The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1859-09-22
THE STOLEN RING.

| dolefully in at the crevices of the Widow
/ .verett's humble dwelling; and the snow
| shich had been falling since early morning
lied the wintry air with fine cloud like par
icles, that heat relentlessly against the miseE
/ BILE abode.
Within this humble dwelling twas almos
! s gloomy as without. A small quantity o
oals gave out dim. sickly light. barely ser
/ ing to reveal the occupants of the cherries
/ spartment In one cornerof the room was
sretched apology for a bed. over which ther
vas but slight covering. There was no char
"A few three-legged stools serving instead
| Poverty and want were there in ghastliness
! nd hunger, with her wasted form, presided
5ver the cold hearthstone.s
| A pale, attenuated woman was hoverin:
over the smouldering fire, holding her almos
transparent hands to the faint heat. Opposio
to her sat a younger person - her daughter
evidentlv-for the same marks of patient sut
fering were drawn around her small mouth
and upon her white, blue-veined temples.
garment Of the most exquisite embroIder.
lay across her lap. upon which she had beel
employed until the early darkness had mad
work impossible.
| Lefty said the old woman. raising her
self from the STOPPING posture which she hat
assumed, 80, that should have lived to se'
nv daughter-she whose infancy was so ten
derly watched, so carefully cherished = oh
that | should live to see her starving On
Heavenly Father, hast thou indeed forgotten
us?'
.Hush, mother, hush." said the young girl
,oftly. "He can never forget It's true tina
here are shadows around US, but he can make
Ill bright" and Lefty raised her eyes de
youtly upward.
You are young and hopeful, my child, -
aid her mother; '.you look only on the sun
hine and forget the shade. Heaven forbid
hat should wish you to do otherwise; but
IA, Lefty, when l saw that gay, young girl,
yesterday, 50 full of happiness. 50 anxious
o have that gorgeous robe wrought fair and
asteful, thought of my own buoyan. youth
md happy womanhood; of my welded lie,
when | was the cherished of ore good and
noble: OF the time when your infant eyes un-
closed on life; of your guarded childhood,
your happy youth; but dared | look further!
Oh, Lefty, the dark hours came, and your
father was torn from us by death; and added
to all our grief and despair, we are penniess!
Gloom only broods over us! Will the cloud 5
never break! Will the sun of happiness new
er shine through? Lefty, to live thus
"Dear mother said Lefty, winding her
arms about her parentss neck, 'it grieves me
to see you speak So. l will work for you.
mother, / am ready and wiling. Ny hands
are young and strong, and my heart IS nope
full. When Miss Josephines dress is finished
l shall have twelve shillngs; then, we will
have more fue and something nice for you
to eat. motherl Miss Josephine, know, will
pay me Immediately: she must be good, she
is so beautiful Mother. is not every one
good who is beautiful? 20
''Alas my child, would that it were so y
replied the mother. Josephine Howard is
very handsome but reports call her heart
less Nevertheless, dare say she is honor
able towards all those whom she employs
But you cannot work to night. Lefty. There
is no candle, and these poor Goals give but a
feeble light
Lefty laid aside the rich velvet which was
to drape the queenly form of Josephine How
ard on her coming birth night and opening
the door she looked out into the night She
shuddered as the cold wind penetrated her
thin garments, and closing the door she re-
turned to her mothers side.
1T is fearful night mother" said Lefty;
..how thankful we should be for even this
poor shelter, there are others even more des-
titute than we.'
storm howled more loudly, and the deep dark
crept shivering into their scanty bed; and
sleep. which comes 10 both rich and poor,
spread its rosy wings over them.
Morning dawned, cold and grey. The
storm had ceased, but the sky was overspread
by cold. heavy vapors. Lefty Everett was
early at her work, for it was to be finished on
=
rily the time passed. but the busy fingers
stitched hope fully on, the thought of the
coming compensation making the arduous
task comparatively easy. Thursday evening
arrived, and the last stitch being taken Lefty
with a lighter heart than she had borne for
many day, put on her coarse shawl and
faded bonnet, 10 take the fabric to its beauti-
ful owner. With a buoyant step she thread
ed the busy streets, and halted before pal
ce ike building. Timdly she mounted the
marble steps and rang the bell. A richly clad
servant ushered her into Miss Howard's bou-
doir. Josephine sat on a damask lounge,
chatting merrily to halt dozen young lady
visitors, who were eulogizing a set of Brus-
sels lace, which lay on the dressing table
''Ah, Miss Everett, you have brougt the
robe, have YOU. exclaimed the lovely crea-
ture. half turning as Lefty tremblingly en-
tered the apartment. "Well, let me examine
it. So you really have kept your engage
ment. have youl Really this is done very
WE'LL she said, drawing forth the work from
its wrapping, and holding it up to view -
.squite elegant isn't it, Miss Lester Crimson
becomes me SO well, You can 20, young
woman she added, seeing Lefty fingered !:
Il will call round in a week or two and pay
vour bill" aud the Young lady turnei tn the
pier glass to arrange a stray ringlet.
.sBut madam" returned Lefty, inploriny-
w." couldn', You pay me to-day! We are
very much in need of the money. or would
not ask you,'' and tears, which she stroy e in
vain to keep back, sprang to the besesching
eyes
Quite impossible, Miss Everett" said the
naughty beauty: "besides. it isn't convent
eut. Ii giveyour own price. You can afford
to wait Twelve shiilings can make but lit
tie difference l will call around. as l said
before. some time soon, and pay you"
Lefty passed once more into the thronged