The sunny South. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1875-1907, June 26, 1875, Image 7

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t [For The Sunny 8onth.] THE FLIRT’S FAREWELL. BY FLOY FAY. The bright spring days are over, The roses are almost gone; In one short month you’ll be far away, And I—shall be left alone,— A trifle sad. but not desolate, Since the old charm has flown. The spell for both is broken; But whatever the changes be, Your heart will whisper, “A little while She was all the world to me;** And I doubt not a cloud of faint regret Will shadow your memory. S • n farewell n*u«t be spoken In the lew more days you stay; I care not now how soon you go,— I would you were gone to-day,— But rememltrr the sweet October Sometimes when you’re far away. And now, Guy, as to flirting. We're even—you and I; But I doubt if the thought brings pleasure, Since we’re come to say “good-bye.” There's a shadowy gloom o’er the sunshine, ThougL cloudless the summer sky. Sometimes my heart thrills strangely, And I catch my breath in pain, When I think next spring the violets Will bloom in the woods in vain; They might bloom in the woods forever. And I see you never again. But they say youth brings forgetfulness, And a love, however true, Will fade away with the old year, And another will come with the new; So if you can be happy without me, dear, Then / can be happy, too. “Mrs. Kendrick Las sent here for you three last January, I entered her room as usual about trace of any other Le Roi, and the name of the FEMALE SCRAPS, times this afternoon, Master Paul, and when the twelve o clock. To my astonishment, her maid discarded father has vanished from the memory young gentleman in the office went, she sent told me that she had gone to Philadelphia. I of man ! Here the ring makes its first appear- . him away. I told her servant the last time he questioned her, and found that Beatrice hail be- ance — for another fragment of the story says ^ ert blonde hair is now called the “light fan- was here, that your wife was sick, sir, and that come very much excited after reading the paper, that it was first given in betrothal to or received Mastic tow.’ you could not leave her; but he is back again, which she handed me, all torn and crumpled, from a certain high-born dame called Regina of and Mrs. Kendrick says come, if it is only for I soon saw the notice of your approaching mar- Druricourt, who loved the nameless knight.” five minutes. I imagine its you she wants to see, riage, and divined at once the reason for her “ Druri-court!” exclaimed Mr. Drurie in aston- sir, and not a doctor. “Where is the man, John?” asked Paul. “In the office, sir. Shall I call him?” “Yes,” said Paul, irresolutely. In a minute, John came back, followed by one of Mrs. Kendrick’s servants. “ This is the fourth time you have been here to-dav. Is the lady very ill?” asked Paul. sudden journey. I was terribly frightened, and followed her the next day, to find her in the first stage of a violent attack of pneumonia. Our old footman, John Roberts, had brought her here and given her in charge to the housekeeper. ishment. “ Regina of Druri-court! That name bears a strange resemblance to my own, Paul.” “Listen,” said Lora, and Paul continued. “Afterward it was used as a wedding-ring, wherewith this dishonored gentleman—whose A woman of San Francisco never goes to church with less than seven diamond rings. When a New York census taker asked Mrs. Sullivan how old she was, she expelled him with a frying-pan. Boston would like to know, “ Are women per sons ?” It’s of no consequence, however; if they are not, they are very excellent substitutes. Rochester Democrat. The Lotidon Herald says: “Miss Lydia Thomp son finds her success in England too great to After she got better —and that was not until name has deservedly perished—did wed another April—I took her to New York with me. On lady of high degree, one Jean of Weir. You the fifteenth of that month, Luis Corderez ar- perhaps already know that Earl of Weir was “Yes, sir, if you please; the doctor thinks she rived in the city, and came at once to see us. I the title borne' by the family of Le Roi until will die,” answered the messenger. had supposed that he and Beatrice were to be those troublous times when the earls were bereft care about returning to America just yet. She “Then you have a physician