Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1898-07-28
The Ring and The Glove.


felt like CorteZ upon Q memorable
occasion when the jewellers glass
door swung behind me, and, marching
up to the counter, asked for a ring.
IA ring, sir?" said the attendant, o
Cockney to his finger tips. What
sort Of ring?'
"An engagement ring" said valor-
ously.
What size, sir?' demanded the man.
docketing me mentally.
give and a half" I replied, think
ing Of the glove.
That's rather an unusual Size he
remarked, rubbing one eyebrow, "un-
less it's bangle the lady wants.
I'm Dot sure that she wants 1T at
ALL" 1 uf1lrmured, producing the little
sandalwoed- scented bit Of silk; "but
that is the size, l think"
"Oh-it's the size Of the lady's and"
he observed with mild liberation, un-
rolling 1t. "Well, sir, ladies' fingers
vary In girth, and it's more usual to
f1t them with piece Of cardboard;
but We'll go our best
Gould not the member be recon
stituted?" I asked impressively.
That knocked the conceit out OF him;
he stared at me helplessly.
"Fill it with powder or something"
explained.
It took him five minutes self-disci-
p1ine to grasp the startling novelty,
but he did, and, under my direction.
filed the third finger sheath with
plate powder which I rammed home
with my pencil-case Then, produc-
ing a miniature calliper, Ne took meas
urements and began to search his
scintilating stock, displaying q rever-
ent familiarity most impressive to be-
hold. Cleopatra, how they dazzled!
Pearls. rubies, emeralds, diamonds,
each challenging the admiration, but
checking the desire by the narrow
parchment slip attached setting forth
the price. Two hundred dollars, $500,
$500, it was a charmed place. where
money lost its everyday significh.-3e,
for what man of spirit would be con-
tent to offer the girl Of his heart a
thing costing a miserable tenner when
close beside it twinkled q rose dia-
mond worth a kings ransom? I felt
almost pauperized. recollecting that l
had only $500 available.
'Now, sir. what do you think OF
this ?" asked the shopman paroniZing-
ly, as he displayed an opal changeful
as the shifting sunlight on misty
eli nt1T no Tod Hrs, eli
making allowances, for, of course, she
won't want to wear it over 'er glove"
"Are not opals unlucky?" said I, en-
deavoring to decipher the price.
ooh, we don't hold with such super
stition," replied the jeweller, loftily,
''but they do say one will keep you
from being poisoned"
Then / shall leave it for the next
rich widow" / answered. "But what
Is THE cost of this?"
l alluded to an emerald set amid
pearls, which l already saw glitter
ing on the loveliest hand in the world.
He extracted 1t with a silent respect
he borrowed from my eagerness, and
made q measurement while watched
him. my heart beating madly. The
size was exactly the same: the price
but that is Il detail 1 decided upon it.
The shopman thanked me perfunctoP-
lily, and l leaned against the counter,
feeling like one who had received a
great favor. But when I fumbled in
my pocket for the notes and heard
their crisp crackle my confidence re-
turned. and then as I watched the
splendid thing flashing In IT'S violet
bed I believed must after all be a
rich man, unknown to myself. so great
was the suggestion OF unln.dted
wealth thus conveyed
II should like a piece Of glass ON
the inside of the case lid" observed
carelessly. rs it usual?'
That's looking glass;" queried the
iapidary, glancing UP from a surrepti-
tious examination of the notes.
nodded. knew I must be getting
red.
WELL" he remarked. tolerantly, at
is not exactly usual, but it's pretty
idea-fghtens 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 shall stand
the racket" answered magnifcently.
He hurrtnN ouov IN offoah th0 olfAx