Connecticut western news., 1872-05-31
WHAT IT COST MABEL.

and laid them carefully down on the little table beside her-it always stood in the corner near the window-dropped her left hand, which was in the stocking, into her lap and began slowly-"My opinion of men, my dear, is, well "-and she stopped her scissors that were sliding off her lap, "is," she repeated, that they are all very we'll in tbeir place." @sf .5@ 117 "But mamma"
 sI know what you are to say, my dear" q am not clear that did) men are not easy to understand, and I don't see any reason why women, and particularly girls, should worry themselves with trying to understand, any mans. character or ways except their own husbands and brothers, and in time, their boys But what want to tell you is, that there is nothing more troublesome, Mary, than man always about the house. Look at your poor aunt Mary not a room in her house tidy, with all Uncle Ned's books and papers lying about everywhere, and even the nursery cupboard piled up with books; such a man would drive me mad No, my dear girls, don't, on any account, marry a man who works at home, instead of an office, like Christian.
 Three, days after this little chat, my eldest sister Mary was engaged to an off cer, friend of my cousin George, and as he was in home regiment, there would be little work, if any, for him, and Mary would have a husband on her hands all day. . f< { H know mamma did not like it for this reason, so I determined never. to marry an idle man, and officers are idle. thought Mary looked very red when mamma was talking, and, of course, she was thinking of Patrick
 Mary and Patrick went out soon after their. engagement for a long ride, and cousin George drove me over to K tc choose my present for Mary's wedding. !
 "Now, George, help me to choose" ] said :; but at that moment " Hollop he cried, "there's Trevelyan!" and rushed out; he came in in little while, and said Mabel, Mr. Trevelyan wants me to see horse with him; you won't mind being left or you can stroll on the beach, anc I'll come there for you. I forgot, MT Trevelyan. Miss Mabel Evans" A few words of commonplace from MT. Trevelyan and they were gone, leaving me alone al the jewellers. Little I thought then thar the kind manly face I had glanced at would be the curse of my existence, the ruin O my young happiness. No warning shiver no presentlment of evil, came on tEa bright morning, to give me any, idea thar Mabel Evans, only just seventeen years old, a happy, merry girl, would lie dowr that night with dry, fearless eyes, pray ing. in the uncontrolled agony of frs grief, that death would take her out 0 her shame and misery. Why should have chosen opals fatal stones! whel every other gem lav spread before me, tn tender true emerald, the pure pearl, th, faithful and sympathetic turquoise, "tha doth tell. by looking pale, the wearer i not well.''
 The ring bought and paid for, I wan dered on the shore to wait for George; walked about until was tired; I sat dow on some low rocks and took out the rim to admire. I pulled it on and of, an, played with it, putting the box in m, pocket. Still no George, and no pony carriage, the tide was coming in rapidly and 1 ran in a stupid, childish terror calling George! George Breathless reached the steps, and began to climl them; the lower twenty or thirty wer steep aud slippery. fell several times slipping; tumbling and crying like baby I at length reached a sort of landing owe high-water mark, and rested. As soon a I could gctup to climb the next flight C steps, then I thought of the ring-not O my hand, not in my pocket, where tn green case was lying safely. In my grie at its loss Iebegan to descend the step, though tie water had long effaced tn marks of my flying footsteps on the sands at this moment shout, Miss Evans and looking upI saw, not cousin Georg, but Mir. Trevelyan, standing on the top ( projecting cliff at some distance.
 He must have seen me sobbing, an attributed my tears to fear at my situ; tion presently he came down, not slowl or cautiously, but with firm strides, as used to mountain travelling; soon he wa beside me. II
 'I am so grieved that you should b frightened, Miss Evans" he began; "bu if you trust yourself to me, yeu shall be the chaise in ten minutes"
 "It is not that" I answered incohel ently and crying again ''l have lost m ring-the present for Mary-for my sister wedding. .z -s- .-z. szs lzs
 "Poor grille, ? hessaid. kindly, "that , loss, what can we dol Don't cry, I wi drive you back to the town and get hs something else" e &E& .s zEE&
 "Oh, we must find it," said. "Ihav no more money; it is an opal ring, plail set clearly in gold-I must find It."
 "My poor child" he said, looking pei plexed, and pulling his mustache, "th tide will wash it away it is already lat your mother will be anxious, and Geore will be homo before we are; he is ridin the new horse he spoke of, and has aske me to drive you back to see ono of his wants tn ehanoa for nina D
 "Do stay with me, ;" I said, piteousl "and find the ring.''
 "Will you, stop here for me-" he sai :" while I look for it 2" his face lighting U asif with hope of finding it.