Delaware gazette. (Wilmington, Del.) 1837-1883, 1864-09-30
THE DIAMOND RING.

Mr. Almayne did NOT observe the little, blue.
nosed boy, cIouchipg by the brilliantly ilumina-
ted plRteglsss window, he spranR out Of his car
riage and went into the thronged shop. Why
should he 2 But little Ben MouoW's eyes, eager
with the siekly light Of extreme poverty, took in
every detail of the rich man's squpags, and his
purple hngers clasped one another tighter as he
looked.
"oh |" he thought, chow niee Il must bs to be
fioh--to have cushioned earriaRss, and big red
hre'' sud mines piss every day. oh wish I
were rich r. ea
And Bon shrauk closer Into his corner as the
wind nutlsred his thin, worn clothing, and lifted
the curls, with fret zing touch, from his fsrchsad
! Nor did MIR. Almayns observe him when he en- :
tered his carriage, drawing on his expensive fur
gloves, and leaning among the velvet cushions
with sigh scarcely less earnest than little Benz
had been.
The ehild's idea of a big red Grs' would have
been quite realized II he could have seen the soar
let shine that illumined Mr.. Almayne's luxurious
drawing rooms e. at night, glowing softly on gill
ded tables, aiabaster vSsos, and walls Of rose aud
gold, while just before the genial flame, the pale
widower sat, thouehtfully watching the iii ,keriug
spires Of green amethyst light, and very lonely in
his splendid solitude. ID.
~ worder what made me think Of home inst
then" he murmursd idly tapping bis foot upon the
vslxss l..s,..-zs -
IwOndsr what alchemy coDjnrsd up the old
house under the walnut trees, and the old bridge,
where the willow branches swept the water--the
bridge where little Clara Willis used to sit aud
study her lessons, while sngled yainly for the
fishes that never would bite How lovely she
was, that golden-haired girl, with her blue-vsined
forehead, aud dark, downcsst eyesl I was very
much in love with Clara Willis in those boy and
girl days, should like to know on what shore
the waves of tme have cast her bsTqus. II is not
often that person one has known in lang syne
vanishes SO entirely and utterly from ones hori-
son, Poor Clara what gliiteriDg air palaces We
built in the future--how aolsnly we plishtsd our
childish troths And when came back with the
fortune OF whoae golden colonades our fair7 cas-
tie of happiness uprearsd its pinsclss, shs was
gone. Aud Mary was good wife to mo, and q
true one; hut she was not Clara Willis.'
As tho thought passed through his brain, he In
stautly glanced down at the Aoger upon which he
were the botfothal gift Of his dead wife. Tue ring
was gone"
"Lost-it can't be lost" he murmured to him
SELF trying to think when and where be had last
observed it. "Can 1t have dropped from my in-
ger without my kpowledge9 must notify the
police at once, and have it advertised. Poor Mary
ring would not lose it for twice the value,
and that would be no mean sum-"
1t was narrow and muiky little strsst, with
here and there dim lamp aaring feebly through
the white obscury of the driving snow; but little
Ban Mnfrnw knnu avarv ona of Tee ao,vavaa
stouss by heart, and ran whistling down the alley
way of TALL weather stained building, undauuted
by wind or tempest,
"see, sis, what jolly glove I've found |" he
calculated. driving suddenly into narrow door
way and coming upon small room, only hal
lighted by kerosene lamp, beside which sat a
young woman, buSily at work. "Hsllo Ia the ere
out2"
"Wrsp this old shawl around you, Bsn," said
the woman, looking up With a smile that partook
more Of tears than mirth," and you won't mind the
cold SO much All the coal ia gone, and can't
buy any more until am paid for the caps, Did
you sell any more matches2"
"9nly two boxes" sighed the boy. "I was 50
cold, Glare, that I couldn't 60 round to the
houses"
"Well, never mind, Bsn," she said, chesrfully.-
"sit close to me, dear-we'l keep each other warm
Oh Ben, should like to have given you nice
whole coat for Christmas"
"Dont CRY, sis," said the boy, leaning his head
against her knee. Didn't you give me your shawl
for comforter, only lost it that windy day2-
You're just as good and sweet as you can bs, Clara
and love you just aa we'll aS If you were my whole
sister instead of one half one /"
She smiled through her tears.
"What was ii about glove, Benz
He spiang suddenly up as II remembering.
"a gentleman dropped it in the street. / rar
after The carriage, hut 1t went too fast for me e
catch up. Isn't it nice, sis9" .-.
"Very nice, Bsn."
She drew the fur glove abslractsdly on hsl
hand, and looked at the rich, dark iur.
+ "Why, Ben, what's this p"
! Her finger had come In contact with sometbfu
in the little finger of the glove, and she drew
out. Even BY the dim light Of the lamp she saw
the myriad sparkling fsscsts Of diamond ring.
"rhe gentleman must have drawn 1t OF will
his glove" she said while little Ben stood by IL
surprise and delight ...-.'
"Bsn, this is very valuable. We ought to return
ittO the owner at onoe.''
"How can we, if we iont kuow who he is7'
said Ben.
"Tt will be advertised, dear; every effort will be
made to recover SO valuable jewel Tomorrow
; morning you must borrow a newspaper, and we
will look at the advertisements."
"Sister" said Ben, under his breath, sis II VERY
valuab,es Is it worth hundred dollars7p
"More than that, Ben. Why2"
"ohl Clara" he sobbsd, buryipg his face 10 her