick, you m
depend, / replied, which / fattered mys
was diplomatic answer.
"Ah," said he, gancing at me over
tumber, ~ know your disposition. F,
w llisltl lS HJb lie HlfLl W lOIEcb uls J4u ds
ciates because he makes a rich marriage;
no, he's too genuine a man"
was never quite sure whether truth
sarcasm prompted Dick Everton's utteran
when he eulogized anybody, which, to do |
justice, he generally did when his liq
suited him-and 1 therefore made no reply
"Wish l could spot as good a chance, y
continued, meditatively staring at the C
ing; wouldn't mind tying myself up If
moose was as well gilded as yours is, Ma'
Fred
Ismiled somewhat complacently. "Ikr
several nice girls-the Bells, for instar
Geraldine Is a sparkling brunette and hi
modest dowry, | believe You have
themr
-'Oh, yes" said he, in a careless voice, I"
don't remember their names. I'm nc
ladies' man-favon'f your appearance
manner, you lucky sar;n "A remark WI
could not in candor contradict.
why, l thought you danced with
aldne several times at the Whites
Surely YOU remember herr" said l. for /
self, till the literally golden light of Nj
rose on my horizon had been rather mar
In my attentions to pretty Geraldine
never could find out how much she was
tain to have.
II may have" yawned Everton; "but
are very much alike and very often