The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-04-09
A GIFT OF EASTER EVE.

a veranda that faced out on Lake st. Clair,
in suburb of Detroit. Cranborne described
himself as "a copper man.; he was, in fact,
young mining engineer whose business was
Tn the regions of Northern Michigan, where
copper is plentiful.
Of the other three men, one was man
with heavy blonde moustache This dis
elngulshed looking person also had ugly bags
under his eyes that told of over-fast living.
He was accustomed to describe himself as
mere driftWood,'' but he also said that in
times past he had been an officer in the
British army in India. His dress was now
marked by an absence Of care for appear
ances which certainly had nothing in it sug-
gestlve Of the British army's reputation for
"Smartness''
But in the strong contrast to the shabby
Norfolk jacket and the mean-looking felt
towelllng hat which this "driftwood wore,
was one piece Of jewelry that flashed in the
late sunlight as he lifted a tall thin tenmed
glass to his lips.
This piece of jewelry was at first sight, an
amazing combination Of white and green
splendors; on closer examination, it proved
10 be an uncommoniy large emerald set in
the center of a great cluster of diamonds on
ring which the driftwood' wore on his
right fourth finger. The whole outer side of
the ring rose like the dome of pagoda, Or
to use more home-g grown smile, like the
smaller half of egg, and at the apex of
TINS dome-or egg-the emerald was set deep
ly IN, as If pushed heavily down into bed
of diamonds
One thing that evident to almost any,
one who examined the ring closely was, that
the diamonds in it were not set in any fash
Ion known to either American or European
jewelers.; there was not speck of metal Wis
1oe In the interStices between the brillians
only dark spaces as if each tiny diamond
We're held by a rivet under it, And above
ALL the whole ring flashed with a glitter of
"hlte and green that strongly suggested the
gorgeousness of Asia, and all the more
strongly because of it's being on the finger
OF the Shabbily dressed ''driftWood"
off
the jewels. AS a mineralogist, he naturally
was interested in unusual specimens of
precious stones; as youth of strongly de-
Veloped artistic tastes, the rare perfection Of
color in the great emerald fascinated him.
am hating here" said the ''driftwood"
whose name. on the hotel register was Field
ing am halting here, like Israel of old
between two opinions. Before me is the
queens Dominion of Canada-and shabbiness
at my back is the United States of Amer
lca-and the possibility of prosperity. if that
possIplnty exists anywhere for me. One
peckons me across the lake to Canada the
other is drawing me into the great vortex of
the United States. Which is to be? Canada
and shabbiness. or the United States wealth
and cocktails?'' S@
AS for shabbiness.' &: era nhorne slou,1y
drawled; Il don't see how anybody can helm
looking shabby with that ring on his finger
fleldlng. The magnficence of it is enough
shabby '0oA
Wen, now do you know" said Fielding
BOOKING at the ring; there is a deem inner
meaning to that remark of yours, young man
! peileVe that this blessed Burmese Jewel has
Kept me shabby for years. and will vet Tn
other words, 1 suspect the thing of heinz
cursed" ~ 0eihs
Where did you pick it up?" asked 2 grav-
headed man of the party.
Il didn't pick it up answered Fe1d;n
QUICKLY. "A Tommy Atkins picked if IN in
Burmah, in SO. when and where 7 didn't q eli
nm MN, though 1 suspect he got it where he
| him.
Tor IT, which he expended, I believe. on beer
ana cleo lncontinently. But ever since then
l nave been on the decline and 7 attr;huta
my present condition piece of driftwood
to this brilliant object
And yet you won't part with itou cots
Cranoorne. That's human nature all over ;,
Won't 1 thought" said Fielding. ~ would
part with it tomorrow; but everybody seems
for it." oeA
win you take thousand dollars for it7"
Cranborne asked, while the two older men
eyed him with shrewd interest 0
start Will
If you hand it over to me now" the vonne
miner answered; Il will give you fiftv dolIars
IN notes and check on a Detroit bank for
nine hundred and fifty" ~
Fielding set about pulling off bs -;,e h,,
Cranoorne rang the bell and sent a uoitar
Tor blank check, giving the name of his
bank in Detroit u LIS
You're not afraid?' Fielding asked him
cnce more, as if he really felt scrunles . hn,,t
turning over the curse to this voune 49,
NO, I'm not afraid said Cranborne
Mining engineers are not given r. s,,,.
stitions said the gray-beard - sopei
spoken before. do
Il have plenty of superstition - said c..
borne; but like to try experiments. I am
going to play a Christian superstition aeainst
Heather, that's ALL
1t was no business of Fielding's IF this
young man from the nohtrerp r,;ro.. .A11"