already?” married, but I was mistaken. I was the only of their title and henceforward became plain announced, some time ago, her 671st night in “Yes, sir; Mrs. Kendrick don’t want any witness of their last interview in September, gentlemen. ’Tis said that both these noble ladies London, medicine. She says she wants to speak to you.” My blood boils with indignation now when I bore a son to the nameless father, and I have An Atchison, Kansas, girl, ate four pounds of “Very well,” answered Paul; “I will be there think of it; and yet it appears that he had been able to trace the descendants of Regina of wedding-cake in order that she might dream of in a few minutes. Show him out, John, and re- once told her that he could not marry her while Druricourt to one Reginald Drurie, who went to her future husband. And now she says that turn.” you were living, and she had clung insanely to America in 1790.” John did as he was bidden, and brought Paul’s the hope that she might one day be free; for she Mr. Drurie sprang to his feet. hat and shawl in with him. “John,” said Paul gravel}-, “yon have been my friend through every change of fortune, and I can trust you. *Y’ou know the day of the month, and you know how fatal, with one ex ception, this day has ever been to me. I had determined not to leave my wife’s side before to- loved him, Paul, more dearly than I supposed she could love. Upon this day that I speak of, he told her, not gently, but in^. harsh, sneering tones, that the plain truth was—these were his words: “ ‘I would not marry you if Dr. Le Roy were a thousand times dead ! I would not trust the money wouldn’t hire her to marry the man she saw in that dream. There are two girls in Americus who have exactly the same name, were born on the same day, professed religion the same day, joined the church the same day, were baptized the same morrow, but you see how an irresistible fate untarnished honor of my name in your keeping compels me to go. I do not know what may for the wealth of the world ! It is not likely that That was my father !” “ How very strange !” exclaimed Paul. “There is a tremendous mystery in this ring, after all.” • “Go on !” cried Lora, breathlessly. “I can tell you nothing more of them: but dav‘ and are “no relation" the ring was left with the son ol Jean ot \v eir, * , . „ , . and with the historv of his descendants I am , The much-talked-of marriage of Earl Rose- well acquainted. Your grandfather was the berry to a daughter of William Butler Duncan, randson of Charles Le Roi, and received from tbe well-known New York banker, will take place and the written parch- next month ln London. It is expected to be an happen, but I want you to stay near Mrs. Le Roy I would find another Lora Drurie to keep me him the sapphire ring am. until I return. Will you do it ?” from going to the devil, so let us hear no more ment which I enclose. The parchment was not unus uallv grand wedding. r, Charles Le Roi, but by Victoria Woodhull has “I will stay about her room as long as possi ble, sir, and when she dismisses me, I will stand at her door. No human being shall go near her but your mother or her father,” said John earnestlv. of any possibility of marriage.’ “ Beatrice fell into a swoon that lasted until I thought she would die in it. She never saw ancestor’s birth—December twenty-eighth, six- Luis Corderez again, for I gave positive orders teen hundred and sixtv-three.” written by your ancestor, Charles Le Roi, but by ) ictoria Woodhull has recently called upon ‘Charles' the King,’ upon the night of your all “lovers of progress” to meet in convention this summer, to take immediate steps to improve that he should not be admitted to the house. In “I am satisfied !” exclaimed Paul; and folding October, I brought Beatrice here. She has had his shawl around him, he went out. every attention, for I remembered that she was In compliance with his promise, John went my sister's child.” immediately to Lora’s sitting-room. Miss Bessie Paul silently pressed Mrs. Kendrick’s hand, and Miss Tillie were with her, and John busied and without speaking, left the house. Just four himself in mending the fire and re-arranging years ago he had met Beatrice for the first time, “That fatal twenty-eighth!” murmured Mrs. Le Roy. “If you will note the manner (continued Paul) in which the name is written, you will see that ‘Le Roi’ is meant for the rovai title. the human race by introducing upon the world’s stage a better breed of men and women. There are to be “archery clubs ” this summer in place of the headlong croquet, and young women are to wear quivers of arrows over the shoulders. The newspaper paragraphists are [Written for The Sunny South.] THE RING ACCURSED. “what are you doing? It isn’t your place to set the table!” “It only remains now for me to tell you the requested to withhold their brutal remarks. - - - fate of those who wore the ring. Whether the . ot-w a ....