Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-04-05
If l am not careful I win get singed

IL 1 AIN NOT careful l VIII get sAuSeu
In the fame
u had never been without men about
me, but they were little men. There
was no fire in them and / thought I
should at last like to play with the
flame-although / knew ii burned for
another.
That evening I wore the ring and
Harry German saw it on my hand,
I told him whose IL was and why /
wore ii.
"aIhis is capital he said, let me
wear 1t and it will serve Its purpose
better still. If he sees me have 1t he
will be insanely jealous l hesifated
but n moment and gave 1t to him."
Perhaps it was because Lii ut. Phelps
was abScnt-minded, Tor he dropped The
hand that had been resting on his arm
and leaned back against one OF the
pillars of the piazza.
II knew" continued Miss Merton,
that If he were jealous the flame
would be easily kindled Tor ne to
play with, but / did 10 think of what
might follow. He saw the ring AID
went at once to Agnes.
"'You have given the ring to Harry
German! he said. She was frightened
at his brusqueness and faltered in her
speech. oh, don't trouble to deny 1t,
he said: I have just seen 1t on his hand.
/ thousnt there was some n between
us. / know it now Then, without
another word, he turned away from
her. Her first impulse was to follow
him-t9 call out, to cry to him that 1t
was all a mistake. But then her pride
revolted and when Harry German
came up and asked her to dance she
--X ~ --..l~ I.-. nr,vI,fa2y &c h.sipltflV
rs she ever had. And he saw them
together and saw that German still
wore his ring"
And you?' queried the lieutenant.
81 hone YOU won that for which you
played?' His tone was icily courteous.
but he looked out to sea instead OF
toward his companion.
He went away that night n
replied. Il never saw him again until
to-day"
Again they stood silent and looked at
the sea and the sky. but not at each
other. Presently the man spoke.
Where is she now!'
I'm the ballroom by this time. She
said she would come down later"
Did she know that you were going
to tell me this?
No"
He turned and left her without a
| word-walked rapidly down the long
piazza and she saw him disappear with
in one of the low windows. Then she
sighed YEARLY.
81 only told him half the truth" she
said. II wonder If 1t would have been
better to have told him all? She can
never care for him as / do"
The lieutenant stopped to give n
swift glance about, then walked straight
! across the polished floor. In front OF
Agnes Wilton he stopped aGair n
looked at her quietly a moment before
he spoke. In that moment he had time
to see that an opal glowed like a coal
| Of living fire upon her hand.
She looked up and net his glance
| steadily, but she was very pale.
There Is a legend" he said, bending
toward her, that If the love that gave
it grows cold the opal's fire will grow
dim. Do you believe itT
Yes" she answered.. so low that
he could just hear the words, but mine
V has grown dim. Its fire has
warmed me through ill the long years
oh, so long, she said. Each one
longer than the other. But | knew
you would come-the opal told me-"
A little later some n said:
why, there is Jack Phelps dancing
| with Agnes Wiltonl They quarreled
desperately three years ago and she
sent him away. But he is lack, like
a moth to the candle"
The candle" said another, 'is that
magnificent opal ring that she wears.
Jack gave it to her and 1t has never
left her hand since he went away"
Nevertheless" said Miss Merton, to
whom the conversation was half ad-
dressed, the opal Is a stone of evil
omen. / would not wear n for the
world And although the night was
| warm, she shivered again.