Amador ledger., 1905-10-06

/
This Dreamstone of Fate
The Prince of Dreams to Phyllis.
The Gladstone, the Echoing Call OF
the Waters,
Down throught he Falls of the Ages.
Down to the soul of tue Maiden
''rhe date and language of the par
chment are those of centuries back,
and how far the message of the ruby
antedates this translation is uncer-
tain. The cutting of the stone is
Phoenic1an. The name Phyllis is
probably just coincidence. But may
L ask whether you have ever noticed
that the stone has any effect upon
your daughter?"
Nothing more than she has always
admired it, and used to fancy that
it reflected her own meeds Strange;
she christened it the dreamstone
years ago. >"
"The duce she did, OberIy
eJaculated, Strengthening mp 81
don't like the message. If that jewel
we're mine I'D charter a ship and
drop it in mid-ocean.
81 have promised that she should
wear it once. After that 1 shall take
care of the uncanny thing myself.
The night of the ball came, and
when my daughter stood before me,
there was an lpdescribabIe change in
her. | missed the sparkle from her
eye, and in its place was the old
time, dreamy expression of the
miniature. Instinctlvely looked at
the ruby. 1t glowed like a heart of
| fire.
The guests came, and with them
DR.. Tom. 1t was only too evident
that, for him, the world held only
one girl-and that was Phyllis. They
were handsome couple as they gIid-
ed around to the rhythmic time of
the hidden orchestra, and many an
eye followed with admiring glances.
They paused by a french window,
and, in apparent response to a sug-
gestion from him, they passed out
upon the lawn. Esther followed
them with troubled look, and an
underlined fear seized me. | walked
to an open door. In the moonlight |
could see my darling leaning on the
wooden railing of the river embank-
ment, which footed our grounds.
Even as looked l saw the railing
give way-saw flash of white, and
heard shriIl, girlisb scream, then a
| spIash-and after that it is all confus-
ion in my memory-a dream of
horror
| L remember they brought the dripp-
ing, white form into the ballroom,
where now was the silence of DEATH
| remember DR.. Tom worked over
her, with the water streaming from
hair and evening dress-worked with
set jaw and grim determination.
''Ihe work OF that accursed ruby, ="
| groaned, and, glancing at the bare,
white arm, | saw that it was gone.
'She will Iive!" l shouted ex-
ultantly. '"This curse is gone. Open
your eyes, sweet. Come back to US
Come, little one, come," L entreated.
They thought the shock had turned
my brain; but there was an expectant
pause, in which even DR.. Tom half
Joined. Thank heaven, there was a
tiuttering sigh, quiver of the eye
lids, and we knew that her lite's
pendulum had not ceased to vibrate.
"Yes-I-am-coming, "she mur-
mured- "the water's bride.''
"No, Phyllis; no, ~ cried earnest
ly; CDR. Tom has saved you for US,
and for himself Is it not so?''
She looked wonderinglv at me-and
then at him, and into her eyes came
the light that only shines in one
woman's eyes for one man
Regardless of onlookers, he stopped
and solemnIy kissed the sweet lips.
into which the color was slowly
ebbing.
She had quite recovered, and we
walked out in the morning sunshine
to watch the carpenters repair the
railing. l was thinking of the brace
let. She had not mentioned the
ornament since that night, and DR..
Tom, i'll whom l confided its history,
had advised letting her be the first tc
speak of it.
''It is curious papa," she said
suddenly, "but that night as l stood
there 1t seemed to me as if the ruby
bracelet changed to a warm, clingine
hand, which drew me over toward
the water. | could hear the murmul
of the falls above, and the echo seem
ed to say:
The rivers BRIDE The rivers bride.
Then the railing broke, and Yor
know the rest.''
eyes, Phyllis" said gravely, 81
know that a good and true man saved
you from watery grave, and then by
his skill resuscitated you. Perhaps
the fastening of the bracelet wa
weakened with age. am glad it i:
gone.
81 am glad it is gone," she repeat
ed simply.
"You shall have a diamond one fo
vorr u,oc inc, orocont