The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1872-08-22
Her Wedc1ing Ring.


A strip of country road, two figure
standing by fence which enclOses
green meadow; beyond, 4 villagl
ethereal with mystic sunset CLEANS
and you have the scene.
Ofcourse the figures are of different
sexes, in keeping with the romantic
tone Of the picture, that of the gir
bearing something about it better than
fashionable aristOcracy-the aristoe-
raey of gentle worth. .i-l
The young man is far handsOmer O
the two, and might seem a eOurtier Oi
the most exemplary reign, as he
stands uncovered in the warm air,
with hat and gloves in one hand,
while the other rests on the breast oi
his coat.
His blue-gray eyes are resting, with
the happy dreaminess of youth, on
the distant church spires, his delicate
features glowing, and perfectly blonde
curls glinting golden bright in the
sunset rays.
"YOu are coming up to the college
on commencement day, I hope" he
says, with n timid flutter in his voice
II cannot,n she replies, when his
eyes leave the pretty distance rs he
asks:
'Why ?"
She makes an effort TO answer him,
but bursts out crying instead, and
lays her forehead on the topmOst rail
of the fence, causing a shadow to fall
on Elery's face, that is surely not OF
the suns making.
He bends over her, urging gently
Miriam? Miriam, pray tell me
what is the matter?"
She still cries a little longer, hOwev-
er, but at length raises up her face,
and says slowly, as she searches his
eyes
81 am going to be married"
Oh, how pitilessly the sun glaTes on
his suddenly blanched face, as hG
tries to repeat her words, but in vain.
81 am very ungrateful to cry,
know" says the girl, "for he is so no.
BILE, and love me so dearl y-sO much
moro thai / deserve but oh would
that were to be buried instead OF
married %
Her grief seems to give him hope,
for he says, with an effort to throw
off the shock:
az am no doubt presumptiOus to
say that which I feel 1 must say, oil
die; but Miriam, although we have
known each other but a short time, /
love you, and have loved you from
the first moment we met-as only a
man can love, who has never loved
befOre.n
The knOwlege seems bitter-sweet to
her, for her face is radiant for p mo-
ment, and then ashy pale, as she re-
plies:
at is too late, EleTy! | was engaged
to him before ever ] saw you"
az cannot believe it."
For answer, she holds up her little
hand, and shows him a plain gold
ring on the third finger.
"Oh, Miriam, you. are not already
married ,"
'tNot quite so bad" smiling family,
as she takes it off to show him that
although the initials are there, the
date is wanting.
He holds the magic circle in his
palm-pink and soft as a lady's-
holds it quietly for about three sec-
Onds, and then, with 4 sudden blazing
of the eyes that seem to scorch dark
circles on his cheeks, he filings the
ring ffOE him with all his mad
/ strength, and watches it as it whizzes
through the air and is lost to theil
view.
Miriam is aghast and speechless
and he, not daring to meet her eyes
says, in an instant revnlsion of feel
ing:
"Oh, Miriam, forgive mel you hav,
driven me madv
He is down in the meadow, hunt
ing among the dewy grass, Wherl
Miriam presently finds him, cold anC
pale, but quite silent.
Fainter and fainter grows the sun
set, and heavier becomes Miriam's
heart, as at length EIery says, as n,
straightens himself up like wear,
| old man:
ave must give it up, Miriam. It i
gone beyond recall, and may never b
seen again till some plOwman turn
/ it up, when We are perhaps dead anC
forgotten. Come away, and don't b.
too angry with me till you know
yourself the bitterness Of q broker
hearth ..r.-
'I know it now !" she cries hyster
| ically "snd this bitterness of yours
my last pang. All, Elery LELAND, al
/ though you little deserve my conf
dence, 1 cannot leave you tO-nigh
mis-judged. I tried to tell you of M
honorable engagement, but was to-
selfish to risk the loss of your swee
/ friendship. I was no coquette, and
it will be any qualification to know il
let me here tell you that / loved yo1
so well, like one Of old, Icould hav
knelt down in the dust and kissed tn
hem of your garment, for your shin
ing talents, and the sweet humilit,
with which you bear them. And t
think that have been 50 deceived il
you ~ ilL4 i Eaa .-l.
t'Never mind" he returns with
depression strangely noble. 81 Low
you so well, that can leave You to
night unjudged, and only say, Go
bless your
These two figures have hardly LEI
the scene, when a third creeps on
from a elump of bushes, pOunees upo
a certain spot in the meadow, and a
ter little cautious grOping about, b
holds alOft the missing ring.
Married, and returning home, Mir
am was one evening talking quietl
with her husband and a certai
George Leland, brother to the hand
some Elery. Among other subject
the visitor dexteronsiy brought Il
that of engraving on jewelry, Yhe
Charles White pleasantly remarked
"Well, I should know nay wife
wedding ring anywhere, for wOrke
hours and hours on it before / wOul
trust its lettering 10 another. j a
ways had passion for engraving"
| He was an agreeable young man, il