Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-05-16
THE TALlSMAN.

Ii d very slight" / said. as Theodore
stood holding the ring in her
right hand
rs that why you are offering it to
me-" she demanded, glancing up
abruptly.
Because" l explained at Is sup
posed to bring the owner all manner
of luck"
"Then" cried Theodore, at is kind
of charm"
"A talisnaG"
What is 1t supposed TO doE'
"Oh, well. the idea used to be that
ii received influence from the plan
cts"
Il wonder which planetT' asked The
odora
THE stone is green" l answered.
"aud green was the color of Venus,
you know. Anyhow, it is supposed to
protect your house from yisitations of
evil spirits
Your house" she demonstrated.
at is the same thing | insisted,
aud Theodora's face grew rosy red.
"Oughtn't a talisman to have some
mysterious writing on itY' she asked.
Every occult condition is fulfilled"
assured her and she carried the ring
to the window. But after an endeavor
to read the words which were minute
~ engraved on the inner face of the
thin gold band she gave it up with a
-{Uh Taking fbn pinn from Frhnn1prnte
hand | held 1t in a more favorable po-
sition.
TO give and keep" " she read, then
turned her head with an inquring ex-
preston: us that right" she asked
quite right" | answered, and |
shiyered as her hair brushed my
cheek
DO you feel cold" she asked, look
ing at the fire.
Not in the least"
II will ring for Edwards to put some
more coal on" she suggested, going
townrd the bell
You haven't made out all the words
yet" | insisted, and after momen-
tary hesitation she returned to my
side.
1T is extremely ridiculous" she ex-
claimed, because how can you give a
thing and yet"
ut must be done In order to bring
out the full virtue of the charm"
But If you give it away"
Precisely what | am endeavoring TO
dor
Then how can you keep it, Thco-
dora demanded.
suppose you try to read the re
manning line" | said. but she read il
cautiously to herself before repeating
II aloud. | saw her lips moving.
'ro give aud keep;
Nor lose nor weep"
she read
1T is supposed" explained. Ito be
a translation of an old English couplct.
aGf YOU perceive that the last line con
tans the moral"
And the first an impossible condi-
ton"
Il assure you 1t is perfectly simple, '
| insisted
In the Greek Kalends." said Thco,
dora, with smile
much sooner. | hope"
"When?" she asked. turning away
her face.
IF it is left to me, should say n
month Mt the latest"
Turning to face me again. She held
out the ring at arms length.
Il shall refuse to have anything ia
do with it," she cried
Why" | asked
on! detest things l can't under.
stand"
You ought to try to have more
faith" | urged.
an WHAT asked Theodore.
an me, of course, / promise. if YOU
take it, the ring shall bring good for.
tune"
Il was thinking of you" she muir.
INJURED, "at the moment"
Then the spell begins to work. |
exclaimed. What better luck could
1t bring than to make you think of
me?"
''To me or to your she demanded
TO both; at present 1t is neither
yours nor mine"
1T looks rather ancient" she re-.
marked
You see 1t has been family relic
for generations" | explained.
Then 1t has always been kept"
Evidently"
And consequently it has never been
given away
AT regular intervals, I insisted.
We'll" she faltered. II don't nm
derstand.' But / fancied she did.
IF you study the words carefully"
| began, when she interrupted me with
Il solemn expression.
Resides she cried. even if the
condition could be fulfilled"
1T could" | answered
Even then" she continued. haven't
any of it's owners either lost or"
''They have never lost the Tails
man"