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Star (Christchurch), Issue 7800, 3 September 1903, Page 4

ring sooner ; >vhat would his friend think ! But Syd had been so ill at the time, besides, it really seemed as though the ring might have slipped into the packet in transit—he remembered a fellow once who got a letter many months old, it having slipped into a book packet, and gone to Australia concealed therein. Pshawi He was a fool, and that was all about it I " Give me a drink of that tea, old man? I'm so horribly thirsty." With a. guilty feeling Jack roused himself' to do the invalids behest, " You have more than one sister, haven't, you?" he said. V "Yes, two. You've seen the^r photos. There's Vi; she's the eldest, she's fair and prqtty— a thorough little flirt. While the other— L believe she is haunted by some sort of Superstition; she's a regular old, sobersides, is Ruby. Look out there! — for the handles* cup which Mr Marston had just refilled with cold tea had, gone to the floor with a crash. ' " Great Scot, Jack ! Have you seen a ghost? Your face is as white as a sheet 5" It was scarlet then, as the culprit stooped to pick up the ruined crock. " Why, your fingers are actually trembling, old!, man j you look positively nervous !" " They — they say too much' tea is bad for the nerves, don't they'/" stammered Mr Marston, still grovelling after the bits. . "Ha! Ha! I thought I was quite past laughing, but I declare that would wring a smile from a hearse itself! Too much tea bad for the nerves, forsooth! Why, it's I who asi drinking the tea, not you, and I don't find it affects mine, my boy, J unless, it is applied cold outwardly !" and j Trafford glanced ruefully at his daAp shirt j sleeve. "But there, it's too bad of me, old fellow ! You're just worn* out with looking after me, and that's the long and the short of it. I've been a useless log in your hands, Jack, and many a fellow— — " • " Many a fellow would have done exactly as I did, only more so," interrupted Marstori, whose one burning desire was to get back to the subject of Ruby and her superstition. " What were we talking of?" '• Oh, about the girls, Vi and Ruby. Vi, you know, is — — " " She's the fair one, you said," suggested Marston, meekly ; " she hunts. And the other — the cr — superstitious one?" : "Oh, '-veil, it's perhaps hardly superstition, but it's this way. Her godmother is wealthy, and a 'bit eccentric; j she would have called her Ruby, and when she was seventeen she. . presented her with a most valuable ruby ring. It has one single' stone, a most rare and historic gem, and it seems there is some story connected with '"Wait a minute, old fellow!" Marston had moved into the shadow, and his voice sounded husky. • "I want to tell you something—something that happened the other dav." < ■ « And—" repeated Trafford stolidly (he had got on to the thread of his story, and didn\t mean to be interrupted) — " her godmother, made her vow she would never part with the ring, or let it go for a single instant out of her keeping, unless it went into the hands of the man who was destined to be her future husband." . There was a queer, indistinct sound behind him, a hasty, violent movement, as Trafford, having finished his story triumphantly, raised himself on 'his elbow, and turned to look into the face of bis listener. He looked into space. . The. chair was empty, the door of the shanty slammed with a sudden bang, and Trafford found himself alone. , It was some weeks later : Trafford had recovered so far as to be able to leave his bed, and hadi been out for a walk in the frosty air. Entering their joint abode, he found Marston seated at the table, turning over a large packet of photographs ; society beauties, famous actresses and a sprinkling of personal friends. "That's a lovely face!" remarked Syd, picking up a half -length portrait, '" and— what a figure! Jove, it's a pleasure to gaze on such a form divine! Why have you kept her mewed up all this time?" "Quite forgot I had her," said Mr Marston, carelessly. "You're' very welcome to the cardboard image, if you like her, old chap." "I am? -Cardboard image,' indeed, I like that! But look here, she must have a

