Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1912-01-04
ADONIRAM'S SIGN.


in indications. AS a child and youns
man he had never failed to see the new
moon over his right shoulder withou
feeling sure that he would meet with some
misfortune during the month. He woulc
never start on journey on Friday or ST
al a table about which there were thirteer
persons. These are but few signs tlla
he regarded, but they serve to show his
character.
When eighteen years of age he had
engaged himself to a young lady several
years his senior. For an engagement
ring he had given her one with an opa
setting. He was not aware at the time
that the opal invariably brings bad luck
The girl was equally ignorant. She had
not been engaged month when she was
taken i'll and died.
Ii was not remarkable that Adoniram
who was naturally inclined to make much
of such matters, should have been deeply
impressed with the fearful penalty he
had paid for running counter to the opal
blight. When he recovered from the
shock of his fiancee's death he was moi
only disinclined to enter again upon an
engagement without duly considering all
the signs involved in the way of warning,
but had reached condition where he
was looking for one to indicate that the
lady of his choice was the right woman
for him to marry.
Before he had passed middle age he
had noted a number of indications that
such or such person would make him
happy, but either the girl who seemed to
be pointed out was too homely or had a
bad temper or some other defect which
led him to disrr gard the sign. With mans
natural perversity he formed a purpose
of marrying young woman who had as
much contempt for these petty supersti-
tions as he had respect. Miss Octavia
Sparks had mind superior to that of Mr..
Doyle, but she liked him. Women are
supposed to confine their love and ad-
miration to men who are above them in
intellectual strength, but this is not an
invariable rule. Mr.. Doyle was gentle,
simple minded man, free of guile, and he
appealed to Miss Sparks stronger INTEL
lect. Perhaps il twas a considerable mus
cular strength he possessed OF which he
was himself unconscious that impressed
her weaker physical organization.
Be this as il may, the two were drawn
together, and it only needed some indica-
ton that fate intended their meeting to
induce Mr.. Doyle TO propose. He waited
a long while for such an augury; but,
none appearing, he made up his mind to
propose, anyway. He started out one
crisp autunnal evening, but no sooner
had he opened his door than there, up in
the southwest, was acrescent. He paused.
His first glimpse of the new moon was
over his left shoulder.
He went back into the house, took of
his hat and overcoat and sat down dis
appointed. He was not sure that the in
cident portended refusal on the part OF
Miss Sparks or that marriage with her
would result disastrously. Nevertheless
he dare not, in the face OF so marked a
warning, persist in his intention OF ask
ing her TO be his wife.
But he continued his friendly relations
with her and longed to settle down with
her in the bonds of matrimony. He lived
alone in his home with an old woman
who was both cook and housekeeper,
and there was no reason why he should
not bring Miss Sparks into the house as
his wife. Should he do so he felt con-
fident that she would make it very diff
ferent home for him, rendering what was
desolate, cheerful. But of this ne was
not certain. How did he know that she
might not turn cut to be virago?
However, a constant companionship
gave him confidence in her, and the fol-
lowing summer he came again to reso-
luton to propose marriage to her. This
time, in passing between his house and
hers, a snake crossed the road directly
before him.
He stopped short and watched the
viper slowly dragging itself along in ths
dust, to lose itself in the long grass ane
make a final momentary appearance as j
crawled under fence. He stood for
few minutes thinking, then turned reluc'
tantly and went back 10 his home. Thi'
second warning was so pronounced tina
he resolved never again to set out will
an intention to propose to Miss Sparks.
From this time he began to consider tn
different unmarried women in the plac'
other than the one on whom he had sc
his heart, with a view to acquiring a help
meet. A widow. Mrs. Perkins, live
some distance down the road, and MI
DOYLE, after much deIiberation, foilawe'
by number OF attentions, resolved t
substitute her for Miss Sparks. Hew
have liked to receive some indication
that the fates would look favorably upo