Amador ledger., 1905-10-06
The DreamStOne.
By Emma z. Wallace.

IN ten years OIL married lie, OuI pOT-
tion had been health, peace and taiI
competence. In summertime our
cottage home was a bower of fragrant
beauty, and in winter the trysting
place of warmth and good cheer.
Then there was Phyllis, our only
daughter. The artist pictured her as
gazing dreamily into the future, with
the little dimpled left hand holding
her filmy robe against her right
shoulder, her only ornament being
peculiar bracelet with large ruby
cleaning from its dull, gold setting.
1t was a conceit of Esther's to have
her taken thus, to show the soft
round neck and arms, out Phyllis
herself had cried for the ruby brace
let. The ornament always held a
curious fascination for her. When
all else failed to amuse her, she
would tease for it, and sit in the sun
shine turning it round and round, so
that the light would sparkle and
scintillate from it's many facets.
Then she would laugh with glee at
the warmth and beauty of its radi-
ance.
''See, mamma,' she cried one day,
"my ruby is happy; it laughs when
l laugh. and when | think sad things
about poor little hungry children,
it grows dull and does not shine.
Let me wear it on my arm, mamma,
just for a little while; l want to
watch it think. -
''I am afraid you will break the
bracelet, Phyllis" her mother an
swered, tenderly smoothing the
tangled curIs.
81 will be very careful, mamma; |
play it is dreamstone, and we have
such good times together. Please,
mamma, dear!'
"I would not allow it, 1 inter
rupted sharply, looking up from my
newspaper.
Esther laughed. cit is only a
childish tancy," she pleaded. 'What
possible harm can it do her?" and,
kissingt he little maiden, she adjust
ed the bracelet to the tiny arm.
Phyllis ran happily out to her play.
Soon there was sob from the di-
rection of the doorway. We both
turned to see disconsolate little
figure awaiting our notice.
"I have broken the bracelet,
mamma, she said III an awe struck
whisper. 81 was climbing the gar
den wall to reach beautiful tea rose
for you when l slipped, and, see,
mamma, the dreamstone is sorry, too,
for all the glow has gone.
| took the trinket in my hand.
Sure enough, its fiery radiance had
vanished, and it seemed to me that
the jewel sent baleful CLEAN. 1t
was not injured, only loosened in its
setting.
'We will put this away, Esther, :"
l announced firmly. eff Phyllis
cares for this baubIe, she may have
it on her eighteenth birthday, but
for the present | shall lock it up"
Time flies, and before Esther and
could we'll realize it Phyllis had
grown into a tall, slender girl, with a
face for which men do and dare.
1t was with anxiety that her
mother and l watched the growing
attachment of Phyllis and DR.. Tom
Stamford. Trey had been playmates
since they were children. We mad no
personal objection to him, only L
wanted the young man to show his
metal before we gave him our darI-
ing. Besides, Phyllis was too young
altogether too young. Her eigh-
teenth birthday was still a week dis
tant.
We we're planning ball in honor
of the event, and she was bubbling
over with girlish enthusiasm.
"Papa,' she said one night, coming
mp to me in her sweet, coaxiug way,
"do you wish me to tell you what l
want for my birthday PRESENT."
"What is it, you minx?" l asked,
pinching her cheek and dreading lest
it be something in connection with
DR.. Tom.
''Just this, popsey, that you re-
deem your promise and restore to me
the ruby Bracelet l brought out
the little box and, together, we ex-
amined its contents. | felt the old
feeling of repugnance arise at the
sight OF the jewel. Phyllis went into
ecstasies.
"WeIl take it, L said, not very
graciously, "but the ruby is loose.
Yon must have the bracelet repaired.
Better take it to OberIy. He's a queer
old dufPey, but knows his business as
fewmen do nowaday."
In the hearty hug and kiss, which
were my thanks, | was somewhat
Modified, but the feeling of uneasi
ness remained. A couple of days
later my watch stopped, and L dropp
ed into Oberly's to leave it for re-
pairs. The old man was white anC
bent, and he looked at me curiously
"Where did you get that ruby, "h'
asked abruptly.
| was accustomed to his eccentrici
ties, and briefly told him what little
knew of its history
ir, , hn rni IL