Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-07-10

! narrow parchment slip attached setting
| forth the price. Forty pounds, ESQ,
| f1C0; it was charmed place, where
money lost its everyday significance,
! for what man of spirit would be content
| to offer the girl of his heart q thing
costing a miserable tenner when close
! beside it twinkled a rose diamond worth
| wilderness of "monkeys?" / felt al
! most pauperized, recollecting that had
only Els available from the derby hun
dred.
Now, sir, what do you think of
this?" asked the Snowman patronizing-
ly, as he displayed an opal changeful as
the shifting sunlight on misty sea.
Its exactly the lady's size, making al
lowances, for, of course, she won't want
to wear it over her glove"
care not opals unlucky?" said l, en-
deavoring to decipher the price.
| 'Oh, we don't hold with such super
stition," replied the jeweler loftiiy, but
they do say one will keep you from be-
ing poisoned"
Then l shall leave it for the next
.Iich widow" l answered. "But what
is fshe cost OF this?"
VI alluded to an emerald set omid
pearls, which l already saw sIIuteTIng
orl>the loveliest hand in the world. He
extracted it with silent respect he
borrowed from my eagerness, and made
measurement while l watched him,
my heart beating madly. The size was
exactly the same; the price-but that
is detail / decided upon it. The
| shopman thanked me perfunctorily, and
| leaned against the counter, feeling
| like one who had received great IA
! vor. But when | fumbled in my pocket
! for the notes and heard their crisp
i crackle, my confidence returned, and
| then as l watched the splendid thing
| flashing in its violet bed l believed l
| must after all be a rich man, unknown
| to myself, so great was the sugges-
ton of unlimited wealth thus conveyed.
II should like piece of glass on the
| inside of the case lid" observed care
lessly. 'Is it usual?"
That's looking glass;" queried the
lapidary, glancing up from a surrepti-
tious examination of the notes.
| nodded l knew l must be getting
red.
We'll" he remarked tolerantly, 'it's
not exactly usual, but it's pretty idea
-ightens the attraction Of the gem,
makes the lady see the present from two
points of view"
Hardly an advantage sometimes"
observed, "but can you do it?'
well, yes, l should think" he re-
piled condescendingly.
Then get 1t done and 1 shall stand
the racket" l answered magnificently.
He hurried away to effect the altera-
ton, his place being taken by bald
headed salesman who wore spectacles,
and talked to me over them soothingly,
as one would to person of weak in
tellect, while l formulated piratical
schemes, and asked him puerile Ques-
tons with gravity equallng his own.
When l left the shop / headed
straight for Bloomsbury square, but re-
membering that she might be just then
occupied by domestic duties, decided to
call later in the day. Even the ring
in my pocket gave me no additional
courage. and presently l began to
think it was not quite royal enough. |
Edging my way to Regents park 1 |
hunted out quiet spot and sat down |
to examine 1t at leisure. 1t was glor-
ious still, but somehow not 80 glorious |
as could have wished. and l was act |
ually questioning the wisdom OF my i
choice when an approaching football |
made me close the case. 1t was light, |
sASOSh ia anu INC CNCi lasting ulaI
would have worn we'll beneath it. Some !
thing, more of the intellectual than of I
the sense, made me look up and / saw
her.
The sensation of being shot through |
the heart has not. believe received ad- |
equate literary expression, those who |
experience it being usually preoccupied |
at the exact moment with other mat
tiers; but think know what It means.
She was in deep black. but the palIor |
had gone from her oval cheeks. II
sprang to my feet.
I'm SO glad to see you," cried, DE |
cause-I want to restore something YOU |
forgot in the restaurant yester-a few |
weeks ago."
How kind of y9u!' she sad, coming
oh, not at ALL" I replied: ''bnt l |
hope you were not inconvenience. III
should have sent it, but IL didn"."
u put my hand In my breast pocket /.
hurriedly, and extracted my handker- |
chief, which In turn brought to light |
sheaf of letters and memoranda I |
shook out at her feet like skillful con-
Jurer. Then I tried the otherpocket. |
but vainly. Its a glove" said weak |
", gathering up my belongings, "ons
Of yours. don't You know?"
Il recollect-I missed It she said,
coldly.
nps,f thA - -..x .s.l,n II