The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-10-17
THE EVENING Story
Tho Hoodoo Ring.
(By Ina Wright Hanson.l

L =
little speech desperately. with my
eyes shut.
The silence was so long tina. /
opened them to find Pauline with her
rapidly, but noiselessly.
What are you doing?" I inquired
as calmly as was able.
Il was saying the protection charm
Tor lovers, she answered. smiling
sweetly at me. TITS lucky for you
lucky days for me till the middle of
next MONTH"
80 superstition, thy name Is Pau
line" said fondly. No matter what
sweetest girl in the world. Tomorrow
l will bring the diamond,'I added af-
ter awhile.
80 no, please. she answered
promptly: II should rather have a
ton in matters of love-
Next day, when I entered the only
jewelry store the place afforded was
wishing that my Pauline was not so
superstitious. OF course, I wanted
seemed to me the only gems for be-
trothals.
When I met her in her garden that
night 1 fancied that she looked pale:
and when gave her the box thought
she seemed on the threshold of tears.
open it, hearts dearest" I al
lured, not without some trepidation.
But she put the box up her lace
sleeve, and began whispering to me of
how she was ever prone to hold her
pleasures little while from her until
she had tasted anticipation to the full;
and she was so wonderfully enhancing
that no mortal man could remember
such mundane things as metal or bril-
liants in the soft symphonies of her
feeling-swept voice.
Rl1t oJ, ~,
sweetheart after that. I had some
times chafed over the necessity, when
We were starting for somewhere, and
had only brief time to get there in,
and had forgotten something of be-
ing compelled, when we returned for
1t, to sit down till we had counted fifty,
but this Pauline always laughingly in
sisted on.
Now she treated all signs seriously.
She no longer laughed when we spill
fear in her eyes as she threw a pinch
Of it into the fire. She sometimes
cried when I left her, as though my
absence were to be an indefinite thing
instead of time of hours; and when
came to her she often rejoiced as
though I were come from a far coun-
.ry; and through all these days She
to wear my ring. One night
spoke sharply to her:
Pauline, take my ring from your
chief, or your pompadour, or where
ever you have concealed it, and put it
n its rightful place. insisted.
IT'S in the house." she faltered,
ooking at me with frightened eyes.
TIL get it,"
Returning, she placed the red leath-
r box on the arbor table, and with |
Ter face wreathed in tragedy she be-
,an to talk.
81 looked at the rings in that store |
'efore you went in to get it. There |
vas only one ruby, as you know, and |
thought it beautiful. beautiful! I |
lad told the man when I went in that |
wasn't going to buy, so he began to /
ak to me. He said he called the ruby
lis 'hoodoo ring He said young
nan bought it first for his girl but
he Tilted him before she ever saw
he ring, so he brought it back, ex-
hanging it for a diamond scarfpin.
hen a man bought it for his daugh-
er's graduation gift, but she died the
yeek before. and he sold 1t for mon
v to buy the poor child's shroud.
Wasn't it dreadful, Harry? Then
Mysterious yelled lady said she was
ding to buy it, but she suddenly dis
ppeared, and was never heard of
fter.
SET went home in a dreadful state Of
hind. All day I was sending the men
al suggestion to you not to buy. that
ing, but just before closing time.
neaked in to look, and the ruby ring
ras gone 1 could not bring myself
, tell you then that I didn't want it,
fter you had been good enough to
lease me, for I knew you preferred
diamond; so I said I would forget
S history. I compromised with evil.
nd took it, but / have never opened
lie box"
"You haven't looked at the ring?" I
xclaimed.
mo; but just having it in my posses
on has done such awful things! First
Nv poor kitten ate the poisoned meat,
len my best loved vase fell to the
DOR when no one was near 1t, and
roke itself to pieces; 1 tore my best
ress the first time 1 wore it, and you
ad the automobile accident"
"But didn't get hurt" objected.
eyes, but it's warming" she wall
/. ST don't want the ring, and don't
ant you to keep it, and it is shame
make that poor man take 1T back. I
eedn't get me another. 1 will be sat
fed without an engagement ring"
Then 1 laughed. I couldn't restrain
yself any longer, and my poor girls
picked up the box and touched the G
ring. She gave one long earnest look
the sparkler, then looked wildly at @
sfWhy, it's a diamond!' !
I nodded. 1 could do no more then.
'Is that the ring I have been carry !.
e around, or hiding away for two J.
ortal weeks?"
1 hooded again, helpless with laugh
r, and it was not long till Pauline
ughed with me. Then she kissed the
ng and slipped it on her finger. Next
e went to the door of the arbor. and
oked deliberately at the moon over
II left shoulder. Spying a ladder =,
aning against the wall. she walked
der it. A rusty nail showed en-
ingly in the moonlight, but she did
t turn 1t around. She came back to
2, sat down, and regarded me "
avely.
ct still have an unholy curiosity to h
low who did buy that ring, apd what
did to them ?" she said mournfully. =,
30 heart of NINE" l crooned, Can :"