The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1869-01-14
WHOLE NO. 1870.

I
lieye that she did not hold in her hand
the l0ve-token which had gone down
into the deep sea on her dead husbands
finger.
She walked back TO the house sadly,
aud, when she found herself in the fast
darkeniDg bedroom, was seized with q
fit Of eerie spectral terror. She flung
her hat and cloak on the bed, and was
rushing down at fullspeed to the draw
ing. room, where candles had just been
| placed, when her husband, coming in
at the front door, almost caught her in
| his arms.
| She was surprised by the quickness
with which he perceived that something
was amiss, end at the sharp tone, almost
expressive Of some keen anxiety. in
which he asked:- ~
"What is it7 What has happenedfs
She told him, as they stood together
by the drawiDg-rom fire: ending With
the very natural question:
'1s it not stranger ] never saw a
ring in the least like it anywhere, and
this is exactly the same"
He roughly snatched the ring out
of her hand, exclaiming:-- .a
'"Throw it into the ire,--don't touch
it--throw it away"
Elsie's first impulse, then as always,
was to submit but in moment she
recollected that the ring must belong
to somebody, and that it was of real
value. As she stopped to rescue it, be
held her back, angrily.
81 won't have you perpetually hark-
ing back to that old story. Everything
you see, every trife that happens, you
twist into some recollection of what
you ought never to think Of more.
You wrong me in your thoughts, Elsie,
every hour in the day."
Dismayed, astonished and scared,
Elsie drew back, and hastily barred her
arm, where hisiron fingers had left their
purple marks. She looked at the bruise
with the piteous look of a child that has
received hurt, and presently tears be-
gan to flow. But he was by no means
softened at the sight; with unabated
anger he went on:--
"What is it you supposef What is
it you ASSERT Let me know at once,
all you are thinking"
"What can Think" she said, look
ing up in wonder. 81 do not under
stand you to-day, Philip OF course
this ring must have been dropped BY
somebody; bat it is so like the ring ].
gave" She stopped, afraid of agsin
rousing his jealous temper, and plead
ed: "Any one would have been startled,
Philip; you should not--you should
not" And here broke down and be,
gan TO cry.
He took several turns up and down
the room, then stopped, close to her, as
she stood leaning on the mantel-picce.
ELSIE, stop those sobs. Stop them
at one, ifyou do not want to drive me
mad. Crying7 Are you actually cry
ing because / have been a brute to youi
And vowed / would never cause you
one tearl 0 my darling, my darling,
forgive me-"
The tears vanished in smiles.
"Y GU did frighten me for minute,
she saidi shut It is over now. YOu
take everything too seriously, Phillip"
"Do II Bear with me, Elsie, bear
with me, for ifI Iloved you less should
take things less to heart. Dry your
eyes, and think no more about it now,
my poor, poor little darling"
"Do you pity me-" asked Elsie, ali
bright and happy again. ''indeed yon
need not; and look. here is the ring;
it has fallen quite harmlessly under the
CRATE"
"Give it to me-" said her husband,
holding out his hand. 81 will advef.
tise it in the local paper You know
Abbots Pool has been lion in small
way; but / shall put an end TO alt that
now, and lock up the field"
Here it is," said Elsie: "surely it is
not hot"
"No; whyi"
81 fancied that you shrauk, as if il
burnt your fingers.
Next day she asked her husband if
he had taken any steps about the adj
vertisement; he curtly answered that
he had settled it all; and she, being >
woman of yielding disposition and no
great curiosity, remained satisfied With
the answer. To Be Continued