In every foreign clime he had lost something of his New England characteristics ; and , perhaps , from every people he had unconsciously borrowed a new peculiarity ; so that when the world-wanderer again trod the street of his native village , it is no wonder that he passed unrecognized , though exciting the gaze and curiosity of all . Yet , as his arm casually touched that of a young woman , who was wending her way to an evening lecture , she started , and almost uttered a cry . `` Ralph Cranfield ! '' was the name that she half articulated . `` Can that be my old playmate , Faith Egerton ? '' thought the traveller , looking round at her figure , but without pausing . Ralph Cranfield , from his youth upward , had felt himself marked out for a high destiny . He had imbibed the idea -- we say not whether it were revealed to him by witchcraft , or in a dream of prophecy , or that his brooding fancy had palmed its own dictates upon him as the oracles of a Sibyl -- but he had imbibed the idea , and held it firmest among his articles of faith , that three marvellous events of his life were to be confirmed to him by three signs . The first of these three fatalities , and perhaps the one on which his youthful imagination had dwelt most fondly , was the discovery of the maid , who alone , of all the maids on earth , could make him happy by her love . He was to roam around the world till he should meet a beautiful woman , wearing on her bosom a jewel in the shape of a heart ; whether of pearl , or ruby , or emerald , or carbuncle , or a changeful opal , or perhaps a priceless diamond , Ralph Cranfield little cared , so long as it were a heart of one peculiar shape . On encountering this lovely stranger , he was bound to address her thus : `` Maiden , I have brought you a heavy heart . May I rest its weight on you ? '' And if she were his fated bride , -- if their kindred souls were destined to form a union here below , which all eternity should only bind more closely , -- she would reply , with her finger on the heart-shaped jewel , `` This token , which I have worn so long , is the assurance that you may ! '' And , secondly , Ralph Cranfield had a firm belief that there was a mighty treasure hidden somewhere in the earth , of which the burial-place would be revealed to none but him . When his feet should press upon the mysterious spot , there would be a hand before him , pointing downward , -- whether carved of marble , or hewn in gigantic dimensions on the side of a rocky precipice , or perchance a hand of flame in empty air , he could not tell ; but , at least , he would discern a hand , the forefinger pointing downward , and beneath it the Latin word EFFODE , -- Dig ! And digging thereabouts , the gold in coin or ingots , the precious stones , or of whatever else the treasure might consist , would be certain to reward his toil . The third and last of the miraculous events in the life of this high-destined man was to be the attainment of extensive influence and sway over his fellow-creatures . Whether he were to be a king , and founder of an hereditary throne , or the victorious leader of a people contending for their freedom , or the apostle of a purified and regenerated faith , was left for futurity to show . As messengers of the sign , by which Ralph Cranfield might recognize the summons , three venerable men were to claim audience of him . The chief among them , a dignified and majestic person , arrayed , it may be supposed , in the flowing garments of an ancient sage , would be the bearer of a wand , or prophet 's rod .
With this wand , or rod , or staff , the venerable sage would trace a certain figure in the air , and then proceed to make known his heaven-instructed message ; which , XXXXX obeyed , must lead to glorious results .
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