Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1903-05-02
THE TAL1SMAN.

is that why you are 0nerIng II TO me
she demanded, g~iancing up brightly.
Because" | explained, 1T is supposed
70 bring the owner all manner Of luck"
Then" cried Theodore, lit is a kind Of
~cnarm!g
"a talismani"
What il it supposed to do"
"Oa, well, the idea used to be that 1t
received an influence from the planets
II wonder winch planetg' asked Theo-
dora.
The Stone is green" / answered, ''and
green vas the color Of Venus, you know.
ANYHOW, it is supposed to protect your
house from yisitations Of evil spirits
Your house. she demonstrated
1T is the same thing" l insisted, and
Taeodora's face grew rosIy red.
"Oughtn't a talisman to have some mys-
FERROUS writing ON itY' she asked.
Every occult condition is fulfilled" ] as
snred 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 a sigh. Taking the ring from
Theodorais hand, / held it in a more favor
able position.
TO give and kept" she read, then
AAlEtA H1i HGdQ WIN uH m1HAAh6 IHASC
sion: is that right" she asked.
Quite right" / answered, and shivered
as her hair brushed my cheek.
DO you feel cold2" she asked, looking
at the fire.
Not in the least"
u 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"
! insisted, and after a momentary hesita-
ton she returned to my side.
st is extremely ridiculous" she ex-
claimed, because how can you give a thing
and yet"
1T must be done in order to bring out the
full virtue of the charm"
But if you give it awayA
Precisely what ] am endeavoring to do"
Then how can you keep it?" Theodore
demanded.
Suppose you try to read the remaining
line" / said, but she read it cautiously to
herself before repeating it aloud. ] saw her
lips moving.
ITO give and keep,
Nor lose nor weep"
she read.
ut Is supposed" / explained, ito be a
translation of an old French couplet, and
| YOU pttGtlNS iHdk the luSh lAHt NOitdtlS II
moral"
and the first an impossible condition."
81 assure you it is perfectly simple" /
insisted.
In the Greek Kalends," said Theodore,
with a smile.
Much sooner, ! hope"
"When?" she asked, turning away her
face,
"If it is left to me, l should say a month
at the latest"
Turning to face me again, she held out
the ring at arms length.
81 shall refuse to have anything to do
with it." she cried.
"Why?" | asked.
co. / detest things l can't understand"
"You ought to try to have more faith"
| urged.
ON what?" asked Theodore.
"In me, of course. / promise, if you take
it, the ring shall bring good fortune"
81 was thinking of you" she murmured.
Eat the moment
Then the spell begins to work." l ex-
claimed. what better luck could it bring
than to make you think Of me-"
"To me or to your she demanded.
"To both; at present it is neither yours
nor mine"
ltIUOkS TALneT ancient, she remarked.
"You see, it has been a family relic for
generations" | explained.
''Then it has always been kept"
Evidently"
"And consequently it has never been
given away"
"At regular intervals" l insisted.
"Well," she faltered, I'll don't under
stand" But l fancied she did.
"If you study the words carefully" l be
gan, when she interrupted me with a SOL
emn expression.
Besides she cried, 'even if the condi-
ton could be fulfilled
at could" | answered.
even then" she continued, haven't
any of its owners either lost or"
''They have never lost the Talisman.'
"Ahi" said Theodore, cit must be a very
wonderful thing if it always keeps away
tears"
"You mustn't Judge by its present effect
| urged, and she became suddenly indig-
nant.
"What do you mean?" she demanded.
81 fancied there were tears in your
eyes"
'yvhy 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" l ex-
planned.
Then he didn't keep it,"
"The whole includes the part, you under
stand. He gave her the ring; she gave him
back herself"
"And-and yet he lost her." murmured
Theodore.
Eyes, he lost her"
"And / suppose, for all their love, there
were tears now and then" she suggested.
"Ah, we'll"
so that your Talisman was of very little
effect" said Theodore.
Perhaps" / urged, "t,he translation was
not literal; but anyhow, you need not be
afraid to accept it,"
1T isn't that | am afraid" she exclaimed;
but still she held out her right hand once
more, and the ring'wss in her fingers.
you are not going to give it back to me-"
l expostulated.
"Why, yes" she returned, and / felt
compelled to take it in my hand. For a few
moments / stood gazing at n a LITTLE foolish