The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-04-02
Bv Even MacPhersOn.

: q good. substantial thousand American
! dollars, and his mind made up FOR me
! United states. prosperity and cocktails.
He however as well az the two elder
I ~ MIchig8nders who were present AT TINS
transaction. noticed that Cranborne did
not put on the ring.
"Oh / have no intention OF wearing
t." said the young miner. laughing. ~
won't fash In the sunlight for eight
months more Then / shall try my eN-
pertinent"
Back went Cranborne % the northern
hills Of Michigan. whore they snelt cop
per. and there he stayed all through the
fan and winter that followed.
And then in the early spring o. the
following year. the same tranhorne
alghted from "a train that pulled I'm 20
q big depot ln q Kentucky city. IL was
Saturday night, already after ten
o'clock Cranborne flung his vallse into
n hack ami. instead of going TO a hotel
directed the driver 90 a private residence
some distance out IN tho suburbs of the
city
The house was IN darkness when that
hack drew mp before fts front gate, bur
that made no difference 70 the new ar
rival. he rang the bell in a way that
showed Enthusiastically his intention 10 be
admitted
who at length answered. Miss Ellie is
gone our 70 party, sir"
"Whorn2'
az Mrs Goodlin's sir"
That was. enough. Cranhorne knew
Mrs G093HG he had not been irvifod
70 the party but that was not 70 be ex-
pected when be was supposed % be in
Michigan That he was unshaved and
attired fn rouch-and-rcady travelling
dress made no difference I'm a case of eN-
treme urgency. as this was.
In The event. Mrs. Goodiin was very
glad 10 soe Mr. Cranborne. but that. too
was not of much importance lie begged
her TO lot him speak IA private with Miss
Efie stark
As a matter Of fact. Miss File Stark :
was Just then speaking I'm private with /
another man. But Mrs G0odlin. after
one moments reflection. decided 20 break /
in upon that tete-a-tete She did q by (
saying: Excuse me. won't you2 Efie. !
MT Cranborne has just appeared ana /
wants to see yOu ut once
The other man bit his lips and inward
~ swOro while Cutw9rdlv he was Civ
ing his arm fo Mrs. Goodlin
Don't think mo crazy Efie" That (
was how Cranborne opened tho CONVEX
satIOu. "ft is after eleven O'clock now !
and ] had 10 see YOU before midnight. J
Intended 70 start a wook ago. but ever
80 many things delayed mo in Michigan
And than tho train got stalled and VIC
missed connection ~ Nicinn1n"
Efie. between one emotion and another,
rado very pretty picture Of p young
lady hlushing But she had nothing ready
20 s4y. though her Inns were parted as II
10 speak
IT had TO ser YOU to-day" Cranborne
went on mot "a dav sooner or day
later This i7 Eqetor eve Lot mo ten
YOU what T am driving at at once There
"a nm old belief On Greece that 7 have
always wanted 10 test the truth Of They
say There that II a gem or anything ~
that sort has a curse or it Won can de- |,
stroy the curse by giving II on Easter /
eve TO "a girl who is very good indeed |
and who loves you"
"Oh" easped Ellie.
"Yos that was WHY 7 wanted 20 500
YOU before midnight" Cranborne went
on. Then he took that splendid tr0nhv |
Of emerald and hrilliants from n little
deorskn bag. Now listen he said |
"The man from whom I bought this tod
re that II was cursed and had brought |
him only misfortune ever since he first
cot hold OF IT, So. YOU see if Won toke |
d and wear IT, II VIII bring YOU misfor- |
tune unless You love mo-"
cts that all?' said EGie.
'Ycs"
ct think III risk IT," she said looking
down.
Five minutes later she was looking
for her escort and her wraps. Ms
GoOdiin noticed that she kent ho~ ioft !
hand concealed under a glove which she
had wrapped about its fingers.