„ „i.„.i „„„ the tiny tea service that had been placed ready blooming with health and beauty; now he left curse said to have been laid upon it had any- oM.erdl^Viv wlnann? r!f tor Lora's supper. her, for the last time, cold and still! thing to do with their misfortunes oi* nni vmi ? ? .,^ ^ otli6r tlft) h^ hfi\in^ one of the^ female “Why, John!” she exclaimed, laughin Bi BITH FAIRFAX. PART FIFTH--Concluded. CHAPTER XIII. Pass we now over a year. The proposed visit to Europe was postponed, and again a silver plate, bearing the name of “Dr. Paul C. Le Roy,” appeared upon Paul’s door. With far fairer prospects than before, he entered upon his professional duties, and Mr. La Crosse was his first patient! In the rapturous happiness of his married life, Paul forgot for a time the remarkable circum stances connected with the sapphire ring, which he still wore upon the little finger of his left hand. Ten months they had been married, and I venture to say that neither of them had ever given the ring a thought, and doubtless would not have thought of it in ten years had not Mrs. Le Roy, the elder, who was not quite so blind to all earthly matters, chanced one day to find the written account of Lora's remarkable vision. She traced its prophetic wonders one by one, and she saw, or thought she saw, that the end was not yet. She took it into Lora’s sitting- room, where Paul, in a very ecstacy of happi ness, was sitting at his wife’s feet—we may as well tell the truth—worshipping like any pagan. “Paul,” said his mother, “have you forgot ten this?” “What is it, mother?” and he hastened to draw a chair nearer the fire for her; it was a chilly October evening. “ This vision of Lora’s. Read it aloud, my son;” and she put the manuscript in his hands. “ It is indeed wonderful!” he said, when he had finished reading it; “ even to the hand, Lora, that tried to separate ours at the very altar. However, the ring is here yet. Do you know its history, mother, or the strange characters engraven upon it?” He looked curiously at the ring as he spoke, and noticed, for the first time, that the bright, sparkling blue of the sapphire had faded into a dull, pale purple. He called their attention to this, and Mrs. Le Roy answered: “I do not know the entire history of the ring, but will tell you all I know. When I was about twenty years of age. I went to England with my father. There I met Charles Le Roy, and there I married him. They spelled their name R-o-i, PauL His father was a grand, stately old man, who bore his eighty-five winters as if they were forty summers, and had married, not long be fore, his second wife, a girl not much older than i myself. She had not married him for his wealth, as you might suppose from the difference in their ages; she adored him, and I believe never married again after his death. Y'our father, Paul, was near his step-mother’s own age, and they were, I think, very good friends, though lie' was a wild, headstrong young man. My father died in England a short time after I was married, and at my urgent request, Charles con sented to make his home in America. We spent the last few days of our stay in England with his father, and at that time my attention was first particularly called to the ring. His father said that of all days in the year he should not have selected the twenty-eighth of December for his wedding-day, and that he had better not wear the ring, which had always been called * The Ring Accursed.’ It was taken from your father's hand, stained with his blood, a few hours after his violent death. Y'ou know, Paul, that I warned yon not to wear it.” “And I replied that I would wear it to prove that there was no truth in the tradition that called it accursed. ” “And so far as I see," said his mother gravely, , “you have only proven its truth.” “Is Paul’s grandmama still living, mother?” asked Lora, who had listened attentively to her story. “It is very likely that she is. I have not heard from her for years,” said Mrs. Le Roy. “ Write to her,” said Lora. “She may be able to tell' you something about the ring. I must confess that I feel a keen curiosity concerning it” “I will write at once,” said Paul: and drawing a small portfolio from the table drawer, he wrote a letter to his grandfather's widow, requesting her to give him all the information she could concerning a sapphire ring which had been worn by his father. He did not even hint at any remarkable events connected with the ring, nor in any way allude to his own history; he merely mentioned that he was married, and his wife was curious to know the true history of the quaint old jewel. CHAPTER XIV. Two months passed. Again the twenty-eighth day of December came—a date ever memorable to Paul Le Roy. for as far back as he could re member, every important event of his life had happened upon the ever-recurring twenty- eighth. He was not a superstitious man, but it can be no matter of surprise that he determined not to leave his wife's side that day. All profes sional callers were referred to a young physi cian whom he had taken as assistant in his office. The day passed pleasantly until late in the afternoon, when John, who was “head-man” iand general supervisor in Paul’s establishment, jcalled him into the library. “No, ma’am, but I like to do it for you,” said John, still busy about the table. She looked at him intently for a moment, and then said firmly: “Y'ou are nervous, John; what has happened ? Where is Paul ?” “Nothing has happened, ma’am,” answered John frankly. “Mrs. Kendrick is very ill, and has sent for Dr. Le Roy; and as he is away, Miss Lora, if you please, I would like to stay within call.” “I thank you,” answered Lora sweetly; “I would like to have you remain. But pray sit down, and don’t be so nervous about it. ” John bowed, and silently sat down a little be- CHAPTER XV. John was still keeping faithful watch over Lora when Paul returned, but sprang to his feet and hastened out when he saw that his services were no longer needed. “Why, my darling!” exclaimed Lora, draw ing Paul’s curly head to her bosom, “you look like you had seen a ghost!” Paul shivered and was silent. “Are you sick, Paul?” and she lifted his face so that she could look into his eyes. “You are so pale and cold.” “Hold me close to your heart, then, my dar- thing to do with their misfortunes or not, you “"^lee"singere^^k him'for““fleIh-colo"red court- must judge lor yourself, but it is quite certain plaster; .. b ” t after some th o„gh t> he handed out t . 1Ht y° u r frilly ha\ e evei found the twentj - black and dodeed under the connter for safetv. eighth a lateral day. ‘ Charles Le Roi had a faithless wife, who hind her chair. Kind indulgence could not suddenly: cheeks,” said Paul, caressing her softly. They were silent for a moment, and then Paul said spoil him. Paul soon reached the well-known door of Mr c . Kendrick’s house, and was immediately admit ted by the servant who had summoned him, and ushered into the drawing-room. To his intense astonishment, Mrs. Kendrick rose to receive him. He bowed formally and said in haughty ac cents: “Excuse me, madame; there has been some mistake. I understood that you were ill.” “I am quite well,” she answered coldly, “and would not have sent for you if I could have avoided it. Beatrice is ill, Dr. Le Roy, and her constant cry yesterday and to-day has been for after nine o clock, said Paul, locking at the ling wife, and yon will soon see color in my in fasting, alms-giving, and prayer. “ Charles Le Roi (your father) was of a wild, reckless disposition. Y'ou know that he died by his own hand, on the twenty-eighth of Decem ber, some twenty years or more past. “Of Paul Charles Le Roi, I as yet know nothing, but hope that you will give me a his tory of your life, that I may add one more, and I hope the last, chapter to the story of the ring which has been called accursed. I sincerely de sire to hear that you have been exempted from the baleful influence of the sapphire. “After I had learned all that I could, I sub mitted the jewel to a number of learned gentle men, and discovered, to my surprise, that the With a premonitory knock, John entered with devices graven on it were old Druidical charac- a packet of letters and announced that tea was , ters signifying ‘Unknown, I See, Unseen;’ when ready. j you have read the enclosed parchment, you will Why have they waited for me, John? It is ! see why I was surprised. deserted him when his son Paul was but two years old. “ Paul Le Roi fell beneath the executioner’s ax. on the twenty-eighth day of December, sev enteen hundred and twenty-eight, leaving his infant son James (your grandfather) to his aged father’s care. At this time the title of earl was forfeited. “James Le Roi never icore the ring ! He was less complaint of flirtation. There, if a young afraid of it; and as each succeeding year brought : man is out riding and sees a girl he fancies, he the date of his father’s death, he spent the day just lassoes her and drags her home behind his black and dodged under the counter for safety. Boston Globe. Mrs. Swisshelm has been running out the boundaries of secure osculation, and has reached the conclusion that “only in his coffin is it safe for a woman to kiss any one man in a thousand.” It is doubtful, however, whether even that one man would care to buy a kiss at the price. Courtship in Patagonia is attended with much less ceremony than in this country, and there is ‘Lora, she is dead.” “And you saw her, Paul?” asked Lora, start- ing. “She sent for me, Lora, and I went. She asked me to forgive her.” “And you did, Paul—I am sure you did?” ‘ ‘ I had nothing to forgive, Lora. I blessed her for casting me into your arms.” He threw his arms around her and held her to his heart. Joy such as theirs is seldom granted to-mortals. you. Will you see her?” “No, madame,” replied Paul; “there are other physicians, whom you can send for, who will do all that I possibly could. My presence might do her injury, and the meeting would cer tainly be disagreeable to myself.” “Ah ! and so that is all your noted generosity and kindness amounts to, is it?” said Mrs. Ken drick scornfully. “You can coldly refuse a dying woman’s prayer. You will carry your hatred even beyond the grave!” “Mrs. Kendrick, is your niece really dying?” asked Paul, looking steadily in her face. “She is. Her life is no longer numbered in length by hours, but minutes. I tremble, even while I stand here exchanging useless words with you, lest she may die with her last wish unfulfilled. “I will see her,” said Paul; and Mrs. Ken drick hastily led the way up-stairs, ushered him clock. “They’d have waited until eleven, sir,” an swered John, smiling affectionately upon his master. Y'our mother and lather don’t care to eat unless you are there.” “And Miss Bessie and Miss Tillie agree with them,” added Lora. “Go, Paul,—I have had my tea, and when you have finished yours, we will all have a nice chat together.” Half an hour passed, and then Paul’s light step came springing up the stairs like a boy’s. The warm, cosy room presented a beautiful picture to the group that entered the door. Lora (j le en( j “I will only add, briefly, here that I am very old, very wealthy, and intend to make you my heir. Perhaps you will regard an old woman’s horse, and that settles the whole business. He leaned on the fence, pouring out warm vows of love and admiration to the lovely being on the other side. It was dark. We could not see her face, but she said: “Pray desist. You are too vacillating. Only a week ago you told that same story three doors below here.” They parted.—Titusville Herahl. An old woman who had never been to school got a letter one day, and asked the postmaster to read it for her. She did not want him to hear it, so she took a wad of cotton out of her pocket and stuffed his ears with it. She then had him to read the letter in a low voice, and was per fectly satisfied that the reader could not hear a word of it. This is reported as a late actual oc currence. As soon as the baby’s teething begins, the ro mance of married life ceases, No woman can feel any sentiment for a man who travels around in his night-shirt of a hot summer’s eve, with a whim and visit London, that I may look upon j squalling infant dangling over his shoulder. It .1 i i -i _a _ Hi ti i is f.ViPTi t.linf. sliti sfnris r»ol liner lvim “TY.irlinor ” the fSce of the only descendant of him I loved so well. Y'our loving grandmother, ‘ ‘ C'lajbe Le Roi. ” When Paul’s voice ceased, no one spoke for several minutes; utter amazement held them spell-bound. “‘Unknown, I See, Unseen,’” said Lora, at length; “the strange words of my dream, Paul is then that she stops calling him “Darling,’ and descends to such commonplace observations as “John Camfire, be careful how you hold that baby.”