Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1871-04-30
you any one of these for it, because of gov

~ a,y ono VI oaieoo ioi ~, peoauSe VI CIV
respectfully declined the proposal.
"Well, dash it," exclaimed the young
fellow, as though struck with sudden
idea, "what couple of muffs we are
Why don't you turf the thing?
could tell you in minute if it's mine, daeh
It'll" 81
replied that was very sorry could
not oblige him, and adding that he had
better obtain an exact description of the
thing" from his governor, recommend
ed him not to keep the cats longer in the
cold. % a.
Menu am getting exceedingly tired.oi
my treasure-trove. / retire to my room
with view of dressing to go out. L am
informed that lady wishes to see me, and
am afraid my mental calculation was not
complimentary to the lady in ques-
ton.
A tail, graceful figure, draped in heavy
morning, rises at my entrance. She opens
the negotiation in some confusion, turn
ing away her face. She has come to me in
the hope of regaining ring, carlessly lost,
the parting gift of fond father, to her
brother and herself.
My eye rests on the craze, about her
dress, ON her pale, beautiful face, from
which the blush of confusion and timidity
has faded. Deferentially request her to
describe it. % 81 Vg ~
"a large diamond, handsome she be-
lieved, but valuable to her for far other
reasons. u - s~'"@%
"But," said gently, "chased on the gold
inside the ring there is"
ga crest, I am aware of it,n she answer
ed sadly, "but know nothing of herald
ry, and have never given it more than a
casual glace. 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 lost?' =
II am sorry to pain you," / said, striv-
ing to be firm; "but it would be more
satisfactory for all parties, and cause but
cription from your brother"
Without a word she turned away; the
resignation other air and attitude
touched me, and as she turned / saw tear
roll silently down and fall upon the hand
stretched to the door handle. i couldn't
stand that.
STOP" exclaimed, zone moment. 1
am sure-I feel certain-I may trust you.
You will tell me-"
it out timidly for the blue eyes to examine.
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 brother!"
Her hand was upon it +; such atremulous,
happy eagerness in her glance such a
fondness in her way of lingering
it! How pretty she was!
"My dear child" Il am forty-five,) sit
Trfo =.
mered, then / sprang after her. "At least
you will leave your address with me-"
What look shades her face now!
Wounded 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 brute. The accent of
reproach in her voice haunts me; the sor-
rowful glance of her eye-how pretty she
half inclined to call at the adj
dress given, and apologize for my heathen-
sh distrust.
How delightful to see her in her own
peculiar atmosphere, ministering to the
'ick brother, who is all she has in the
world, to look upon, if one cannot enjoy,
he beautiful tenderness of gentle sister to
IN afflicted brother.
But my letters wait, and Itoy with them.
This is hand 1 know. What does Fred
want, 1 wonder? 1 tear it open; read
Z DEAR JACK:-What queer chance if you
lave stumbled upon my ring. was obliged to
'un down to Romford late last evening, and
never missed it till we slackened at Ilford. A |
pretty taking I've been in. If it's mine. the |
rest 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 superfiuous to
i'd, thatswhen L called at certain address |
n Easton square, to inquire for Miss Lucy |
the lady was not to be found. |
Probably the "dear Alfred" had required |
speedy change of air probably brother and |
lister were even embracing in rapturous |
gratitude, over the precious relic of one
ost to them so lately. Was that dear one |
lot lost, but transformed? Had the silver |
haired patriarch of the first visit changed |
o the dashing buck of the thirdf And |
vas the virtuous teacher of youth only the |
ender sister in masquerade? On my word,
believe so. dare say they are enjoying |
he joke. Possibly it is dodge often re-
,eated. But what am I to say to Fred?