Connecticut western news., 1891-03-25
THE UNLUCKY STONE.

From my earnest reCOllecClOn we n4Q travelled. travelled the world over. it seemed. my mother and L We had no 6th nor kin but one another, so can the world wonder that we were all in all to each other? My 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 l could never get her to mention him. And after sev- eral inquiries 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, plain gold wedding ring and 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 . 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 mother was taken ill with a general decline of the heart, as the village doctor called it. was very much frightened and wanted to tele- graph for celebrated man from Paris, but she said: "No. Carl. do nothing whatsoever. My time has come, and must have you to myself for the few hours left me-"
 l would not believe it. It did not seem possible that God could take her from me.
 Mother" said. controlling my emo tions 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"
 An, what fool was! Deaths very sign took to be the hue of returning health.
 Carl. have no time to waste in use- less worlds" 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. know how much you think of your mother Sixteen years ago, when you were child of 4. we lived in beautiful coun- try Lome 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 did not interrupt. and she continued: Well, one night waited and waited for Robert to return. He had gone to the neighbor ing village to buy new carriage horses. The wind blew 8 gale, and the rain fell in torrents 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 go with me to look for his master. He thought me crazy, but did as 1 told him. Put another pillow under my head. Carl There, now can breathe easier.
 "We found him, my son; found him all bloody and beaten to death. Foully murdered"
 Her face was ghastly. and although shaking in every limb managed to give her some drops the doctor had left so that she was able to continue. "I can- not tell you more of that dreadful time except that there never was the slight est clew to 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 chair by the hearth, and had the strangest of dreams. dreamt 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 willst be in the presence of thine enemy and thine husbands murderer
 "When 1 awoke pondered on it for a while, but came to the conclusion that it 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. 1 awoke from my 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 dying, and into your hands l consigr this ring, and ask you by the memory of your murdered father to find the per son and bring his crime home to him."
 Saying this she placed the opal, with it's fine red lines, upon my finger, and then lay back exhausted.
 "l promise, mother, never to give uI the search while there is breath in my body" said, intending to find the as sassin by modern means instead of super stitious. but l would not pain her by doubling her dream.
 Three days she fingered, during whicl time she told me of her financial stand ing, and that she did not know of rela tive in the world. The third night sh, passed away, leaving me alone in tn world with a terrible void in my Tiff and an unutterable grief. l saw he buried in the little Swiss burial ground and then returned to the inn and looked my future in the face. had 1000 no friends and veritable vendetta. week later started for Paris. stated m, trouble, and had the best detectives t. work up hopeless case. In London did the same, and then crossed the oceal and followed the same course in Nev York. The opal ring wore, but seldom looked at it. 1 made several pleasan travelling acquaintances, and had num- Der of invitations to vikis in Washing. ton, Baltimore and other cities in the States refused them all, and went west to San Francisco, staying there un til Jan. 1. when returned to Washing ton. where ran across one of my tray cling friends, Ray Darlington
 refused all overtures to go into so ciety or to visit Burlington, but when was taken ill and threatened with pneu monia my friend had me removed