Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1895-04-15

l
ful. The bad ones don't care, suppose,
and the good ones are too happy"
l heard faint sigh behind me and
looked up. Then he smiled. 1t was a
charming face-refined with touch Of
humor in it.
''Let US imagine Laodicean ghost,
then. Say, fellow like you or I-no
harm perhaps, not much good either
bit of drone, eh? Can't you imagine
such one pursued, when the game is
over, with wish to have played q
stronger hand? I can. I can imagine
him coming-say, to faraway spot
like this-to looh where life ended for
him perhaps, to lay his hand on some
ones shoulder. as I lay my hand on
yours, aud say: Fish no more! 1t is q
| pixie Turing you to death!' All, I am a
good actor, you see. I have made you
| start. /"
1t was true. Something in tone and
touch had sent a shiver through me. l
forgot the big fish in sudden desire
for home and rest, not to say dinner.
IA very good actor" assented, be-
ginning to reel up as he rose. "Do you
come my way?"
''No, my road lies yonder" !" He point
ed to where the western wedge Of light
was fast darkening.
"Ah, the inn at Corriebuie, Isuppose.
Well, goodby. I may meet you here
again some day."
Scarcely" he answered, with q
SMILE
"Then elsewhere. The world is
small.
"Very-what we know of it,
''True. For all / know, I may be
parting from real friend" replied
| gayly. "You may have saved me from
a pixie or a five FOUNDER. Which is
it,"
''Let us say from infatuation. That is
certain Goodby."
A boggle in my cast claimed my at
tention, and when I looked up he had
disappeared behind the rocky promon-
tory between the two arms Of the loch.
As / turned to 90 my eye caught gilt
ter in the shingle at my feet. 1t was a
gold signet ring which I remembered
remarking on the strangers hand as he
laid it on my shoulder. Iran after him,
shouting as / ran, finally making my
way to bit Of rising ground, whence I
could command the declivity leading to
Corriebuie inn. He was not to be seen.
As came back for my rod faint cir
Gle Of light showed on the darkening
water. The big fish was still rising, and
hurried away, half afraid Of being be-
guiled into trying conclusions with it.
Next day being Sunday, I walked over to
Corriebuie in order to return the ring
to its owner. My friend of Loch Fin
aich was not there, nor did the ring it.
self give me any olew, for the design on
it had been much scratched and worn
as if by water. The world, however, as
we agreed, is small, and partly on the
chance that in the motley crowd Of
London I might come across its owner
and partly from strange fascination
for the memory Of my five minute
friend, I took to wearing the ring con-
stantly until sense Of possession and
an odd, unaccountable affection for i;
grew up in me, and I felt should be
sorry to have 1t taken from me-
In the November following I was OIL
my way to join yacht, bound for the
Mediterranean at Plymouth. Immersed
i'll book. scarcely noticed the advent
of another traveller into the smoking
carriage in which I was seated until J.
saw him searching vainly in his pockets
for match. Naturally offered him
my cigar. As held it out he started SO
violently as almost to knock it out Of
my hand
II beg your pardon, he said courte-
ously, "but the ring you wear aroused
painful memory. A very dear friend
Of mine had one somewhat similar"
"a friend! Was he by any chance in
Scotland this summer"
My compsnion shook his head and
looked out Of the window. "No. He
joined tho majority years ago. A terri
BILE loss to the regiment One Of those
fellows good all round. Crack shot,
splendid rider, Al fisherman and SO
keen!' He paused.
1T cost him his life in the end" he
went on. II was in India at the time,
SO don't know the ins and outs Of it.
But it was at some place in Western
Ross. He went out fishing one day and
never returned. A simple thing to say.
but only Gcd knows what happened
So inthralled had l been by his un-
expected words that I had failed to no.
tice the train was stopping, and before
realized what he was about the stran-
ger was on the platform of roadside
station. My gesture Of dismay must
have been construed by him as a fare
we'll, for he raised his hat The express
was already in motion. I craned from
the window to catch the name of the
station, but before I realized / was on
the wrong side all hope Of that clew
was gone. Three hours after I had left
England.
Subsequently inquiries in Ross-shire
ELECTED the fact chat an Englishman
had been lost in the neighborhood years
before, but not even legend connected
his disappearance with Looh Finaich.
The ring is still on my finger. ! have
a great affection for it, and II its owner
were to appear I should feel lost with
out it, for it has taught me many things,
but not to settle the great question;
"Was it a fve FOUNDER, or was 1t a