—Brooklyn Argus. At Spitzbergen, 'the longest day lasts three months and a half. This certainly must make it bad for young people who only do their court ing Sunday nights. But, on the other hand, Read the enclosed paper; I am anxious to hear j j u *t fancy the sweetness long drawn out when a ” this niffht liamiens to fall on Sundav ! Three was reclining upon a low couch drawn up in front of the fire, and a tiny boy some three weeks old lay upon her bosom. Mr. Drurie seized the little creature instantly, and commenced an animated conversation with the grandmother concerning his remarkable strength and beauty. The two sisters listened Paul loosened the wrapper of faded, worn silk, and took therefrom a scrap of discolored parch ment. Every eye was fixed upon him as he read: “The ring enclosed in this parchment bears with it a curse to the wearer—a double curse: first, from an ancient Briton, of whose wrongs into the room which he had occupied the first delight, while Paul and Lora exchanged a few Heaven alone bears knowledge; and next, from night of his stay in that house, and retired. He was alone once more with Beatrice War ner. With hesitating steps he approached the side of her couch and looked down upon her. Oh, heaven! what a change! The soft, dimpled words. “Y'ou have forgotten your letters, Paul,” she said. “Ah! so I had,” taking them up; “and here is one from London.” ‘From your grandmama!” exclaimed Lora; an injured woman, of whose sorrow I myself have borne witness. It was hers—it was refused to her; her curse will endure to the end of time, this night happens to fall on Sunday! Three months of steady courting—looking fondly into each other’s eyes, talking about the heated term, the crops, etc. The Mecklenburg declaration of independence might never have immortalized North Carolina if it hadn’t been for the unflinching love of mat rimony shown by the ladies of the old tar-heel State. The royal governors allowed the county clerks to charge fifteen dollars for a marriage license; this extortion operated as a damper on the ardor of the swains, but roused in the female for the mockery of a limit she has placed to it breast that vengeance which blood alone can can never be reached. Her words were: ‘My i quell. Independence was the inevitable result. curse shall end when one unknown to the wearer of the ring shall see it, unseen, and her blood and mine are united in one as closely as are the two rings.’ ” “ ‘The mockery of a limit,’” interrupted Mr. Drurie. “Indeed, it seemed so, and yet it has been reached. You, Lora, are the last of the O’Leary, who has just performed the feat of walking five hundred miles in one hundred and fifty-six hours at Chicago, seems to have demor alized the people of that city, even the girls be coming possessed of the pedestrian mania, if we may judge from the following remarks of the Tribune: “Dresses are now cut loose and flesh all gone, the dainty, rosy color replaced by an( i each one was instantly silent, for they all a wan whiteness, the once pearly skin stretched t®lt the same curiosity. like yellow parchment over the bones, the lustre Paul broke the seal, and opening the closely- of her eyes faded, the glory of her golden hair written pages, took therefrom a small silken departed. She lifted her eyes to his face as he packet. This he laid aside for the present and stood beside her and feebly lifted her hand, commenced reading the letter aloud: _ _ _ _ Dili he refuse it? No ! He had not been Paul “London, October 28, 1853. line of Druricourt—you, Paul, the last Le Roy; : fl 0 win" to admit of more free use of the limbs. Le Roy if he had. He took her hand geiitly in “My Dear Grandson,—You have written to and in this little one in my arms, the two lines, i The Chicago woman of the period is not encum- his own, and the terrible hatred he had felt for me requesting the history of a sapphire ring the two names, are united in one, even more ; bered by any extra clothing or hampered by the her—Paul was but human, and he had hated which was left to you by your father. Y'ou could closely than are the two bands that form the ‘ Scan t; effect.’ She dispenses with the parasol; her—faded away before the awful presence of not have applied to anyone better prepared to ring!” - - - - - - ----- Death. gi ve the desired information—not only because Paul continued reading: “ Y'ou wished to speak tome, Beatrice?” I was your grandfather’s wife, but because I “I have seen the beginning of the evil; who “Y*es, Paul,”—oh ! how faint her voice was !— took a great interest in the ring from the first shall see the end? I will offer this fatal circle “forgive me. I am dying—and I am afraid—I moment I saw it, and never rested until I had of gold to the claimant; she will not have it—in have ruined your life ” learned all that could be learned concerning it. mv heart I know that she will not, yet I will “Not so,” interrupted Paul. “I did suffer “Y’our grandfather, the late James Le Roi, was offer it. I know not the meaning of the strange terribly for a time, it is true; but before Heaven, 1 bom in the year 1727. He had one son and lost characters graven upon it, but I say beware, oh ! Beatrice, I freely forgive you for that, and bless his wife; nor did he marry again until his son wearer of the ring, lest its cursed fatality attend you for the perfect heaven of happiness anil lore had grown to be a young man. I then became thee, nor ever hope to find one unknown who can that your seeming unkindness opened to me !” his wife, and spite of the vast difference in our see it unseen, and so dissolve the spell. “You love her, then?” whispered Beatrice. ages, loved him well and truly. Very soon after “Charles, Le Roi.” “Lore her!” our marriage, my husband placed in my hand a They ftU bent over tbe b it of parchment to He said only that, but his eloquent eyes, the small silver casket full of rare old jewels; among examine the quaint hieroglvphics. Paul drew deepening flush on his brow, spoke more plainly them was the sapphire ring of which you have tLe written account of Lora’s dream or vision than words the deep, abiding devotion of his heart. “And you forgive me?” she sighed wearily. “As I hope to be forgiven!” he responded earnestlv. written. I admired it exceedingly, and after f r0 m the table-drawer, and placed it beside the •wondering for awhile over its heathenish devices, placed it on my finger and wore it to the dinner- table. As your grandfather lifted my hand to his lips, he started back as if he had been stung. She faintly pressed his hand and was silent I glanced at tue ring and stood amazed. It was for a time; then she asked: “ Where is Lora?” “At home,” answered Paul, flushing a little again. Fast dying though she was, Beatrice noted that flush. Ah! she knew so well how his throbbing heart was wont to send that tell-tale signal of its emotion to his cheek! “She is ” Beatrice fixed her eyes upon him. “Let me call your aunt,” said Paul: for the fingers he held were stiffening in his clasp. Mrs. Kendrick heard him, and came silently I suppose, a mere trick of the imagination, but the band of red gold seemed to writhe and ticist around the other as if it were a living thing, while the sapphire glowed with supernatural brilliancy, seeming fiendish triumph Paul and his mother exchanged wondering glances. They, too. had seen this remarkable appearance in the ring, just three years ago—on his wedding night with B. atriee. “In a moment the illusion vanished, and I asked my husband the cause of this unusual emotion. “ -Prav remove that ring from vour hand im- everything is ordered with a view to the full development of her pedestrian powers. She no longer affects small feet and light boots. High heels are dropped, and the easy, roomy shoe is now the correct thing. Men women and chil dren dash through the streets at the most tre mendous pace, and everybody seems to be walk ing a match with everybody else.” Romantic reporter in Houston (Texas) Tele graph : Yesterday afternoon we witnessed a pa thetic scene on a street-car going to the Union Depot. Beside ourself, there was only one pas senger—a handsome lady, well-dressed, and just in the prime of life and matronly maturity. About midway between Main street and the depot, a genteel, good-looking man stopped the car and got aboard. As he stepped into the car, the lady jumped to meet him with the exclama tion, “Oh, Harry, is it you?” Answering, “Yes, Jennie,” he caught her to his bosom in an im passioned embrace, his face the very picture of happiness, while the lady looked the imperson ation of contentment and joy. Mutual explana- old record. The odd characters on each were identically the same, and both were as like to those on the ring as if they had been printed from it. Truly, one unknown had seen it, unseen. Was the ring still accursed ? Perhaps it was the exposure to the heat of the fire after its long seclusion from the air, or per- •aimhire mowed with sunernaturai tmiiiancu ^ ap ! 