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THE TWO RINGS

was written on it, nor could she guess the writer or recipient of the communication. Nevertheless a strange sense of fear came over her as she read the mysterious words before her. The writing was to the following effect:

By examination of the stars I obs
a golden image such as Hiranmayi
age would cause terrible misfortune.
years see one another
they may be.

A fear of some unknown and impending misfortune filled the girl's mind. She put the scrap of paper away carefully without telling any one of her discovery.


III.

After the two years just mentioned, another year slipped by, and yet there was no talk of Purandar's return from Ceylon. But Hiranmayi's heart was still constant to his image, and the girl was sure that he too had not forgotten her. Else he would have returned.

When the third year had elapsed, Dhana

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