Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1899-02-02
ESTELLE'S RING.


1t was the fourteenth day of Febru-
airy and the lovely Estelle was sitting
in her luxurious boudoir when a pack
age was handed her which she opened
and exclaimed with delight:
1T is valentinei"
How exquisite this wreath of hand
painted oses-delicately tinted, as all
tea-roses should be- And this little
pocket! What can it contain? A
ring. Amazing. And written on it
this motto: Think of me-" There
are no Cupids, with bows and arrows,
and lines, rhyming with love and dove,
charms and alarms, rain and pain, etc.
but neat little blank verse ex-
pressing regard and admiration, and
conveying no hint of the oonor or
other information than that he was
one unknown to her, who for the loves
of art and travel, which had always
ruled his life, would soon be far away
on the other side of the blue waves.
Estelle took the ring from its hiding
place and slipped it on her finger, Gu
rious to know if it fitted, then her
maiden modesty suggested that she
ought not to accept and wear gift
from an unknown giver-and she with
drew it quickly from her finger and
determined to return it. But now the
question arose: to whom? where?
After reasoning with her conscience
she again put it ON her finger. 1t
fitted nicely and produced mysterious
presentiment of coming bliss, and a
sensation about her heart which she
had never known before painted her
cheek with the color of the
lovely tea-roses on her valen-
tine, and she said emphatically,
He shall be my ideal; l can construct
him as | like-I shall make him as
handsome as Apollo and as gifted;
and who can chide me if l become a
hero worshipper? And he only asks
that think of him.
Her soliloquy and state of curiosity
were interrupted by friend and COM
panion of the art school, Mrs. Bird, a
widow lady of wealth and enthusiasm
about art, like herself, whose errand
was to propose a journey together to
the cradle OF art. Estelle was only too
glad to accompany her and accepted
without hesitation. A feeling she
could not account for prevented her
from showing her valentine or speak
ing until long afterward of the little
talisman that now seemed almost like
a betrothal ring. The congenial
friends made their trip series of de-
iights-and would have regretted
reaching their destination so soon if
they had not been just in time for one
of those annual fetes which the Amer
ican club of artists delight to celebrate.
AS they were speeding along on their
pleasure jaunt seated on the deck OF a
comfortable boat watching their COM
panions and enjoying delicious
breeze and the varied scenery-moun-
tain, crag, castle, monastery and dark
forest-Estelle observed a picturesque
young man. artistically dressed, as
suited the occasion, gazing with sur
prised and earnest look at herself. His
rich brown hair and glowing eyes OF
the same color reminded her of her
ideal. the beautiful hero whom her i'm
agination had created, and she felt the
finger encircled by the mysterious
ring give little throb In unison with
her heartbeat At this moment to her
surprise her friend Mrs. Bird gave him
a smile and nod OF recognition and be-
fore she had time to recover from her
confusion of mind, Mrs. Bird requested
permission to introduce her artist
friend, Henry st. Leger, and she very
soon found herself absorbed in CONVEX
sation with the most attractive man
she had ever met.
But it was long after this, on an
other ST. Valentines day, when the
artist friends homeward bound. sat
gazing down into the dark blue waves
that she laughingly gave an account
Of her first valentine and the little cir
ciet of gold, which she observed, but
did not know why, attracted his atten-
ton and excited his curiosity, that he
ventured to tell OF his long years OF
study and self-denfal, whilst all the
time he had followed and worshiDed
a star which he thought too far aboTe
him to be obtained, but which he now.
by the aid OF st. Valentine, hoped
would ever more be his ghding spirit.
e.