The evening times., 1898-09-02
RING AND GLOVE.
From BLACK and white.)

the counter, j asked for a ring.
"A ring, sir?'' said the attendant,
Cockney 10 his finger tips What sort
of ring?"
IAN engagement ring said l valor-
ousIy.
What size, sir?'' demanded the man,
docketing me mentally.
Five and a half" l replied, thinking
OF the glove.
That's rather an unusual size he
remarked, rubbing one eyebrow, unless
it's a bangle the lady wants"
I'm net sure that she wants Ii at
all" / murmured, producing the little
sandaI-wood-scented bit OF silk, but
that Is the size, / think
'Oh-its the size of the lady's and,
he observed with mild liberation. unroll-
ing IL. We'll, sir, ladies' fingers vary In
girth, and it's more usual TO fit them with
a piece Of cardboard; but well do our
best
Gould not the member be reconstitut-
ed - i asked impressiyely.
That knocked the conceit out of him;
he stared at me helplessly.
''FHli Il with powder or something, i
explained.
Ii took him five minutes .lf-discipline
to grasp the startling novelty. but he did.
and. under my direction, filled the thtrd
finger sheath with plate powder, which
! rammed home with my pencil case.
Then producing a miniature calliper, he
took measurements. and began 10
search his s-intillatng stock. displaying
q re e-ent familiarity most impressive to
behold Cleopatra how hey dazz ID!
Pearls. rubies. emeralds, diamonds, each
Il
tn desire by the narrow parchment slip
attached setting forth t-e rroe. Forty
pounds. $50 el0O; It WIS charmed
place. where money lost its everyday sig
nificance for what man of spirit would
n content 10 offer the girl OF his heart a
thing csiting a miserable tenner when
close beside il twinkl1d rcse DIAMOND
worth a wilderness of monkeys" /
felt almost pauperized recollecting that
I had only e75 available from the Derby
hundred.
'tNow. sir. what do you tn nix OF this?'
asked the shopman patronizingly, as he
d!splayed an opal changeful as the shift
ing sunlight on a misty sea. It's ex-
ac;ly the lady's size, making allowances
for of course, she won't want TO wear
IL over 'er glove"
Are not opals un,ucky?" said I, en-
deavoring 10 decipher the price.
Ion, We lOn LOAh with sum 'HP-'
| sti.ion." replied the jeweler, loftily, but
they do say one viii keep you from be-
'.Then / shall leave it for the next rich
widow" I answered. But what Is the
cost of this?'
l alluded 10 an emerald set amid pearls
which / already saw glittering on the
loveliest hand in the world He extracted
it with a silent respect he borrowed
nd a
rneur while l watched him, my heart
heating madly The size was exactly the
same: the price-but that is detail /
decided upon il. The shopman thanked
me perfunctorily. and ] leaned against
the counter. feeling like one who had re-
] ceived a great favor But when L rum
| bled in my pocket for the notes and
| heard their crisp crackle my commence
returned and then as l watched the
! splendid thing flashing in its violet bed
! believed l must after all be rich man.
! unknown TO myself. so great was the
suggestion of unlimited wealth thus con-
! veyed.
Il should like piece of glass on the
inside of the case Ed,'' observed, care
! lessly. Us il usual?'
That's looking glass;" queried the lap
tdary, glancing up from surreptitious
examination Of the notes.
l nodded. / knew l must be getting
red.
well" he remarked, tolerantly, IT'S
: 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 /
I observed; but can you do it?''
well. yes. should think he replied,
| cOndeScendingly
Then get ii done, and shall stand the
racket" ! answered, magniticently
He hurried away 10 effect the alteration
! his place being taken By bald-headed
! salesman who wore spectacles, and talked
I To me over them soothingly, as one would
TO a person of weak intellect, while
formulated piratical schemes, and asked
him pueriIe questions with gravity
, equahng his own.
When l left the shop l headed straight
for Bloomsbury Square, but remember
/ ing that she might be just then occupied
/ by domestic duties decided 10 call later
! in the day. Even the ring in my pocke'
gave me no additional courage, and pres
! emily | began TO think IL was not quite
royal enough. Edging my way TO Re.
| gents Park. hunted out quiet spot anc
sat down 70 examine IL at leisure. II
was glorious still. but somehow not Sc
glorious as / could have wished, ana
/ was actually questioning the WISDOM OF
my choice when an approaching tootlai
made me close the case. III was lisnt
! though firm, and the everlasting NM
would have worn well beneath IL. some
,binp more of the intellect than OF the
sanse made me look up, and l saw her
The sensation OF being shot through the
! baart has not. I believe, received adequate
| 1i+ersry expression, those who experience
| q heing usually preoccupied AT the exac1
| moment with other matters; put tiihh
i-,,orr What II means. She stopped, and
-Ya e,azed at each other. She was in deeI
b1arE hut the pallor had gone from mel
! oval cheeks. She made me haii-'eii'a
| 60 how sprang TO my feet
-. n clad 10 see you" cried. " be
oousa-I want to restore something yo'
eorgot IN a restaurant yester-a lie"
| weeks ago" ,u,,
HOW kind Of you" she said, coming
"oh not at ALL" I replied; but hop'
YOU were not inconvenience. shouA'
| have sent It, but IL didn't"
pu: my hand in my breast-pocke
| hurriedly and extracted my handkerchief
! which in turn brought 10 hght shea
| of letters and memoranda ] shook on
| al her feet like a skillful conjuror. Thei
tried the other pocket, but vainly. 1T
| a glove" / said weakly. gathering up m,
| belongings, zone of yours, don't yo'
know"
..I recollect-I missed it, she said cold
ly.
..Rut the cab went so quickly" plead
ed: ..ah. do sit down until / find it,
She did so. i was in gentle perspira
ton.
pray do not take so much trouble,
she murmured plaintively-
"Hurrah, ] have itr' / cried, and 1 ex
| ,rac,ad tho wisn of silk from nv watc