The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-27

HE NIonS III YOUR WklnE tLlA ring, you
shall pay me If you wish, whenever you
choose.n
He drew my hand from my face, and
put the opal ring on my finger; chance or
mhchiel guided hin-it was the wedding
finger.
We were uncomtortably near the edge
of the ciIE he drew me gently away, and
said, keep it, and think il a brothers
gilt. am so glad to help nice, dear,
good little girl like you out Of trOuble,h y
and, stopping down, he kissed me, kissed
my lips kissed me-as well, Os Il he was
really fond Of me, and he had never seen
me before that dreadful day Hot, cold,
gfddy, wrctched, with Il strange, sudden
liking for him, utterly unacconntable to
myself, | stood amazed, terrified, not at
him, but at the wild beating Ofmy own
heart. lie took my hand and led me with.
cut word to the summit OF tho cliIT; we
walked silently to the chaise he placed
me in quietly ard carefully f; united the
pony's head, and drove oil'in silence.
sat in a dream; neither spoke until
we entered the woDd we 60 through, a
dark three miles from home. As II the
trees gave him courage, he said, Forgive
me, ! have behaved like-like a black.
guard. can't forgive myself, say you
don't hate me-
81 hate mys,ltr | cried, passionately,
and with the hand on which glittcred the
fatal opal, ! struck my lips, that-thut had
been kisstd.n
"For Gods sake, don't my girl, don't y
he said, taking my hand, abe sensible and
trust to my knowing what is best for us
both Take the ring of, pu: il into the
box, give it to your sister, and keep your
own counsel, as / shall" lie added, 81
treated you as child, and you ore an Of
Tended indignant woman, and | deserve
oil you can say to me; but am ordered
on next week; you will never see me
again; and when you are older, will be less
Ehard on fellow"
At this moment George galloped up.
"What time you have been, Trrvel.
yan! have been round the covers, and
home and out again to meet you. Why,
Mabel, what is the mnttCr 7 what scar.
let face, and red eyes, toom
Hold your tongue, George. Your sis.
ter has been alarmed at your absence, nnd
the rising tide let her be-"
"She is not my sister, old boy, but my
little coz, who will one day be Mrs. Evan.
Eh. Mabclp .r'....r
This was Georges favortc piece ofteas-
ing he knew I did not like to blush, and
! always got rcd when he spoke like that.
Mr. Trevelyan whistlcd. d.. a
"Indecd, George, you should not say
'uch things, shall never marry any one, "
murnurcd.
Well, Yon need not he cross, Mabel (;
what did you get for Mary, after all !"
The question came at last, came like a
thunderclap. Icould not answer. Mr.
'Erryelyan drew the box out Of his pocket,
and Said, "NIiss Evans entrusted 1t to my
care going home; is it not elegant I"
"By JOvel IFS not halla bad ring"
cried George. "Let me see, opals are not
luck, are they2 All, yes" he went on,
at don't matter from woman to woman; ;
but from n man to girl it brings all sorts
oI bad luck, don't it May2 Death and
misery, and broken hearts, what is It, eh,
Mabel2 You are superstitious, you know
all about that sort Of things"
"I don't believe in luck" said Trevely-
M, softly 81 believe in love at first
sight"
Mamma appeared on the steps as we
drove up, anxious Mt our absence, and
rather eros, at seeing stranger. She re-
c,ived Georges explanations, hurried away
to give fresh orders Tor dinner; but she
need not have troubled herself, for Mr..
'Trevclyan rode away, after inspecting the
horses, and George returned with him,
| escaped WITH slight lecture, and,
with the fatal ring, was at last left alone.
Alone with tue ring should ever feel
alone again Z No man, and but few women,
could realize the suiIerings Of that night.
had been brought up in strict seclusion,
educated by a lady, with Mary for my sole
companion, had never heard but puritanic
sentiments on the subject Of marriage, and
held the fitSt-oye of every woman's heart
as a holy thing to be sought out and won
as in the Oldcn days. And ], who rcvcr-
cnccd this love, and thought Of demigod,
hero, MS the mot impossible he' who
would make my life glorious with his love,
and CROWN it with the honor of wiichood (;
| had suffered my lips, the portals Of my
heart to Se GeseS'ateS h oy mere i. anmo n
nero i'o ueIsoa "tv.ues nn.Sa oine h"S ,sns :" 9
cousins WIN c whom WON caanee Iau si. Iausu" aus,
me TO oe lelt alone .or a 'gM w nUuts. Is,
ieIt US u Wer1 an outcasi, farl,nl XVI, On
the eartn; J anu oys.ue ,i,, !ns L,,S.. Ls.a' nSs
%hlch nau uesttpyeu my lies n"pPlntss, n,s,
actually owea GINS tnis nan l.l,i money; ny yI, IiIs
had cost near tnlrty pounus; .n.s nor'.plS u'l,,