Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-11-05
WORK Of THE KEEPSAKE
By Thomas Cobb.


kind charm"
"a talismanw
"Oughtn't a talisman to have some
mysterious writing on itY" she asked.
every occult condition is fulfilled" y
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. held 1t in a more
favorable position.
"aTo give and keep?" she read,
then turned her head with an inQuir-
ing expression: as that rightY' she
asked.
"Quite right" l answered, and I
sh,vered as her hair brushed my
cheek.
do you feel coldY she asked
looking at the fire.
Not 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
momentary hesitation she returned to
my side.
ut is extremely ridiculous" she
exclaimed, because how can you give
-
"It must be done in order to bring
out the full virtue of the charm"
But if you give 1t away?"-
Precisely what am endeavoring to
dop'
"Then how can you keep itY' Theo-
dore demanded.
Suppose you try to read the re-
naming line" l said. but she read 1t
cautiously to herself before repeating
it aloud. 1 saw her lips moving.
Ito give and keep;
she read
at is supposed" I explained, ito be
a translation of an old French couplet,
and you perceive that the last line
contains the moral"
"And the first an impossible condi-
tionw
81 assure you it is perfectly sim
ple," l insisted.
"In the Greek Kalends," said Theo-
dora, with a smile.
Much sooner, l hope"
"WhenY she asked, turning away
her face.
"If it is left to me, I 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" I asked.
ooh, 1 detest things 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, "at the moment"
"Then the spell begins to work.! I
exclaimed. What better luck could
it bring than to make you think OF
meY
ITO me or to your" she demanded.
81 fancied there were tears in your
eyes"
why should there be2"
"Why% 1 whispered, drawing
closer.
Tf only the ta1isman might do as
you say" she murmured.
"My father gave it to my mother"
l 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.
Yes, he lost her"
"And l suppose, for all their love,
there were tears now and then" she
suggested.
"Ah, we'll"
80 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."
at 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 l
felt compelled to take it in my hand.
for few moments 1 stood gazing at it,
a title foolishly, perhaps, then l
looked into her face.
1.-THE tears should be as few as l
could make them, Theo," said.
"Oh, 1 know, 1 know" she faltered.
Don't you think you can change
your mind urged, and she met my
eyes with an expression half per-
picked, half indignant. In her own
there were still traces Of tears; some
sensitive chord had, perhaps, been
touched, of which had no perception.
"Change my mindp' she cried.
II thought you would like to put it
on" said Theodore, and as l took her
left hand and pushed the ring over
her third finger it seemed that the
talisman began to take effect at once,
for her tears dried like April rain,
and no sunshine was ever brighter
than her smile. But Theodore insists
that her talisman is something differ
emf altogether.-FrOm Black and
White.