The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-17
THE UNLUCKY STONE.

| rom my earnest RECOLLECTION we had
travelled, travelled the world over, it
seemed, my mother and L We had no
kith nor kin but one another, so can the
world wonder that we were all in all to
each other? Ny mothers face, although
the sweetest and gentlest of faces, was
always sad. even gloomy at times. She
always wore the deepest of mourning
for my father, although / could never
get her to mention him. And after sew
eral inquiries l ceased TO trouble her, for
such look of pain and agony would
come over the dear features at the men
ton of Robert Radcliff. The only Jew
elry she ever wore consisted of two
rings, q plain gold wedding ring and a
beautiful opal set in heavy band of
gold. Through Asia, Europe, America,
and even to Africa and Australia, we
had made our way. And whenever in a
crowd or conversing with stranger
would notice my mother looking at her
opal ring, which she wore on the third
finger of the right hand.
One summer we had wandered through
Russia, had spent some time on the
Rhine, and finally brought up in little
town among the mountains Of Switzer-
land. Here my reother was taken i'll
with general decline of the heart, as
the village doctor called it. Twas very
much frightened and wanted to tele-
graph for celebrated man from Paris,
but she said: ''No, Carl, do nothing
whatsoever. Ny time has come, and l
must have you to myself for the few
hours left me-"
l would not believe it. 1t did not
seem possible that God could take her
from me.
Mother" said, controlling my emo
tons for fear of making her worse,
you imagine that you are much worse
than you are. You are looking better
than l have seen you for some time.
Your cheeks are bright red"
All, what a fool / vast Deaths very
sign l took to be the hue of returning
health.
Carl, have no time to waste in use
less words" she said. Come and sit by
my side and learn why your mothers
sad face has darkened your young life.
No, do not interrupt, my boy. l know
how much you think of your mother.
Sixteen years ago, when you were
child Of 4, we lived in a beautiful coun-
try home in the north of Ireland. Your
father was of that country, you know"
did not know, for she had never told
me anything about him; but l did not
interrupt, and she continued: "Well,
one night Iwaited and waited for Robert
TO return. He had gone to the neighbor-
ing village to buy new carriage horses.
The wind blew a gale, and the rain fell
in torrents. l walked the floor in an
agony Of fear till 12 o'clock, then called
a faithful old servant and told him to
harness and to so with me to look for
his master. He thought me crazy, but
did as | told him. Put another pillow
under my head, Carl. There, now can
breathe easier.
I'VE found him, my son; found him
all bloody and beaten to death. Foully
murdered"
Her face was CHASTITY, and although
in every limb managed to give
her some drops the doctor had left so
that she was able to continue. Il can
not tell you more of that dreadful time
except that there never was the slight
est clew 10 the assassin. We never knew
that he had an enemy in the world. 1t
was not robbery, for his watch and a
large amount Of money were not touched.
You will find papers telling you all of
that. My part is what l wish to tell
you now. l lived with you alone in
the old home for one year. One night
fell asleep in a chair by the hearth, and
had the strangest of dreams. dreamt
a voice said to me:
Take thy child and the opal ring
and travel the world over, and when
thou dost find thy opal turnest blood
red then thou whilst be in the presence
Of thine enemy and thine husbands
murderer.
when l awoke l pondered on it for a
while, but came to the conclusion that 1t
was the result of fevered brain. The
next night l had the same dream, and
again the next. l then took it as my
mission in life to find the man who had !
foully killed my Robert. awoke from
nv apathy, sold the place, and taking |
you with me started on my pilgrimage. |
You know the result. Never has my !
ring changed color. Now. Carl, am |
living. and into your hands | oonsign |
his ring. and ask you by the memory |
IF your murdered father 10 find the per- |
son and bring his crime home to him"
Saving this she placed the opal, with /
Is fine red lines, upon my finger, and |
hen lay back exhausted.
Il promise. mother. never 70 give up /
he search while there is breath in my |
BODY" / said. intending to find the as |
;assin by modern means instead of super
but | would not pain her by /
loubung her dream.
Three days she fingered, during which
line she told me Of her financial stand
ng. and that she did not know Of a rela-
i've in the world. The third night she
)assed away, leaving me alone IN the
world with a terrible void In my life
md an unutterable grief. l saw her
buried in the little Swiss burial ground,
md then returned 10 the inn and looked
Nv future In the face. had ESQ. 600.
10 friends and veritable vendetta. a
week later l started for Paris. stated nv
rouLle. and hac the best detectives 70
work up hopeless case. In London }
ia the same. and then crossed the oces