Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-07-26
TWO OPAL RINGS.

Charlie Clifton, of the Pangal Cavalry
had bought two opal rings off a wan
dering peddler. What did he care about
the superstition regarding the rings?
His fellow-oficer, Allonby, was only
laughed at for warning him against the
purchase.
Clifton rode off with the rings, while
his friend srolled over to where the
peddler was tying UP his pack.
"See here" he said, here's rupee
for you. Now tell me about those rings.
The sahib has bought them, and you can
tell me the truth now
Those Jewels very unlucky Jewels
began the ancient vendor. "They max
ing very bad luck to different peoples.
First sahib who bought them was
Maharajah of Karospoor. The sahlD
knows what happened to him.
'Then Fortescue, sahib at ROtibad,
bought them. That poor gentleman
killed out riding very next day.
After Rotibad merchant buying those
jewels, and his house burned down neXs
week
Then another man told me those
Jewels only bad for three people. You
buy and then sell them, and next pur-
chaser will have good luck. That's all,
sahib. The sahib who bought those
jewels will have good luck, II Goa
wills"
The old man took his departure and
Ail0uby continued to muse over his
queer story. Meanwhile the subject OF
Allonby's thoughts had refined in front
eff a pretty little bungalow half way up
the Kharpur hill.
At The sound Of the horses hoofs q
young girl who had been reclining at
ease on the veranda hastily rose.
Nettie Vernon was q pretty sight that
afternoon. with her golden hair and the
English roses still on her cheeks.
so thought Clifton, and he thought, too,
what a lucky fellow he was to have
won her.
why, Sir officer" said the young
lady, with the light Of laughter in her
eyes and its dimples in her cheeks,
What brings you here so early this
afternoon? Have you been promoted?
Are you ordered to the frontier TO fight
the Russians, or what? Do tell me, and
don't look so serious
The young officer looked down at the
bewitching upturned face, and the!
Did you come all this way to do
that?' asked Miss Vernon, with mock
reproach. "Oh, how foolish and hot
headed the young men of the present
day are. Now when | was young-Ohr
10 oil
what do think of this ring? That's
what brought me here Isn't it q beau
liful opal? And the most beautiful girl
in PaIgal shall wear it ii she likes"
"Oh. Charlie, what a dear you arew
cried the young lady in delight But
aren't opals dreadfully unlucky?"
There you go" said the discounted
lover, you are as bad as Allonby, who
has been croaking on the subject like
P0es Raven
Il didn't say they were unlucky,"
if they weren't. | am sure Charlie
dear. nothing will be unlucky that you
give me.
a few days later Charlie Clifton was
driving to the Kharpur station. 1t was
the day of the Sawarabad races. Saw
arabad was some forty miles from
Kharpur, and large party was going
over.
The railway station was couple of
miles from Clif,on's bungalow He had
driven about half way when he discOv-
cred his famous opal ring was not on
his finger.
"Confound it, he exclaimed, 4 must
have taken 1t off when l washed my
hands. l must have it. I promised
Nettie never TO take it off. Besides it
might be stolen. ] must go back.
He turned his horses head and rode
RAPIDLY home. He found the ring, and
he found also when he got to the rail-
way station that the train had gone
without him.
A dreadful feeling of desolation took
possession of him. 1t seemed 10 MN
that he had separated forever from his
beloved. He cursed the opal which had
been the cause Of his misfortune. Was
it really going TO bring him Ill luck
after all ne wondered.
A sound Of wheels approaching made
him look up. Was it possible? He
knew the cart.
Miss Vernon drove up, looking the
prettiest of pictures, in a new straw
hat and a most becoming frock. After
all. there is not always such great
gulf between paradise and the other
place.
eve must be quick, Charlie" cried
the young lady, as she threw down the
reins. Il have run it very fine, ! know.
Don't hurry, darling was her 10y
IRIS reply, given in calm and lelsureiy
manner-he could afford to be calm and
lesurely now-"the train has gone
without u.s.
"Oh. what pity" cried Nettie,
clasping her hands, but never mind,
dear. we have got each other and she
looked at the young man in way that
more than cOnsoled him for all his dis
appointments.
And now," said the young lady, Il
dare say you'd like to know how 1t Is
that l am so late. Do you know, sir,
it is really all your fault? Yet it was.
It's no good denying it. 1t was that
opal ring of yours that fell oh-you
bnow it was rather large for me. Well,
| spent no end of time looking for it.
l thought l would never find 1t; but
I did. and here it is. But what'on earth
makes YOU stare so? Don't do it, dear;
YOU look so ugly. and you are really
not such a bad-lOoking boy in your nor
nal state"
Poor Clifton explained the cause of
his own delay, which he had been try
ing to DO for some time, but his fair
lady had not given him a chance.
Now, dearest he concluded, doesn't
il strike you as very curious that we