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

he CuTeu LOT Wei nuu lONeU inc "ut nTsJ
sight.n Ny dreams-walking or sleeping
were of him; acted the scene on the
cliff again and again; in visions felt bis
lips press mine, in dreams he told me Of
his unchanging love.
Six years flowed on in quiet succession
Of daily duties, and | had grown so used
to NY ideal sorrow, so quiet and resigned
to my lot in life, so contented with my
dream hero, that had at twenty-thrce
years ceased to trouble for the future,
only griGving for Aiary's long waiting, and
Tor her fading beauty and failing health.
Patrck's letters were not as a lovers
should he and we AWAY, knew by her
sigh that no news had come Of n speedy
return. We were sitting one Christmas
eve, as usual, very quietly and rather dull
round the fire, when Mary rose and began
to sOttly pace the room. ..g .g7l
"MaLcl,n she said gently-mamma was
asleep" feel so strange tonight | can
not rest; ! believe Patrick has come to
England, and that we shall be married ut
last.n 'li-e- .lsp '.-. I'D
"ot course you will be married." |
said, shut what nonsense to think Of his
coming to.night,-it is only because it is
Christmas eve. and one wants to have
those we loved around us.h
"Tell me, Mabel, don't you hear foot
step, I" We looked out, the snow lay
thick on the ground, and the laurcls bent
under the weight on their leaves. A pain
full quiet reigned supreme, and only our
beating hearts thrObbcd audibly in the si-
lcncc.
The slight movement We made in clos
ing the curtains woke mamma, who said,
81 drcamt of George, and thought he
married Mabel, poor boy; how iond he
was Of you girls"
Mamma rose and said. @ Get me my
netting Mabel, play or read something,
and ling for tea;n but instead OF the grim
lace oil Woods as usual, well.kn6wn voice
said, "When will you ave tea, num- =
M there was that rogue George. Mary
flew past him, "Pattick y George WINGED
at this open neglect ot him, and rcvenged
himself by kissing mamma, and nearly
shaking my hands of.
On that evening | will not dwell. We
were all happy together. Patrick looked
i'll and worn, India had tried his health
severely, but England would SION restore
him, and the wedding day was fixed for
the following week, as there was nothing
to delay it. why wait" mamma said ;
/" | wish it,n and so it was settled. Pres
ents began to flow in upon Mary, and the
old time came vividly back to me, George
said carelcssly, 81 have invited old Trey
elyan to the wedding and we met once
more; not in the evening, when | could
have hidden my blushiug face in the soft
shadows oi our drawing-rOom, but in the
daylight Of frosty morning did meet
the man | first hated and then loved.
Unromantic MS must seem, ! did not
know him. Bronzcd, changed by climate
and hard work.. altered ly tremendous
muStachc, altogether different, my ideal
was lost forever; nothing but confusion Mt
again meeting remained. Colonel Trevel-
van was introduced to Miss Evans, and nc
tuallY asked after the little girl he had
driven home. We both looked little
foolish, but soon got over our shyncss. /
took the earliest opportunity oil an inter
view with him, and returned the ring
which bad caused me such agony. lie
would not fear taking it, and while we
were speaking Mary entered the room,
With the decision which had before saved
me, he said, "What handsome ring your
sister has got for you.' Mary spang for
ward eagerly to see it, and was obliged
to give it to her.
"You darling! so that is what you
bought for me-" The ring was on her fin
ger Mt last, and she called to Patrick
0'Neale to look at IL; he came at her
summons, looked ut It, drew it from her
finger with fast whitening lips, tried TO
speak, read the legend engraved, and fell
down in swoOn on the floor.
The scene was awful, the accuSed opal
was still clcnched in his hand while con
vulsive fits succeeded the swoon. A sud
den shock tue doctors said, but what could
be the causc7 Mary hung over him in an
agony Of suspense for days bis life was in
danger; "The ring, the ringp was all he
ItpcdlNu III HIS uCllllullli uUi hhC lluE was
indeed the cause Of all this misery.
Colonel Trevelyan had failed in obtain
ing another plain opal ring at the jewelers.,
and he hurridly searched the stores Of the
only pawnbroker in X, and selected this,
the girt Of Patrick 0'Neals to his wife,
his wife! woman who had forfeited all
right to that title, all love from her hus-
band; all respect from her sex. A woman
who had deceived and left him; a woman
whom he believed to have been dead years
ago. And now when at last life had joy
in store for him, the ring, the fatal opal
ring, glittered n the finger of the pure
being he hoped to call his own, no wonder
that his brain reelei aud gave way under
the cruel shock.
I "tS cnRYsTE AND THEE" ,.5
What mockery the ring was She had
trampled upcn bis love, outraged bis trust
and dishonored him, how he could love
and trust any woman again is the strand.
est part, but none could see Mary without