Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1911-01-24

II
This time it was Chatworth who cried
out. The thing that lay on the gold.
smiths palm Flora had never seen,
though once it had been described to
her" a bit of an old gold heather
god, curled around himself, with his
head of two yellow sapphires and
big blue stone on top"
There 1t 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 it at the
touch of magic hand, now cunningly
restored to its right place in the fore
head of the Crew Idol, browning him
with living light
Speeches. they looked together at
the magic thing. They had thought it
lar at sea- and as If at a wave of a
genlls 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
the point of asking a question, but,
instead, he slowly held out his hand.
He held it out cup-fashion. 1t shook
so that Flora saw the Chinaman
steady it to drop in the ring. Then,
folding his check miraculously small,
enveloping 1t 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, Glow 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 F1ora's mind THAT first
time Harry left the exhibit he took
it 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
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
fixedly at it with the passionate in
credulity with which one might hold
and look at a friend thought dead.
She watched him with her jealous
pang increasing to greater feeling
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 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. II have loved you
more; and that in spite of what 1
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 l ever
have known you without it?" He
put the ring into her hand. and, smil-
ing with his old dare, held it over the
fountain. Nov, if you want to, drop
it in" He released her hand and
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 it has made
people do. 1t makes me afraid"
In spite of his smiling he seemed to
her very grave. You dear, silly
child The whole storm and trouble
of life comes from things being in
the wrong place. This has been in
the wrong place and made mischief"
Like me-" she murmured.
Like you" he agreed. Now we
shall be as we should be. Give me
your hand"
He drew off all the rings with
which she had once tried to dim the
sparkle of the sapphire, and, drop
ping them into his pocket like so
much dross, slipped on the Idol that
covered her third finger in a splendid
bar from knuckle to joint. Holding
her by just the tip of that finger, lean
ing back a little, he looked into her
eyes, and she, looking back, knew that
it welded them once for all