Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-09-10
\ SHAPELN WHITE
FEMALE FINGER.
BY coRINNE ARTHUR STEWART.

snce, should never tell " hat | am about
to tell-my romance. In the first place |
shall not be believed, and dislike being
smiled at as an imaginative fabricator;
in the second place, | have little fancy
for making myself the target OF derisive
scepticism. But since the fair Senorita
Lits, now to my blisstul satisfaction Mrs.
Leadville Jackson, adds her entreaties,
| must comply.
1t was during the early days when al
most every human shadow in Florida
was a Spaniard's. / and a friend, Max
Dexter, We're alligator hunting near PEN
sacola, and came one day upon as large
monster Of the scaly tribe as l have ever
seen, basking on the sands OF a little in
let OF the gulf. We managed to Kill and
secure him, and proceeded to the work OF
divesting him of his skin.
During the process of mutiation. we
came upon a remarkable find. 1t was
shspely white female finger casped by
a delicate gold ring set with superb
diamond, that the alligator had swallowed
entire. 1t appeared to be a third finger,
and we agreed the ring was hetrothsi
pledge. The finger was so beautiful and
so we'll preserved, as fresh and intact as
though it had been severed but an hour
before, that both Dexter andI wished it,
We drew lots and it fell to me. Dexter
gaining the entire alligator skin which be
has stuffed, to his day, in his home.
As the ring was SO valuable and the
finger so dainty, l had some scruples
about keeping them without making
efforts to find their owner. resolved to
advertise, and wrote out several notices
At length l constructed one that pleased
me. 1t ran;
EoJND-AN ring on -hapely white female
/ finger In an alligator. owner will
please apply To-"
gave temporary address. | had
numerous responses, both by person and
letter, but easily saw all were inquisitive
impostors. | bought an exquisite chased
glass jar, and filling it with alcohol, put
the finger with its ring just as had found
1t, into il, and closed it with silver top.
This jar l carried around with me three
years wherever l went. 1t was as in
to loosely style myself THE knight OF
Shapey White Female Finger"
had always nourished a sentiment to
visit the Alhambra, and about this time
business successes permitted me to humor
my wish. l had been there two days, and
was wandering about the stately ruins
one late twilight, W hen heard a woman's
voice wailing a dolorous ditty. l fol-
lowed the sounds and came upon a sort
OF stone shanty-if the expression may be
allowed-hugged against one OF the outer
walls OF an intricately hidden court, and
built OF stray and fallen stones.
There was no door; a faded blanket
this WAS lifted and pinned to one side,
saw by the red radiance of a torch within
Spanish girl sitting on heap OF
scented grass, singing by the death
couch OF a withered ancient dame. had
never seen such lustrous eyes, or such un-
sobbed sadness. Her skin was like white
roses, and the blush OF the torch suffused
blue fecks on her black, heated hair, and
rose shadows over her cheeks.
She wore a black mantilla OF lace rare
and costly, but very old and mended.
She had on a short black satin skirt with
a fiounce of deep lace like a rich wave at
the bottom which also showed age and
use. The rest of her costume was such as
an ordinary peasant would don.
Suddenly she rose and drew a tattered
shawl closer over the corpse. In doing
SO, her left hand became plainly visible,
and | saw with start OF surprise and
quick leap of hope, that the third finger
was missing; neatly taken off close down
to the palm.
lmpulsively, and without ceremony, |
entered. She turned and drew herself up
with the proud grace that is Unborn from
a race of noble ancestors. l drew forth
the little glass jar and held it toward her.
The light fell on the finger clearly and
we'll. Despite the presence of the dead,
she uttered great cry. and seized the jar
like a panther. Close to the torch she
took and examined it. She looked at her
left hand and back at the finger, and then
| told her how | came by it. A dreamy
film spread over her eyes.
"Senor," she said, lit is my finger and
my ring. / could never be mistaken.
1t was three years ago, when l was
fifteen. We had lands in Florida, and
my father took my mother and me there.
While there | became engaged to dis
tant cousin, dashing handsome Cas-
lillian. 1t was one day when we were on
the gulf in a low flat-boat. My hand
was trailing in the water. Suddenly l
felt horrible pain, and drawing my
hand up, l saw my finger and engage
ment ring were gone. A long eddy of
ripples and heavy motion of the water
told their fate.
my father took US at once back to
Spain. Both my cousin and were super
stitious ovsr the affair, and broke our en-