frame; the best there is, too." And he proceeded to look over his possessions. "That's the best frame of the lot," «iid Jack, si queer look on 'his face, as ho pointed to a portrait of Ruby, framed in silver, which had come out with the Christmas parcel. " You're right, my prophet, it is ! But it's a sham© to turn the little girl out of it." " Not just for a time ; she wouldn't mind, you know?" " I'll split the difference," remarked Syd, " Shove her in, in front, then' Ruby can't feel she's been turned out." Jack's face fell. He had an unsatisfied, hungry longing to get hold of that photograph of his friend's sister, and gaze upon it all to himself. He had studied it carefully. There — upon the delicate finger — was the single ruby that threatened to burn a hole in his pocket every time he thought of it ! The sweet, shy eyes looked back at him with a wondering, half -reproachful gaze, the mobile lips seemed to speak in answer to his mute inquiry. "Now, stupid! Steady! No, she's too thick after all. Come out. ' Oh, Ruby, my darling ! That small white hand that gathered the harebell, etc.,'" hummed Traf- ■ lord, as he deposited his sister's portrait upon the table, and the new beauty reigned in her stead. Now was his chance ! Trafford had turned to replace the frame — don't hurry, Jack ! Steady — sober — or you're Undone! "I say, I ? m nearly, famishing, what do you. say to a meal?" Mr Marston strove to speak casually, as with eager, trembling fingers he swept the whole cargo of photos together from the tables and landed them into his drawer. He had done it! Ruby's was amongst them. Ruby's photo was in his very own possession! 4nd^afford? Well, Trafford, poor innocent soul, 1 , ate his meal like a hungry martyr, and suspected nothing! > , . "Do you know, Jack," he said, as they sat over the fire, "I've made a resolution. That illness has taken it out of me. I'm no good yet for work, and — I'm going home. I shall pick up quicker there, and come | back as strong as an, ox. I meant to go I this year, a;nd I' really think it will be economy to go at once?" Marston made no response. His heart I was beating in rebellious consternation. 1 Syd was going home ; then he must deliver i up that ring to send to its rightful owner. I He- must part with his friend, he must part | with the blood-red ruby, too, awd— he hated | himself for the thought — (the latter seemed the bigger trouble of the two. Trafford ! waited a moment in silence ; then he went on : '" My only regret, old man, will be leaving you behind. I've been no end of trouble to you lately, and precious bad company, I know; still, you'll find it beastly dull | aflone." , Still' no answer. "I suppose it's quite out of the question, ( but — if only you could have come too?" Marston started to 'his feet. Why was it out of the question? Why had hV never thought of it sooner? Of course he would go, he would still keep his* secret, and he would go to England with Trafford, and deliver up the precious ling in person. , "That's a good idea," he said slowly, "you're hardly fit to travel down country by yourself yet, old chaip. We'll shut up shop, here,' and just take a run Home together." "Thab will be jolly," responded Syd. "The mater is very anxious I should be home in time for the wedding, an€ that will just fit in beautifully.'' . "The -wedding?" Jack Marston's lips grew rigid. "Yes, didn't I tell you?" responded Trafford, gaily. "One* of the girls is to ' throw off ' in the spring, and we shall just be in a* thed in ait the wedding I mean, j you know, ready- to give her away, and all that sort of thing." One of the girls! The glamour of the home going was dulled for Jack* His heart felt like lead ; he dare not betray himself now; the secret had grown heavier with keeping, he da/re not ask — but he would give the world to know — which! The early English summer was in full glory. The trees at Trafford Court Tver* in their prime, and the rays of the setting sun played hide and seek down the avenue of ancient chestnuts. Trafford and his friend had been at home a week; the wedding was still a thing of the future", 'but Marston had discovered, to his unspeakable relief, that the brilliant, chattering Vi was- the bride elect. At first it was difficult to decide; Ruby' kept close to her brother's side, quietly glad in his society once more. She had heard all about his illness, and Marston's. nursing, and many a time her soft brown eyes rested upon her brother's friend with a glance which, as he met it, thrilled Jack Marston's very soul. Vi, the brilliant, the flirt, did her best to amuse the stranger. Her wedding day wa# fixed, but there was still room on her " belt " for one more " scalp " ; why not add thait of this handsome, distrait colonist. These quiet men always fall victims to the talking girls— if only the girls talk enough. But that night Jack had decoyed Rxiby from among her flowers, and they were wandering among the shadows. He had made his opportunity, and then he broke the j sweet silence. . , "Do you know when, your brother was all, he used to make me read his letters?" — a pause. "I remember very distinctly something you told him in one of yours." The girl raised her eyes in silent inquiry. » "It Tvas about a ring. " Ah ! My ruby ! Yes, I have never seen or heard of it since." " There is a story connected with it?" he said quietly*'; " some old romance, is it not?" "Did* Syd tell you that?" she said, blushing. , " How foolish you must have thought me!" "Foolish? Why? Tell me again what the superstifrott was?" " You would laugh at me," she said very low, "but," with a little catch in her breath, "I quite believe it," " Tell me the storyi" said Marston. He had taken her hands, and' drawn her gently down on to a sheltered seat. "I had the ring given me on my seventeenth birthday," she began, while a ner-

vous finger traced the pattern on her flowered gown, " and — I made a vow." "And the vo-w was — — ?" Marston bent nearer, : his voice as low as her own. " That it shouldl never go from my keeping, save into the hands of the man who was to be—my husband. I was- seventeen when I made the vow ; lam only eighteen now, but L " she faltered. " You mean to keep it?", said: Jack, his voice thrilling " I did mean to keep it. , I thoujght it would be quite easy to keep it. I have told myself often that if any man has found my ring he has tho righfr-.to claim me, if lie wishes," the girl said, with trembling lips. " I thought it would be.qurte>;.easy," she re- j peated bravely, then her eyes met his compelling gaze, "but- — now," the white lids drooped, arfdi the brilliant colour suffused her lovely face. "You would break the vow for me?" he whispered, "Ruby, do you know how I love you? I have come all the way to England! to tell you so ; and, Ruby, my darling, I have brought you back your ring !" y. "Ruby! Ruby! Where are you?" i It -was , Sydney's voice that broke the 'spell. The story had taken a long time in telling ; but the gleaming ruby adorned the girl's white hand once more as it lay in Jack Marston's brown palm. "Oh, her e you are! Well, I— never!" Trafford glanced suspiciously from his sister to his friend; andl Jack met the gaze unflinchingly, though he did not relinquish the hand he held. " So this is a pretty state of affairs," Baid Mr Trafford, austerely, "and' what about that vow, may I ask? And what about that blessed ruby?" "We have found it," said Ruby, demurely, holding out her hand, "Mr Marston ihas found my ruby,, and*: " she looked for assistance to her stalwart lover. " Don't Tvonjy about explaining, dear child," said Trafford. "You have each found your Ruby, eh? It seems to me, it's a case of two Rubies, and— a Ring !"