The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-10-13
THE LOST RING.


though the fact is there were several
editices dignified with that name, in
different parts of the town. But
among the set Of young people with
whom my story has to do, and who
We're mostly Episopalians, the Church
of st. Simeon was II great center of
interest, especially at this time when
they We're all more or less occupied
in decorating it for the coming fcsti-
val,
1t was lots of fun for the girls
and boys to meet every day, and help
at trimming wreaths and mailing them
up, and hold long consultations as to
tho most effective points at which to
place trees; and it was generally con
ceded that more flirting was done in
those two weeks before Christmas than
all the rest of the year put together.
The belle of the occasion was, be-
yond doubt, Bessie Miller. She had
come back recently from visit to
New York, with some new dresses,
and perhaps, some new notions; ut
least, SO Sam Fielding feared. M
Sam had adorcd Bessie for the last
three years-ever since they went to
fthe Academy together; but he was 4
droadfully diffident fellow, and could
never manage to indicate the state of
his feelings by anything but his silent
devotion. He had no reason TO SUP.
pose that Bessie guessed at the wish
of his heart, unless she could see the
love looking out of his great brown
eyes; and. indeed, if she could not,
she would have been stupider than
girls generally are, for all the rest of
the village knew his secret. But il
Sam had entertained some faint hope
before Bessie went to New York, he
was perfectly certain that, since her
return, he could never pluck up cour.
age 10 ask her To be his wife, she
looked SO stylish; and that sparkling
sauciness of manner which had first
fascinated him, seemed to be more de-
family charming than ever; yet she
had been very good TO him.
Come here, Sam Fielding" she had
said, on the very first evening. "You
shall hel p me OH this wavy wreath -
your hands are bigger and stronger
than any one elsc's.
And Sam, blushinc and smiling at
the laugh that went round at his cx-
pense, had hurried TO her side, and
worked so hard over the prickly ever
greens that his hands, tough as they
were, were quite blistered when the
work was done.
His devotion met its reward, for
Bessie would have no one but him to
help her all the rest of the time, and
WAS so kind 10 him that Sans heart
was in quite fiutter OF happiness.
He began to pluck up little cour-
age, and resolved at last that he really
would say something to her, for he
felt as ii he could not keep his secret
much longer; though, whenever he
approached the subject, his old enc
my, bashfulness, still afflicted him into
dumbness.
Two days before Christmas bril-
liant idea struck him; he would buy
rine-that would help him when the
awful moment arrived; he was sure
it would half tell the story itself. In
spired by this thought, he went TO the
nearest town, and returned with Just
the neatest diamond ring that good
hundred dollar bill would buy. He
felt much happier when he went up to
church next morning with that, in his
pocket. Bessie began TO pout as
she saw him.
Where were you all day yester-
day, Sam? | wanted you terribly"
'I-I-had to 90 out of town."
stammered Sam, tremendously con-
scious of the ring in his pocket.
"Out of town." repeated Bessie
Il know you have been nursing your
hands-you were. too lazy to come"
"Oh, Bessie! how can You say SO 2"
Bessie was a great tease, and per-
sisted.
"Let me see your hands, sir;
know you have stayed away just to
try to cure them"
Sam meekly held out his hands,
which were indeed red and blistcred
with all the toll of the last fortnight.
Bessie put her own little white fingers
around them, and Sam blushed TO the
roots of bis hair, a corresponding color,
strange to say, flushing Bessie's face.
"Poor handsr' she said, gently
"They have received all those hurts
in my service-you deserve some re-
ward"
"Oh, Bessie" cried Sam, giving her
fingers sudden audacious Squeeze
"Come away with me minute, and
l will tell you what reward want.
He drew her off, as he spoke, to.
ward one OF the old-fasioned square
pews, two of which still remained on
each side OF the old church. Bessie
went with him, but the moment she
found herself within the pew, the
very spirit of mischief seemed to pos
sess her; before Sam could say q
word, she sent him away after some
holly, to make some punches, that she
said must be put on the bracket for {
lamp, that hung above them.
Sam went for the holly, but on tht
way back he managed furtively tt
take the ring from the box and slip it
diamond inside, on the end of his lit
tie finger. He was positively deter
mined that now he would speak.
! When Bessie saw him approaching
she seemed to have an instinctiv.
knowledge of his intention, for sht
called, in almost frightful tone o
voice, for her frend, Clara Ireland, tt
come and help her.
Now, Clara had a Irritation of he
own on hand, and would do no NOR
than come into the next pew with th
young gentleman who was with her
and chatter noisily with him. This