Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1913-07-11
CHAPTER III

The Ring.
Thursday afternoon at four O'Clock
the clay abode of the man whose death
was mourned by the continent re-
turned to ashes. The mournful pro-
1cession started toward the cremato-
rum from the chapel of the Crystal
Palace. Gardens had been devastated
to furnish flowers; the streets were
carpeted with blooms. Immediately
following the coffin rode his only rela-
tive, the daughter of Hannibal Pru-
dent, in an open carriage.
Her pale face spoke of s1eepless
nights and many tears, but her eyes
now were dry, her classic face calm
and her carriage like that of a queen.
And a queen she was, not by the right
of birth or Inheritance, but by the
divine might that inhabited her superb
body.
Astra's mind was dazed from the
aoss of sleep and the pomp of the fu-
neral ceremony, and her nerves were
well-nigh exhausted by the time she
arrived at her crystal home. AS she
slowly mounted the steps her loss over
whelmed her; she had not fully real
lied 1t before. She went at once to
her boudoir, locked the door and,
throwing herself on a couch, sobbed
bitterly. Her mind reverted to the
past when the great man she had lost
had played with the little girl of FIVE
years-with her; he was an old man
even then; but oh, how dearly she had
loved him.
Her meditations were terminated abb
ruptly by the entrance of old John,
who brought the card of Napoleon Edi-
son. Il promised to receive him, did
not7"
Indeed. madam" bowed the serv-
ant.
She thought for a moment.
take him to my fathers libraryj /
will see him there"
When Napoleon Edison entered the
room he found Astra sitting before the
broad desk He stopped before her
with a low bow.
II have the honor to greet you. Miss
The girl looked into the face OF the
tall, handsome man and saw In his
large gray yes an Unreasonable cour-
age. The strong, ~wellshaped nose
curved W a pleasant mouth that
eoftened the stern expression of The
yes. The high, broad forehead was
shaded by dark brown hair. The broad
shoulders and the sinewy, muscular
form all gave evidence of strength.
endurance and energy.
The girl did not answer for q few sec.
onds; some strange power had cast its
spell yer her while she studied this
man. She recognized him as the man
who had talked so prophetically at the
continentalists' meeting in the old Hip,
podrome.
Good evening, MI. Edison" she said
at last in her low, pleasant voice. The
man thought it the sweetest voice he
had ever heard. Then she added:
XVIII you kindly be seated?"
The young man sat down without
speaking. and Astra asked: you
wished to e me; may l ask you, sir,
twhy?"
The expressive face of the young
IMAM showed a shade of disappoint-
ment as he replied quickly:
Il was under the impression that
you expected me, madam, but it seems
that I have been misled. However, !
can tell my mission in a few words"
He rested his eyes on the girls face
and seemed still ~expectant, put the
calm, beautiful face did not change.
He continued:
1.-THE main object Of my call is this"
He took a small jewel box from his
pocket, and, opening 1t, placed 1t on
the desk before Astra. Resting on the
purple pad In the box was q sparkling
white object, a small ring in the form
OF a spiral; n piece Of scroll woven
unto q shape that formed the letter
"a" to take the place of the jewel.
No Jewel decorated the ring; the
material 1t was made of was more bril-
liant than diamonds: 1t sparkled In all
the colors of the rainbow. notwith-
standing it's smooth surface.
Astra could not repress an exclama-
ton of surprise: "Ah, how beautiful"
she leaned over the desk, admiring
the weaving colors.
Edison smiled slightly and waited un-
I'll the girl was ready to turn from the
dazzling ring to him. She took the
ring in her hand and saw that 1t was
as transparent, clear and colorless as
crystal; without that sparkling effect
1T would have been invisible.
She slowly laid 1t down again and
looked Q~uestioningly at the man sit
ting before her. She did not know
that while she was admiring the ring
his eyes had rested on her yearningly.
expressing love and admiration. Or
was 1t adoration7
He smiled strangely at her and said:
sIf / read your questioning gaze Alright,