The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-12-15

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This time it was Chatworth who cried
out. The thing that lay on the gold
smiths palm Flora had never seen,
though once 1t had been described to
her" a bit of an old gold heather
god, curled around himself, with his
head of two yellow sapphiree and a
big blue stone on top"
There it blazed at her, the Jewel
she had carried in her bosom, that
she had hidden in her pouch OF gold,
and that had vanished from 1t at the
touch of a magic hand, now cunningly
restored to its right place in the fore
head of the Crew Idol, crowning him
with living light.
Speechless they looked together at
the magic thing. They had thought it
far at sea; and as if at wave of a
genii's wand it was here before them
flashing in the quiet garden.
With an effort Chatworth seemed to
keep himself from seizing on ring
and man together. He looked search
ingly at the goldsmith and seemed on
the point of asking a question, but,
instead, he slowly held out his hand.
He held it out cup-fashion. It shook
so that Flora saw the Chinaman
steady it. to drop in the ring. Then,
| folding his check miraculously small,
enveloping it in the ragged piece of
newspaper, the little man turned and
shuff1ed from them down the gravel
walk.
Chatworth stood staring after him
with his idol in his palm. Then, turn
ing slow eyes to Flora, How did he
come by this?" he asked, as sternly as
If he demanded it of the mystery it.
self.
HE had it, from the very first"
The pieces of the puzzle were flashing
together in Flora's mind. THAT first
time Harry left the exhibit he took
1t there"
But the blue sapphire?" Chatworth
insisted.
Harry" Flora whispered, Harry
gave it up to him."
Gave it up to him!" Chatworth
echoed in scorn.
But she had had an inspiration Of
understanding. "He had to-for
money to get off with He gave Clara
all he had so that she would let him
get away. Poor thing" she added in
a lower breath, but Chatworth did not
hear her. He had taken the Idol in
his thumb and finger, and, holding it
up in the broadening light, looked
fXedly at it with the passionate in
credulity with which one might hold
and look at friend thought dead.
She watched him with her jealous
pang increasing to greater feeling
a feeling of being separated from him
by this jewel which he loved, and
which had grown to seem hateful to
her, which had shown itself a breeder
Of all the greedy passions. She came
softly up to him, and, lifting her
hand, covered the Idol.
He turned toward her in wonder.
"Ah, you love it too much," she
whispered.
That's unworthy of you," he re-
preached her. Il have loved you
more; and that in spite of what
believed of you, and what this means
TO me. To me, this ring Is not a
pretty thing seen yesterday. 1t is
the symbol of my family. 1t is the
power and pride of us, which our
women have worn on their hands as
they have worn our honor in their
hearts. 1t is part of the life of my
people; and now it has made itself
part of our life, of yours and mine
Shall l ever forget how starkly you
held it for the sake of my honor
even against myself? Should I ever
have known you without iL?" He
put the ring into her hand, sEd, smil
ing with his old dare, held II over the
fountain. "Now, if you want to, droE
it in" He released her hand anG
turned to leave her to her will.
For a moment she stood with power
in her hands and her eyes on his
averted head. Then with a little
rush she crossed the space between
them. Here, take it! You love it!
l want you to keep it! but can't for
get the dreadful things 1t has made
people do. 1t makes me afraid"
In spite of his smiling he seemed t
her very grave. "You dear, silly
child! The whole storm and trouble
of life comes from things being il
the wrong place. This has been IL
the wrong place and made mischief.
Like me-" she murmured.
Like you," he agreed. Nov VIZ
shall be as we should be. Give m'
your hand"
He drew off all the rings witt
which she had once tried to dim the
sparkle of the sapphire, and, drop
ping them into his pocket like 81
much dross, slipped on the Idol tina
covered her third finger in splendid
bar from knuckle to joint HOLDING
her by just the tip of that finger, lean
ing back little, he looked into hel
eyes, and she, looking back, knew tha
| it welded them once for all.
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