Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-07

me, and am afraid my mental calcula-
ton was not complimentary 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 to
me in the hope Of regaining a ring, care
lessly lost, the parting gift Of fond
father, to her brother and herself.
Nv eye rests on the Grape about her
dress, on her pale, beautiful face, from
which the blush of confusion and timidity
has faded Deferentially | requested
her to describe it.
"a large diamond. handsome" she
believed, "but valuable to her for far
other reasons.
"But," | said gently, chased on the
gold inside the ring there is
"A crest / am aware Of il" she an
swered sadly, but / know nothing of
heraldry, 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 morning he
missed the ring from my finger, uneasily;
we are alone in the world; it is the only
relic left of one so lately taken from us;
how can / tell him it is lost2"
81 am sorry to pain you" | said,
striving to be firm, but it would be
more satisfactory to all parties, and
cause but little delay, if you could OBJ
tain the description from your brother.
Without a word she turned away; the
mournful resignation of her air and atti
tude touched me, and as she turned !
saw tear roll silently down and fall
upon the hand stretched to the door
handle. couldn't stand that.
"Stop," / exclaimed; "one moment.
| am sure-I feel certain-I may trust
you. You will tell me-"
/ take the ring from its security; hold
it out timidly for the blue eyes to exam
inc.
see yet the look of delight overspread
her fine features-I see the expression Of
almost childish pleasure in her eyes as
she looked up at me and clasped her
hands and cried out: The ring, the
ring Oh, Alfred, my dear brotherW
Her hand was upon it; such a tremu-
lous, happy eagerness in her glances;
such caressing fondness in her way of
lingering it. How pretty she was
"My dear child y Il am forty-fve) " it
gives me sincere pleasure" Then |
stammered, then | sprang after her.
AT least you will leave your address
with me?"
What look shades her face nowl
Wounded integrity mingled with pity for
me.
"Ah, sir" she says sadly, handingm me
the card on which she has been pencil
ing, some day you will be sorry for this.
You do not trust me.
Certainly | am brute. The accent
of reproach in her voice haunts me; the
sorrowful glance of her eye-how pretty
she isl 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
peculiar atmosphere, ministering to the
sick brother who is all she has in the
world to look upon, if one cannot enjoy
the beautiful tenderness of gentle sis
ter to an afflicted brother.
But my letters wait, and | toy with
them. This is hand | know What
does Fred want, wonder l tear it
open; | read:
DEAR JAcK-What queer chance if
you have stumbled upon my ring. !
was obliged to run downNto Romford late
last evening, and never missed it till we
slackened at Ilford A pretty taking
I've been in. If its mine, the crest is
inside: You know it--a mailed hand
holding lance, and the motto, Armed
at all points Verify truth is stranger
than fiction. Keep it for me.
FRED VYNING."
Idiot Gull 1t is quite useless to
call myself names 1t is almost super
fuous to add that when called at a GER
tain address, in Easton Square, to in
quire for Miss Lucy Hamilton, the lady
was not to be found Probably, the
dear Alfred had required speedy
change of air; probably brother and
sister we're even embracing, in rapturous
gratitude over the precious relic of one
lost to them so lately. Was that dear
one not lost but transformed2 Had the
silver-haired patriarch of the first visit
changed to the dashing buck of the third?
And was the virtuous teacher of youth
only the tender sister in masquerade 2
On my word | believe so. | dare say
they are enjoying the joke. Possibly it
is a dodge often repeated. But what am
| L to say TO Fred2