Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1872-11-07

If this were an ordinary and well-con-
Quoted story, it ought to end here; but
being true history, my life did not at
once come to an end, like that OF most
heroines, with marriage.
I had been Mrs. Gilmore nearly ten
years, and had led very downy life of it.
NV love. which had run SO smooth from
the beginning, kept up the same habit.
mentally carried an umbrella all those
wears. but it never rained anything but
good fortune.
Three little Gilmores made my life
happy burden, and my old friend, Kate
Purdy, came constantly to the house to
help me bring them up. Kate was nearly
thirty years old, when her fate was car
ried into her aunt's house with sprain-
ed ankle, and came out of it her accepted
lover.
Many men had fallen in love with
Kate in these years, but they had been
without form or comeliness in her
eyes, The mild, colorless man whom
she loved at last with all her tender heart,
carried her away from Dovecotes, and
did not see her again till she brought
with her the transcendent first baby,
! which was to cast far into the shade
ali Gilmore babies, past, present, and to
come.
One foggy twilight, when our tyrants
were Laid" for the night, we walked
toward Doyecotes. The long gate open
ing on the avenue was shut, and we all
leaned upon it, to rest a moment before
turning homeward.
"By the way" said I, sit is just like the
night when found this ring. wonder if
those lovers ever made up their quarrel
and married, after alp"
81 am quite sure they never married."
said Kate's husband, gravely.
"What do you mean ?" gasped.
"Tell her all about it, said Kate to DIR.
Gilmore. ''We are all happy now" She
kissed me twice, with long look into my
| frightened face, and walked away with
her husband.
"What is it ?" said with great effort,
so dry was my throat.
cit was Kate Purdy and who quar-
relied at the gate and lost the ring. That
is ALL"
"All p' 1 repeated.
"Little wife, have we not been happy
together p
II have supposed So"
"And have k1a0aon it."
"But the long deceit"
''On my word, there has been none.
After you introduced me to Kate, | never
nor looked look that you did not see.
She fascinated me once, butI never really
loved her,"
I believe men often make this sort of
remark to their wives touching their
youthful follies, but it comforted me new
ertheless, as it has comforted many
| another wife. l had always worn the
sapphire ring, the sign of our betrothal,
and as we talked I had been slipping it up
and down my finger.
As we turned to leave the gate l saw
deep crack in the ground where frost
had loosened the post in an instant
had dropped the ring into the crack, and
went on, with one bruise less on my
spirit.
On the way home we talked of the uni
versal preference for moonlight over fog
and found Kate waiting alone on the door
step. 81 will net darken your doors
again." she said, ''till you say that you
forgive me-"
eyes," said the doctor, "she will let by
cones be by-gones," and Kate took tina
for her answer.
''You will find your ring where yol
left it" whispered to Kate as l left he
for the night.
When was taking out hair-pins unde
the gas-lght, l saw the doctor look curl
ously at my forefnger.
eyes" said, SIT is gone; I found tn
owner, you know"
He made me no reply, but he drew from
under the dressing table the little leather
covered box that held all his privat
papers, the only thing in the house o
which did not possess the key. He tool
out little case, and uncovered pear
ring, an exquisite solitaire.
81 bought this ring for you," he said
"on the day after you accepted me, feeling
sure that you would some day throw ava.
the other"
put on the ring, and christened it witt
kisses and tears. 1 could not long b
angry with ''my DOCTOR" loved him to-
well.
AS to Kate, can forgive, but ,can
never quite forget. .-Gald1y.