The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1903-08-20

LO the ring In her right hand
Il5N gNt us that why you are Of
fcring, 1t to me?" she de.
manded, glancing up brightly.
Because" l explained, ut is sup.
posed to bring the owner all mt&ner
of luck"
"Then," cried Theodore. at is kind
of charmw
"A talismanw
"What is it supposed to do7"
20, well, the idea used to be that It
received an influence from the plan.
cts"
II wonder which planet?" asked
Theodore.
"The stone is green" I answered,
"and green was the color Of Venus,
you know, Anyhow, 1t is supposed to
protect your house from yisitations
Of eyil spirits"
your house, she demonstrated.
ut is the same thing" insisted, and
Theodora's face grew rosily red
"0ughtn't a talisman TO have some
mysterious writing on it," she asked.
Every occult condition is fulfilled"
assured her, and she carried the ring
TO the window. But after an en-
deavor to read the words which were
infinitely engraved on the inner face
Of the thin gold band, she gave 1t up
with a sigh. Taking the ring from
Theodora's hand, 1 held il to a more
favorable position.
"'To give and keep" she read, then
turned her head with an inquiring cx-
preston: "Ts that rlght?" she asked.
Quite right" l answered, and l
shiyered as her hair brushed my cheek.
DO you feel coldY 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
towards the bell.
You haven't made out all the words
yet" l insisted, and after a momentary
hesitation, she returned to my side.
ut is extremely ridiculous" she OK
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 IL you give II away"
Precisely what l am endeavorng
to do"
Then how can you keep it," Theo.
dora demanded.
Suppose you try to read the remain
Ing line" | said, but she read it eau
tjously to herself before repeating it
aloud. saw her lips moving.
"'To give and keep; at
Nor lose nor Weep"
she read.
ut is supposed" I explained, "to he
a translation OF an old French couplet,
and you perceive that the last line
contains the moral"
"And the first an impossible condi-
TOM
II assure you it is perfectly simple"
{ insisted.
I'm the Greek Kalends," said Theo-
dora, with a smile.
"Auch sooner, hope"
"When" she asked, turning away
her face.
IF it Is left to me, should say
month at the latest.'
Turning to face me again, she held
out the ring at arms length
II shall refuse to have anything TO Go
with it," she cried.
"Why?" asked
20! detest things I can't under
stand"
you ought to try to have more
faith" urged.
I'm what?" asked Theodore.
In me, Of course. promise, IL you
take It, the ring shall bring good for
tune"
Il was thinking of you" She mur-
INJURED, Fat the moment
'yrhen the spell begins to work. I
exclaimed. "What better luck could
1t bring than to make you think Of
me?v
ITO me or to youT she demands.
ITO both; at present IL is neither
yours nor mine"
1T looks rather ancient she re-
marked.
you see. It has been n family relic
for generations" | explained
''Then It has always been keptr'
evidently"
"And consequently it has never been
given awayw
AT regular intervals" insisted.
well" she faltered. Ill don't IN
derstand" BIT l fencied she did.