The record-union., 1898-08-21
THE RING and THE GLOVE.

1 felt like Cortez upon a memorable
occasion when the jewelers. glass door
swung behind me, and, marching up to
the counter. 1 asked for a ring
"A ring, sir?" said the attendant, q
Cockney to his finger tips. What sort
of ring?"
An engagement ring" said 1 valor-
ously.
What size. sir?" demanded the man.
docketing me mentally.
Five and a half" / replied, think
ing of the glove.
That's rather an unusual size he
marked, rubbing one eyebrow, unless
it's bangle the lady wants.
I'm not sure that she wants it at
ALL l murmured, producing the little
sandalwood- scented bit of silk; but
that is the size, 1 think
"Oh-it's the size of the lady's and, y
he observed with mild liberation, un-
rolling it. We'll. sir, ladies' fingers
vary in girth, and it's more usual to
fit them with a piece of cardboard; ;
but We'll do our best
Gould not the member be recon-
stituted?" / asked impressively.
That knocked the conceit out of him;
he stared at me helplessly.
Fill it with powder or something,
l explained.
1t took him five minutes self-diS-
cipline to grasp the startling novelty,
but he did, and under my direction,
filled the third finger sheath with plate
powder, which 1 rammed home with
my pencil-case. Then, producing a
miniatures calIinpr no took rpp9 Sllrp-
ments, and began to search his scin-
tillating stock. displaying a reverent
familiarity most impressive to behold.
Cleopatra, how they dazzled, Pearls,
rubies. emeralds, diamonds, each
challenging the admiration, but check
ing the desire by the narrow parch-
ment slip attached setting forth the
price. Forty pounds, fJ0 800; it was
a charmed place, where money lost its
everyday significance, for what man
of spirit would be content to offer the
girl of his heart a thing costing a
miserable tenner when close beside it
twinkled a rose diamond worth q
wilderness of monkeys? l felt al
most pauperized, recollecting that 1 had
only fI5 available from the Derby hun
dred
Now. sir, what do you think of
this?' asked the shopman patronizing-
ly, as he displayed an opal changeful
as the shifting sunlight on misty
sea. It's exactly the lady's size, max
ing allowances, for, of course, she won't
| want to wear it over 'er glove"
Are not opals unlucky?" said 1, en-
deavoring to decipher the price.
"Oh, we don't hold with such super
stition," replied the jeweler loftily, but
they do say one will keep you from be-
ing poisoned
Then I shall leave it for the next
rich widow 1 answered. But what
is the cost of this?'
l alluded to an emerald set amid
pearls, which l already saw glittering
on the loveliest hand in the world. He
extracted it with a silent respect he
borrowed from my eagerness, and made
measurement while 1 watched him.
my heart beating madly. The size was
exactly the same; the price-but that
is a detail I decided upon it. The
shopman thanked me perfunctorily,
and l leaned against the counter, feel
ing like one who had received a great
favor But when l fumbled in my
pocket for the notes and heard their
crisp crackle my confidence returned,
and then as l watched the splendid
thing flashing in it's violet bed / be-
lieved | must after all be a rich man,
unknown to myself, so great was the
suggestion of unlimited wealth thus
conveyed.
L should like a piece of glass on the
inside of the case lid," 1 observed care
lessly. rs it usual?'
That's looking glass?" queried the
lapidary. glancing up from a surrepti-
tious examination of the notes.
I nodded / knew l must be getting
| red
Well" ne remarked tolerantly, 1T
not exactly usual but it's a 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,
! We'll, yes, 1 should think, he re-
! piled condescendingly
| Then get it DONE and l shall stanc
the racket" 1 answered, magnificently
He hurried away to effect the altera
| ton. his place being taken by bale
! headed salesman who wore spectacles
! and talked to me over them soothingly
! as one would to person OF weak IN
! tellect, While l formulated piratica
schemes, and asked him puerile ques
| tions with gravity equaling his own
| When l left the shop l headed
| straight for Bloomsbury Square bu
| remembering that she might be JUS
then occupied by domestic duties, decid'
ed to call later in the day. Even th'
ring in my pocket gave me no add
tional courage. and presently | begar
| to think it was not quite royal enough
| Edging my way to Regents Park,
| hunted out a quiet spot and sat dowr
to examine it at leisure. 1t was glor-
! ious still. but somehow not SO gloriou:
as | could have wished, and / was
actually questioning the wisdom of my
choice when an approaching footfal
made me close the case. 1t was light
though firm, and the everlasting flint
would have worn we'll beneath it. Some
thing, more of the intellect than of the
sense, made me lools up, and l saw her
The sensation of being shot through
| the heart has not, l believe, received
adequate literary expression, those who
experience it being usually preoccupied
| at the exact moment with otner Hldl-
| ters; but | think l know what it means
She stopped, and we gazed at each
other. She was in deep black, but the
pallor had gone from her oval cheeks
! She made me a half tentative bow.
! sprang to my feet.
I'm so glad to see YOU" I cried, ''be-
cause-I want to restore something you
| forgot in the restaurant yester-a few
| weeks ago"
/ "HoW kind of YOu!" she said comine