Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-08-20
WORK Of TIE KEEPSAKE
By Thomas Cobb.

as that why you are offering it to
meY she demanded. glancing up
brightly.
Because" 1 explained, lit is sup
posed to bring the owner all manner
of luck"
Them cried Theodore, 1t is a
kind charm"
"a talismanw
"Oughtn't a talisman to have some
mysterious writing on it:' she asked.
Every occult condition is fulfilled
l assured her, and she carried the
ring to the window. But after an
endeavor to read the words which
were infinitely engraved on the inner
face of the thin gold band, she gave it
up with sigh. Taking the ring from
Theodora's hand, I held it in more
favorable position.
ITO give and keep" she read,
then turned her head with an inQuir-
ing expression: 'Ts that right? she
asked.
"Quite right" I answered, and 1
shivered as her hair brushed my
cheek.
do you feel cold?" she asked
looking at the fire.
mot in the least"
81 will ring for Edwards to put some
more coal on" she suggested, going
toward the bell.
"You haven't made out all the
words yet" l insisted. and after a
momentary hesitation she returned to
my side.
1T is extremely ridiculous" she
exclaimed, because how can you give
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 1 am endeavoring to
do~
Then how can you keep it?" Theo-
dore demanded,
Suppose you try to read the re-
naming line" | said, but she read it
cautiously to herself before repeating
1t aloud. I saw her lips moving.
"'To give and keep:
she read.
at is supposed" explained, ito be
a translation of an old French couplet,
and you perceive that the last line
contains the moral"
land the first an impossible condi-
ton"
II assure you it is perfectly sim
ple," I insisted.
"In the Greek Kalends," said Theo-
dora, with a smile.
Much sooner, | hope"
"When? she asked, turning away
her face.
eff it is left to me, l should say
month at the latest"
Turning to face me again she held
out the ring at arms length.
~ shall refuse to have anything to
do with it." she cried.
why l asked.
ooh, I detest things I can't under
stand"
"You ought to try to have more
faith"
"In what" asked Theodore.
"In me, of course. 1 promise, II you
take it, the ring shall bring good for
tune"
81 was thinking Of you," she muir
INJURED. Eat the moment"
"Then the spell begins to work" l
exclaimed. What better luck could
it bring than to make you think OF
me?'
ITO me or to you" she demanded.
81 fancied there were tears in your
eyes"
why should there be-"
"Why" whispered, drawing
closer.
IF only the talisman might do as
you say" she murmured.
"My father gave it to my mother"
I explained.
"Then he didn't keep it,
''The whole includes the part you
understand. He gave her the ring;
she gave him back herself"
"And-and yet he lost her." muir
INJURED Theodore.
Eyes, he lost her."
"And suppose, for all their love,
there were tears now and then" she
suggested.
"Ah, we'll"
$50 that your talisman was Of very
little effect" said Theodore.
Perhaps" I urged, 1.-THE translation
was not literal; but anyhow, you need
not be afraid to accept it."
"It isn't that 1 am afraid" she ex-
claimed; but still she held out her
right hand once more, and the ring
was in her fingers.
you are not going to give it back
to me-" expostulated.
"Why, yes" she returned, and
felt compelled to take it in my hand.
for few moments / stood gazing at 1t,
a title foolishly, perhaps, then