The Dickinson press., 1894-04-07

The long piazza faced the beach ana
the music and tapping waves mingled
with the stratus that came floating out
from where the dancers gayly circled.
The air from the sea blew soft ana
warm and the moon and the stars
shOne down with soft radiance. Yet
Miss Merton shivered little as the
salt wind touched her and drew her
filmy mantle closer about her white
shoulders.
I'VE will go inside If you are cold"
said her companion, noticing the move
the night air."
mo. 1t always make me cold to
think Of an opal. They call the light IN
them fire but it chills me instead OF
warming. And they are changing and
treacherous as the sea yonder."
1.-The sea has been my very GOOD
FRIEND" said the other; II have found
that its changes rests me-"
THAT is all very well for man, lie,l-
tenant. But woman needs something
different from men. There should be
nothing in their lives to disturb its
calm, That is why | hate opals-one
did that for friend OF mipe.'
The young officer laughed gently.
'Fancy will do much-for woman"
he said.
If you are going to laugh and fling
at our sex have done! said Miss hier-
ton, II can find better amusement
than being laughed at in the ballroom"
II beg your pardon. l will be very
good" lie answered c0ntritely.
For u few moments they walked on
silently until they We're at the fartllest
end of the piazza. Then Miss Merton
began her story. Her voice was low
and musical and at first Lieut.. Phelps
who had long been beyond the sound
of any Woman's voice Whatever-Was
content simply to listen to its smooth
flow. But she had only spoken few
words before he began to find her story
of absorbing interest.
''Thts opal,' said Miss Merton, was
given by II man to the woman Whom ne
said he loved. The man believed In
the evil power of the stone. Now, SIT,
you may laugh and have your fling at
us. He was afraid Of 1t, but she was
rot. When he told her to choose she
asked for that and he gave it to her,
with many caution. II any harm
comes Of it harm will come to u.s. he
told her, You must never let 1t be
upon the hand Of another, for then that
one will come between u.s.
''She promised Of course, but she was
young and cal eless and did not believe
in looking at the serious side Of life
when there vas brighter and better
one to see.
''The stone was very beautiful. In
its depths it held all the glowing col.
ors of the furnace. 1t was changeaDle
as the chameleon. 1t fascinated me
when 1 looked at it, but frightened me
because it was so inc0nstant. AS
told you my friend was young. She
had not yet learned how very serious q
matter life is. The ring kept other men
away from her, curtailed her pleasures
her freedom"
Her companion began some protest,
but Miss Merton stopped him.
Eyes; know what you are going to
say-that she should have reckOned
upon that-that she would not have
cared If she really loved him. But you
cannot change the nature of girl in
day. She found that the ring mar
rowed her life and so one day she put
it away" u.
III she was not willing to wear it
she should have given it back to the
man who gave it to her." said the lieu
tenant.
HE would hsye misunderstood It."
said Miss Merton. "He would have
said that she did not care for him-that
she had never loved him, that she had
played him false-and all the other nice
things men tell the women they love
| whenever their point Of view happens
to be different. So the poor girl did
what she thought was best and laid the
ring away and met him one night with.
out 1t upon her hand. l don't know
what he said to her, but he was so bru
tai about it that the girls proud spirit
rebelled. as it should have done
Then she brought the ring to ME.
Helen she said, know you love
me- I can trust you. He said that II
any other wore it chat one would come
between us. Now. Want to show him
how silly his superstition is. want
the ring but do not want 1t to be my
tyrant. Take It aud wear it tonight
and let him see 1t on your hand. And
Miss Merton's voice grew very soft
you won't come between us. will you
sweetheart? she added. kissing me-"
Miss Merton paused and they boti
stood silent and looked out upon tn
sea, bathed In its glorious r.OOnlight
for a long time. The lady stole q glancl
Mt the mans face to zee IL he took AM
interest in her story. But it told ni
mere than the white walls II the grea
hotel in whose shadow they stood.
WheE she resumed, her vOice had los
its mellow sweetness and had taken In
stead q hard worldllness that grated o.
his ear like music out of tune.
II did not mean, to be false to hel
I should not be telling you this nov
IL could not say that honestly. Blu
when she gave me the opal she tempte
me. She said: See how it CLOVIS, He
en-, like fire. think he is like tina
If am not careful will get SINCE
In the fame
Il had never been without men abo,
me, but they were little men. The
was no fire in them and thought
} should ut last like to play with Il
. fame-although 1 knew it burned f
another.
, THAT evening I wore the ring al
= Harry German saw 1t on my han
told him whose it was and why
/. wore II.
"'lhts Is capital he said, let r
wear it and 1t will serve its purDo
better still. If he s,es me have 1t
will be insanely jealous hesitat
but moment and gave 1t to him.
Perhaps 1t was because Ii ,ut, Phel
was absent minded, for he dropped /
hand that had been resting on lis al
and leaned back against one Of (
pillars of the piazza
II knew" continued Miss Merit.
= that If he were jealous the aal
ms would be easily kindled FOR ne
y, rs play with, but did not think Of wi
" might follow. He saw the ring {;
went at once to Agnes.
ID You have given the ring to Hal
N. Germain:' llc said. She was frighte1
at his Drusqneness and faltered in
-. speech. oh, don't trouble to deny
:, he said; 4 lave just sssR 1t on his ia
thought there was some one betW,
T. us. know 1t now Then, with
another word, he turned away r.