The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-10-22

A QUEER ENGAGEMENT RING.
Something quite Out of the Ordi-
nary, Perhaps New Jerseynary.


nary, Perhaps New Jerseynary.
From the New York Sun.
Two or three evenings ago a Sun re-
porter was moving slowly across the
wide and aqueous stretch between New
York and New Jersey he fell into a talk
with friend of his who is lawyer in one
of the interior towns OF Jersey. In min
ute or two he observed that the lawyer
had a small box in his hand of which he
seemed to be taking especially good care,
which looked from it's size and shape as
II ii might hold a ring.
"Ah," smiled the reporter, as most peo-
pie do on such occasions, been laying
in your winter supply of engagement
rings?
Guessed It the first time" laughed the
young man, holding the box up that It
might be the better seen, and the re-
porter laughed, too, for he hardly be-
lieVed a chance shot would hit, especially
as he happened to know the man in the
case was past 80. and for several years
had been possessed Of views" on the
subject OF matrimony. And when a man
is affected that way, an engagement ring
is about the last thing he feels the need
Of. 1
us that SOP" inquired the reporter,
seriously.
Eyes, indeed. and to prove it to you.
here's the ring"
He opened the box, and coiled up in
the pink cotton one always finds in jew
elry boxes, If he doesn't find blue, lay a
glittering golden snake with a dazzling
diamond set in its broad, fiat head.
Gee" exclaimed the reporter, shielding
his eyes with his hand as he looked upon
It, tits a beauty but is a snake the
proper design for an engagement ring2"
He knew it wasn't, but he had never
spent any money on that style of luxury,
and he didn't want to be too positive.
May be not in the general run OF en-
gagements," responded the young man,
but 1t goes in this one, and goes unani-
mousy"
"And two make a unanimous, sup
poser" ventured the reporter.
quite So"
"Stin, / am not informed as to why a
snake should be the sign Of the union be-
tween you"
Because a snake did It,"
(which isn't any clearer than II was be-
FORE" insisted the reporter. I'm other
words. confound you. tell me the story"
Tut tut" laughed the lawyer, you are
only disgruntled because you are not en-
gagged yourself: but to come to the point
AS / said, IL was a snake that did It; or, at
least II It had not have been for the snake
I'm thinking there never would have been
any occasion for me to buy an engagement
ring. You see. the girl in the case is the
same one I've been waiting so long for
and didn't get. that II soured me on mat
rimony almost, and certainly caused me
TO hold the Views you know have had on
the subject for some time. She was in
love with me all right but she thought
she was too poor for a poor young lawyer
TO marry, and insisted on waiting until
her ship came IN or l became rich from
my law practice. l didn't know anything
about her ship, but ] dld know about the
law practice, and felt that she was lay
ing the load on me almost too heavy l
own a farm out there, you know. but she
had her doubts about the dividends aecru-
ing from Jersey farm located where mine
was, and asked FOR more direct testimony.
Il hadn't It to give, and ! didn't know