14 w . ils onl J' 11 P^t of the mystery surround- tions ensued, in the course of which we Teamed ■appniie giowea wan supernatural orunaniy, mg the ring; but certain it is, as Paul held the tb at the twain had senarated from each other enn_ parchment in his hands, it suddenly fell in Zing the war.ancf hS^^etSSe.^H^" pieces to the floor. As he hastil} reached tor- sa j,j that he had wandered over the earth in sad- ward to secure the bits (they had fallen very ness aI1 (j sorrow, a yearning for his first love near the fire), the ring, the fatal ring, fell from - - his hands fell full into the very center of the glowing coals! Mr. Drurie would have sprang to the rescue, but Lora held him back. “Let it go!” she said. It is the end of the curse. The rim melted. The bands of gold fell away Druidical characters that had letters of jet upon a wall - :»-• , ... „ , • .. . of fire! Then the sapphire crumbled to dust, She remains at home with my little son, only from him. but from all who in any degree and stm the three cba racterK were left. While “Answer,” said Beatrice, in a choking voice; mediately,’ he answered, and I did so at once. first [ eavbll , tbe Druidica “let me contrast the extent of your happiness “This incident of course stimulated the curi- bee n „ rav eiTupon it as let with my own agony.” osity I already felt; and making enquiries, not f Then the sannhi said Paul, motioning Mrs. Kendrick to his side. With a choking sigh that was almost a sob, Beatrice lifted her head from the pillow and looked at Mrs. Kendrick. “Tell him all,” she said. Her head fell back, her fingers relaxed their always tugging at heart, making him restless and causing him to constantly be on the move. He had been to California and in the mines of Nevada and the Territories. With plenty of money at his command, he had been in Brazil and other South American States, and was now on a tour through his own country. “Jennie’ had never forgotten him. but had nightly prayed for his safety and welfare, and for his return; she had wept bitter tears over his absence, and had even searched for him at different places. spasmodic grasp of Paul's hand, and in a few who was a special favorite of King Charles the minutes she breathed her last. Silently, Paul rose to leave the room, but Mrs. Kendrick touched his arm. “You heard her ask me to tell you all. There can be no more fitting time nor place than this eliesfs of mustv? wonn-ea^en^aiiersr ansend- - vet they gazed in awe-struck silence, a puff of g be had forgotten all misunderstandings and i n , T trusty messages to different parts of the coun vft P or sllot out * rom Ae fare: a thick mist rolled bickerings between them that so enveloped her Hy la t last became possessed ofat leTstav^t before them and formed the semblance of two life in m 8 iserv; and « 0 h, Harry,” she said, “if r Vt- f .became possessed oi at least a part clasped hands. For a moment the shapes hov- — - - - - - ‘ ot its history. e red over the head of the little Drurie Le Roy, while the hour of midnight pealed forth; then they faded away, and with them the last hour of the'day, the last vestige of The Ring Accursed. “The ring belonged to one Charles Le Roi, Second. I have caught here and there fragments of a tale by no means creditable to the father of Charles Le Roi. It is said that his name was discarded by his son, whom the King graciously called after himself—Charles, Le Roi. Whether A cross-eyed Chicago girl advertises for a hus band affected the same wav. What a cross- After she left my house in New York the first of this be true or not, it is certain we can find no , eyedea! you will just take me back to your heart and love again, I will be the happiest little woman in all the world.” Tears were in Harry’s eyes as he took her in his strong arms, and kissing her, swore that she was his forever. He said he had “plenty of money to keep you, Jennie, and the babies in style, and though I was going the other way, I’ll buy a ticket for St. Louis, and we’ll go home.”