The Opelousas courier., 1898-10-15
The Ring and The Glove.

l felt like CorteZ upon q memorabl
occasion when the jewellers glas
door swung behind me, and, marchin;
up to the counter, l asked for a ring.
"A ring, sir?' said the attendant,
Cockney to his finger tips. "Wha
sort of q ring"
IAN engagement ring" said 1 valor
ously.
What size, sir?' demanded the man
1ocketing ME mentally.
Give and a half" l replied, think
Ing Of the glove.
That's rather an unusual siZe," hi
remarked, rubbing Il eyebrow, Gun
less it's a bangle the lady wants"
Pm not sure that she wants it al
ALL" murmured, producing the little
sandalwood-scented bit of silk; "bu1
that is the size, I think"
"Oh-it's the size of the lady's and
he observed with mild liberation, I'M.
rolling 1t. "Well, sir, ladies' fingers
vary in girth, and it's more usual to
fit them with a piece of cardboard
but We'll go our best"
could not the member be recon
stituted" l asked impressively.
That knocked the conceit out Of him;
he stared at me helplessly.
"Fill it with powder or something"
[ explained.
1t took him five minutes self-disci-
pline to grasp the startling novelty,
but he did, and, under my direction,
filled the third finger sheath with
plate powder, which l rammed home
with my pencil-case. Then, produc-
Ing n miniature calliper, he took meas
urements and began to search his
scintilating stock, displaying a rever-
emit 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, 1t was a charmed place, where
money lost its everyday Significance,
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 a O dia-
mond worth a kings ransom? l felt
almost pauperized, ~recollecting that I
had only $500 available.
Now, sir, what do you think of
asked the shopman patronizing-
", as he displayed an opal changeful
as the shifting sunlight on a misty
Sky. Its exactly the lady's size.
making allowances, for, Of course. she
won't want to wear it over 'er glove"
Are not opals unlucky?" said 1, en-
i%eavoring to decipher the price.
"Oh, we don't hold with such uper-
s%tition," replied the jeweller, loftily,
but they do say one will keep you
from being poisoned"
Then l shall leave it for the next
Itch widow" l answered. But what
s the cost of this?"
I alluded to an emerald set amid
pearls, which | already saw glitter
ng on the loveliest hand in the world.
extracted it with a silent respect
le borrowed from my eagerness, and
made a sHarement while 1 watched
him, my heart beating madly. The
'lze was exactly the same; the price
'ut that is a detail. 1 decided upon it.
The shopman thanked me perfunctor-
~, and | leaned against the counter,
ceiling like one who had received a
'reat favor. But when I fumbled in
ny pocket for the notes and heard
heir crisp crackle my confidence re-
urned, and then as I watched the
plendid thing flashing in it's violet
| believed l must after all be a
man, unknown to myself, SO great
vas the suggestion of unlimited
wealth thus conveyed.
Il should like a piece of glass on
inside of the case lid" 1 observed
arelessly. us it usual?"
That's looking glassw queried the
apidary, glancing up from a s%urrepti-
ious examination of the notes.
nodded. I knew I must be getting
ed.
WELL" he remarked, t%olerantly, at
not exactly usual, but it's O pretty
1ea-ightens the attraction Of the
EN-, makes the lady see the present
rom two points of view"
Hardly an advantage sometimes"
observed, 'but can you do it?"
well, yes, 1 should think" he re-
lied condescendingly.
Then get it done, and I shall stand
racket" I answered magniicentlv.
He hurried away to effect the alter t
his place being taken hy a bald
eaded salesman who wore sDcctac!as t
talked to me over them scothin~- S
as one would to a person of weak
lteilect. while I formulated piratical
.hemes and asked hil.l pucriIe cues t
ons with a gravity cqualling his own. f
When ] left the shop headed a
raight for Bloomsbury square. but 70
emberIng that she might be lust then
coupled by domestic duties, decided
call later in the day. Even the ring +
my pocket gave me no additional h
and presently / began TO h
ink 1t was not quite royal enough. n
dying my way to Regents Park ! r
'ated out a quiet spot and sat down il