Middletown transcript., 1911-02-11
This may not he just right, bul

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and that the color changes and
grows dull if an enemy comes
near you. / believe the emerald
also gives great courage to the
wearer.
Now I know why Mrs. Talbot
loses when she makes it nc
trumps! cried Miss Tanning. She
has courage, but not the cards!
MY dear, don't interrupt! Look
at my bracelet, Mr.. Randolph.
This is a much finer emerald.
The soft round arm wearing
the beautiful bracelet was lifted
invitingly, and the rector held il
while inspecting the stones, one
Of which was unusually large.
Either he held it the proverbial
second too long, or Mrs. Talbot
feared her hostess interferer.
ence, for she drew off the
bracelet, saying:
Hold it up to the light and see
what a vivid green.
see! Very handsome! Per.
haps this is the famous stone
Nero used as an eye-glass! You
see you are in good company,
Mrs. Talbot, or rather bad com
pany, in your fondness fer those
lovely emeralds.
Oh, bnt Nero was so dreadful!
You don't think I'm dreadful, do
you, Mr.. Randolph appealingly
He will when he knows you as
we'll as we do, interrupted Miss
Fanning. 1t is really idolatrous,
Mr.. Randolph, the way she wor-
ships jewels! She is as bad as
that woman in Hichen's book,
don't you remember, who cared
for nothing in the world but
precious stones, and pined away
and died when that beautiful
mysterious ring was gone. Oh,
shiver yet when think of that
book!
Oh, don't love jewels the way
she did! Why, she murdered
some one to get that ring, didn't
she? You don't think I'm wicked
do Randolph, because like rings
and braceletsS
The pretty face was raised
anxiously to the young rector's
handsome, if somewhat disturb
ed countenance. There was a
moments silence while he re-
| turned her look. Then, as he
seemed about to reply, another
voice was heard.
Mr.. Randolp, won't you please
tell me about opals? and beauti-
full opal ring. circled with two
rows of emeralds and diamonds,
was displayed.
Ah! in relieved tone. That is
unique. I have heard that opals
should always be set with en-
eralds; that offsets the misfor-
tune. How wonderfully the
greens blend. Do you know
that opals are more brilliant on
warm daysH
No. How interesting. But are
they really unluckyP
How could they beP Ah, super
stition, superstition. The an
clients valued them highly, and
one writer, Pliny think, says
the opal's fire is beautiful like
she flames of burning sulphur
| Oh, Mr.. Randolph begged Miss
Tanning, showing a flashing
necklace Of sappbires. Do you
know anything nice about
sapphires?
| Well let me think. Yes, don'l
you remember that he sapphire
was sacred to Appollo, and al
ways worth by worshippers this
shrine9 And I've heard that i
wards off impure thoughts, and
it's wearer will find favor with
princes, with courtly bow.
Now, Miss Fan ming will be sat
isfied with nothing less than al
Adonis, or a title, interrupted
Mrs. Talbot. Cant you tell oul
fortunes, Mr.. Randolph
But Mrs. Terrell came to tht
rescue with the prizes, for the
rector was gradually being forced
back to the conservatory, ant
seemed in danger of total ex
tinction. She had noticed th'
dark eyes glancing in her direc
tion several times, and felt lk,
spologizing for her guests. The.
, were hemming bin in, all anxious
to have their gems commented
upon; interrupting his remark
} with questions and appeals, AM
} heaping his hands with costl,
I! baubles before he had half looker
: at the first ones offered.
J Mr.. Randolph, will you be kim
enough to award these prizes
ITt IL yattinp unite late and ever