The Placer herald., 1872-11-09
THE GOLD RING.
BY MARY 4. KEADLES.

midnight; and the lone, fair being, who sat by
dim lamp plying, with thi ;, white fingers,
the embroidery needle, whispered it over and
over again.
"Hope ever;" why should she hope now
Was not the last crust eaten and the last
stick of wood upon the Goals? Could she
hope when starvation and freezing Winter
stared her in the face Was there hope then?
Very dim was that beacon star, yet it still
beamed in the future of fair Alice Greyson,
and she did not quite despair.
Two, three o'clock. The sewing was laid
aside; and, approaching the bed Of straw,
the fair girl knet and folded her hands in
prayer; then she gazed for moment upon
the calm face of child of some ten summers,
who slumbered calmly, sweetly.
"Sleep on, Eddie, sleep on, brother, we
will starve and freeze together, if it comes to
that" and burning tear stole down her
cheek and fell upon the golden curls of the
sleeper, then upon his white pure brow.
Slowly the dark blue eyes unclosed, and
the child raised himself in bed.
"There, Eddie, go to sleep, sister didn't
mean to wake you, said the young girl,
gently.
CANT it morning, Allie? amt it most
morning? oh! am so hungry; isn't there a
little crust left, just little one?
"Never mind, Eddie, it isn't morning yet
Wen go to sleep now and maybe we will
have some breakfast"
"But can't, sister; | am so cold and
hungry; and I've been dreaming of the dear
old ONE at the Hail. where we used to live,
and Of father and mother before they went
to heaven. VIII we ever go there, Allie ?
Won't God call us before long, so we shant
starve and freeze any more? Oh, it will be
Il pretty place there, Allie, like where we
used to live dreamed all about it and IA
ther, and mother, and you and | were all
there wen go before long, won't we 2
Alice pressed the little one tenderly to her
BOSOM perhaps she, too, longed for rest,
quiet and freedom from pain and care. Poor
Alice five years before wealthy and happy,
nolo a friendless penness orphan. Yes, Al
ice thought Of this; and as faithful memory
brought before her the picture of other days,
Il form noble and comman ing, face the
true mirror of the unsulled heart, seemed
there--lhe calm, earnest eyes, the high,
handsome forehead-all, all the same.
"Arthur," she whispered, but the Illusion
had vanished the candle had flickered ont,
and little Eddie was asleep in her arms.
She wrapped the scanty clothes closer around
them, and slept calmly and sweetly; it was
the slumber Of innocence.
Morning had come, a cold gray morning;
the sombre clouds cast gloomy, boding
look over the great city; and already few
feahered fakes winged their silent way
earthward Alice Greyson pressed her pale
face earnestly against the window pane, and
ever and anon cast an anxious glance toward
the led where her little brother slept.
'Poor little Eddie. no breakfast, no fire
this cold morning. OH | cannot bear to
hear him cry and beg for bread cannot give
him; no, oh nol'
The tears stole silently down her cheek.
and one bright drop fell upon the small gold
ring that cncrcled her pale finger. 1t was a
simple ring; small wreath Of forget
engraved upon the outside, while inside were
The initials, A. T. Il.
"And shall he starve while this remains :?
Never. Vi hen the giver placed it upon my
finger he said, always wear it, but | know
lie would approve it, were he living, but he
is, no doubt, asleep in the sea.
Hastily tying on a coarse hood, and throw
inc a threadbare shawl over her shoulders,
she noselessly lett the room. Descending
the stairs she hurried along the street, heed
ing not the snow fakes now falling around
her. On, on, ill she reached a house she
too well remembered; for the pawnbroker
could answer where much of Alice nice fur
niture and many costly dresses had gone.
GLOW much do you pose can let you
have on this ring a dime p
Alice felt the crimson current Hush her
brow, but she answered calmly.
"Oh more than that.
"The ring isn't worth nothing to me, the
inscription spoils it; but I'll lend you six shi-
lings on it.
ooh. say more than that"
"No, ma am.
"Well. that then" Alicc's eyes were
full of tears as she accepted the money tor her
betrothal ring, yet as she hurried from street
to street and procured those articles needed
TO sustain her own and her brothers life, and
imagined his great joy at once more partak-
ing of a real breakfast, she almost forgot the
sacrifice.
"Just what it cost, | assure you; five dol
lars for so fine an article; why that wreath
of 'forget-me. nots' is as natural as llfe-a
beautiful remembrance gift, surely"
eyes but the inscription or the inner side
Of the ring spoils it for my use.
ooh! no" replied the pawnbroker, in his
blandest tone, ga jeweler will remove it for
a shilling; come, take it for fifty.
GA bargain. -.
The young man placed the clrelct upon his
little finger, and, after paying the required
amount, left the shop
Gus the thing for present to COUSIN
Kate, the WITCH she'll never know 1t came
from pawnbrokers and | think 1t was cheap
enough, and more than that, | know 1t Is
pure gold; if bought elsewhere, at jewelers.
L. -L~t ! a m