The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-09-08


'What sort ? Oh. come, as if YOU didn't
know--that's goodm
| minated that l should be glad to find
out if he knew.
''Not know my own ring, Ell know it's
worth 4 couple of ponies. Come, let's hear
the damage, and I'll stump up"
Il cannot give up tie ring uuless YOU de-
scribe it,
'.Oh, dash ii don't ehaff fellow now.
shouldn't care a rap about the thing, only il
belonged to some dcfimct party. and the GOV
ernor would cut up so deuced rough. rve
got heaps of 'em. Come, I'll swap you any
one of these for it, because of governor"
| respectfully declined the proposal
''Well, dash it," explained the young fell
low, as though struck with a sudden idea,
what couple of NUTS we are Why don't
you turf the thing? l could tell you in a
minute, if its mine, dash it y
replied that I was sorry that | could not
oblige him, and adding that he had better OBJ
tain an exact description of the thing from
his governor, J. recommended him not to
keep the cats longer in the cod
Mem. l am getting exceedingly tired of
my treasure-trove / retire tony room with
view of dressing to 60 out I am inform
ed that n lady wishes to see me, and am
plimentary to the lady in question.
A tall, graceful figure, draped in heavy
mourning rises at my entrance She opens
the negotiation in some confusion, turning
away her face. She has come % me in the
hope of regaining 4 ring, carelcssly lost, the
parting gift Of a fond father to her brother
and herself
My eye rests on the Grape about her
dress, on her pale, beautiful face, fom which
the blush of confusion and timidity has faded.
Delerentially request her to describe it.
"a large diamond, handsome, she be-
lieyed. ''but valuable to her for far other
reasons
''But." said gently, ''chascd on the gold
inside the ring there is
"A crest | am aware of it," she answered
sadly, ''but | know nothing of hclallry, and
have never given it more than a casual glance.
My brother is dying, sir" she said, lifting
up her pale face to mine "Only this morn
ing he missed the ring from my finger, un-
easily; we arc alone in the world; it is the
only relic left of one so lately taken from us
how can tell him it is lost ?"
II am sorry to pain YOU" said striving to
be firm; ''but it would be more satisfactory
for all parties, and cause but little delay, if
you could obtain the description from your
brother.'
Without Il word she turned away; the
mourntul resignation of her air and attitude
touched me, and as she turned, | saw q tear
roll silently down and fall upon the hand
stretched to the door handle; | couldn't stand
that.
''Stop,' exclaimed zone moment. am
sure-I feel certainI may trust you. You
will tell ne"
take the ring from its security, hold it
out timilly ior the blue eyes to examine.
l see yet the look of delight overspread her
fine tcatures-l see the expression of almost
childish pleasure in her eyes as she looked
up at me and clasped her hands, and cried
out, ''Thc Ring, the Ring! Oh, Alfred, my
dear brothcr!7
Her hand was upon it; such a tremulous,
happy cagcrncss in her glance; such ca
rcssing iondness in her way of lingering it.
How pretty she was!
My dear child,n Il am forty-iive,) ''t
gives me sincere pleasure" Then stam-
mered, then | sprang after her, AT least
you will leave your address with me-"
What a look shades her face now Wound
ed integrity, mingled with pity for me.
''Ah, sir" she says sadly handing me the
card on which she has been penciling, ''some
day you will be sorry for this. You do not
trust me-"
Certainly am a brute The accent of re-
proach in her voice haunts me- the sorrow-
full glance Of her eye-how pretty she is
sit down to my breakfast in the morning,
half inclined to call at the address given, and
apologize for my heathenish distrust.
How delightful to see her in her own pc
culiar atmosphere, ministering to a sick
brother who is all she has in the world, to
look upon, if one cannot enjoy, the beautiful
tenderness of q gentle sister to an afflicted
brother.
But my letters wait. and toy with them.
This is hand know. What does Fred
want, wonder! tear it open: | read:
DEAR JACK: What queer chance if you have
stumbled upon my ring. | was obliged to run
down to Romford late last evening, and never miss
Ell il till we slackencd at Iford. A pretty taking
I've been in. II it's mine, the crest is inside fon
know it-a mailed hand holding n lance, and the
motto Armed at all points, Verify truth is strang-
er than fiction. Keep it for me. FRED NYNING.
Idiot Gull 1t is quite useless to call
myself names. 1t is almost superfluous to
add. that when | called at certain address
in Easton square, to inquire for Miss Lucy
Hamilton, the lady was not 70 be found
Probably the Dear Alfred had required
speedy change of air; probably, brother
and sister We're even embracing in rap
Lurous gratitude over the precious relic of
one lost to them SO lately. Was that dear
one not lost, but transformed? Had the
silver haired patriarch of the first visit chang
ed to the ,lashinH bnck nf the third? And
was the virluous teacher of youth only the ten
der sister in masquerade? On my word l
believe so. | dare say they are enjoying the
okc. Possibly it is q dodge often repeated.
But what am to say 70 Fred?
VERY GooD SENTIMENTS. A North Ad-
ans shoemaker thus delivered himself the
other day on the subject OF Chinese compe-
LitiOn:-
'sWhcn manufacturers, who represent capi-
tai, consent to let the workingman buy all
his goods in the open markets of the world,
|, as a workngman, will admit his right.
mine having been admitted. What | object
to is to the paying of his prices and working
at his prices too. Ii he has the right to buy
his labor in the lowest market, | have an
equal right to buy my goods in the lowest
market Let him try the experiment of COM
peting with foreign goods. and Pm willing,
for one, to compete with foreign labor.
When he consents to free trade, I'll consent
to admit his right in the other PARTICULAR
but to compel me to buy his goods, by pre-
venting importation with Tariffs, when he
refuses to buy my labor at my rates, is not
,l oon ,noIyo