M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1865-07-13
betrothal ring of his dead wife. The

INJURED to himself, trying to think
when and where he had last observ
ed it. "Can it have dropped from
my finger without my knowledgsi
! must notify the police at once and
have it advertised. Poor Mary's
ring: ! would not lose it for twice its
value, and that would be no mean
sum-"
1t was narrow and murky little
street, with here and there a dim
lamp faring feebly through the white
obscurity Of the driven snow; but
little Ben Morrow knew every one Of
his covered flag stones by heart, and
ran whistling down the slIeyway of q
tall, weather stained building, IN.
Gaunted by wind or tempest.
"See, sis, what jolly glove have
found," he calculated, driving sud
denly into a narrow doorway, and
coming upon a small room only half
lighted by kerosene lamp, beside
which Isat a young woman busily
at work. "Holo! is the fire outP
"Wrap this old shawl around you,
Ben" said the woman, looking up
with smile that partook more Of
tears than Of fmirth, "and you won't
mind the cold 80 much. All the
coal is gone, and l can't buy
any more until | am paid for the
caps. Did you sell any more
matchesl'
"Only two b)xes," sighed the boy.
I'll was so cold, Clara, that couldn't
go round to the houses"
swell, never mind, Ben, "she said,
cheerfully. "S;t close to me, dear
we'll keep each other warm.
Obi Ben, | should liked to have
given you q nice whole coat for
Christmas.
Don't cry, sis," said the boy
leaning his head against her knee
Didn't you give me shawl for a
comforter, only | lost it that windy
day9 You're juSt as good and sweet
as you can be, Clara, and love you
just as we'll as il you was my whole
sister, instead Of only a half one.'
She smiled through her tears:
"What was it about a glove,
Benz
He spraug suddenl as ii remem>
bering.
ga gentleman dropped it III the
street; | ran after the carriage, but
it went too fast for me to catch up
Isn't it nice, ssP
"Very nice, Ben.'
She drew the fur glove distracted
ly on her hand, and looked at the
rich dark fur.
"Wby, Ben, what's thisP
Her finger had come in con.
tact with something in the little fin.
ger OF the glove, and she drew it out.
Even by the dim light of the
lamp she saw the myriad
sparkling fascets Of diamond
ring.
"The gentleman must have drawn
il off with his gloves" she SAID
while little Ben stood by in surprise
and delight,
"Ben, this is very valuable. We
ought to turn it over to the owner at
once
"How can we, if we don't know
who be isF said Ben.
"It will be advertised, dear; every
effort will be made to recover so val.
liable piece Of iewelry. To NOR
row morning you must borrow a
newspaper, and we will look over the
advertisements"
SISTER, said Ben, under his
breath, sis It very valuable2 Is it
worth a hundred dollarsP
"More thar that, Ben. Whyn
COB, Cara!' he sobbed, burying
his face in her lap; "a hundred dol
lars would be go NIGEL wish it
vast wrong to keep it!'
Clara did not answer. She only
smoothed her little brothers tangled
curls, and he never knew how
hard il was to keep back her own
tears.
Mr. Almayne was walking impa-
tiently up and down his long, glitter
ing srite ofrooms in the Christmas
brightness Of the next days noon,
when his pretty iootman presented
him in the doorway.
"Well, Porterl'
"There's young woman and little
boy down stairs, sir, about the sd-
vertisement.'
"Ask them to walk IN Porter
Porter glanced dubiousIy at the
velvet chairs and Wilton carpet.
"They are very shabby and mud.