Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1855-01-25

"And as the seal of such feslty," re
turned Clara. - give you this" SO sey
ing she clipped dainty little curl fror
her dark wreath of hair and gave it t
him.
Sand it is my pleasure" continue
size. "that you be kno wn thsnceforth b
the title OF The Knight of the Ringlet
| A low reclamation greeted the neul
made knigh, as he..ross from his kneelin
pcstur. full of his new houors-an
Clara thought as she followed his retreat
ing form with her eye. that indeed. q
her cousin bad SAID" the AGE of chival
~ bad not yet passed"
Latter in the evening there was suppe
add tables. gli,tering with glass and plat,
and light and flowers and dainty Wand
of every conceivable form and lasts me
the eyes of The gay company. And theI
loaming goblets of red wine were quaffec
and filled again by the young and unsu,
pecting--wholly unthinking of the pois
on that lay lurking there in the cup
unknowing that a foe more dire than tn
dagger OF the assassn--a viper that "out
venoms all the worms of the Nile" la,
ambushed in its ruldy hue and into1Ica
ting essence.
Belts Harris stood posing the cup ii
his baud. he raised i. 20 his lips. brt De
fore it had passed them, lie started 10 hea'
in low whisper
Belts Harris. there is poison in toe
cup!"
He turned and looked. but though
many were near him no one offered &c
notice him. Clara stood at no great DIS
lance and was conversing with great au-
imatiou. Was it human voice that
said to him-"Betts harris. there is p OF
son in the cup or was il the warning
voice of his own better nature that had
lifted up his protest in his soul? He
could not determine he Sit down
the-wine untasted at least for that time.
Later in the evening--pcrhaps the
next hour Belts Harris must have forgot
ten the impression he had received short
time ago-for he stands again with the
glass in his hand, the hriming cup with
the poison in it. But sgaiI. as he was
seizing i, Ia drink the same low. distant
voice whispered behind him-'Knight Of
the Ringlet, forbid the cup!"
He gazed in utter establishment, around
the room. Clara lIaviland was gliding
down the long hail. but as she went fix
ed her earnest eye upon him and then
passed from his sight.
He set down the goblet, and left the
hall--the gay company and stepped out
quiet stars in busy thought. Then he
pressed his hands upon his fevered tenn
Pies and looked GU. upon :be still dark
beauty OF the night He murmered 10
husky tones--'she suspects me then.
Fool that have been She with her
true friendship sees that my feet are slid
Ing and she puts forth her gentle hand to
hold me back. Oh woman woman !
how little man understands thee , dee m :
ed her but light and witty and she is on
ly earnest and true. She shall not con-
tenn me though. ! will assert my man.
hood will rise above myself and be
worthy OF her esteem at least. She shall
know that Belts Harris is worth the effort
of saving. There was fine womanly
meaning and tact in the gift Of this small
ringlet.' He looked At il as he spoke by
the dim light Of the stars. And as he
replaced the small dark carl, he contin-
ued:-
This shall be the seal, not only Of my
loyalty to her. but of my duty 10 myself.
Henceforth must look her in the face .
free man. or not at ALL"
And the vow that his spirit made. then
and there. reader. was fulfilled, He was
indeed what Clara and her cousin had
declared. noble man. one worth saving.
and in the fame and honor that crowned
his future life. CIarer might ever~ead
the fruit Of her own awakened purposes.
and. perhaps. no purer human JOY ever
thrilled her heart in all her life beside
than that 5orn of those words full of in
tense feeling that were uttered as they
partcd on that memorable night.
"God bless you Miss Haviland. you
have saved me-"