Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1873-05-01

riage Che had discarded the old narrow
sulky and replaced it with o buggy
might be seen going at full speed along
the avenue often enough for patient at
the point of death.
We were married, and went into the
village to live in the very house in
which had first taken possession of its
owner.
That former neighbor, who had seen
me an old maid in her prophetic soul,
said $50 you took the doctor, after
all"
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.
had been Mrs. Gilmore nearly ten
years, and had led a very downy life of
it. My love, which had run so smooth
from the beginning, kept up the same
habit.
I mentally carried an umbrella all
these years, but it never rained anything
but good fortune.
Three little Gilmores made my life a
happy burden, and my old friend, Kate
Purdy, came constantly to the house to
help me bring them up. Kate was near
ly thirty years old, when her fate was
carried into her aunt's house with a
sprained 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 comehness in her eyes.
The mild, colorless man, whom she
loved at last vita all her tender heart,
carried her away from Dovecotes, and I
did not see her again till she, brought
with her the transcendent first baby,
which was to cast far into the shade
Gilmore babies, past, present, and to
come.
One foggy twilight when our tyrants
were laid for the night, we walked to-
ward Dovecotes. 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 I found this ring.
I wonder if those lovers ever made up
their quarrel and married, after all.
ssI am quite sure theynever married, y
said Kate's husband, gravely.
:" What do you mean ?'' j gasped. 2 :
y'Tel1 her all about it, said Kate to
DIR. Gilmore. eve are all happy now. -
She kissed me twice, with long look
into my frightened face, and walked
away with her husband.
What is,sit ?" I said, with great eff
fort, SO dry was my throat.
Sts It was Kate Purdy and who quar-
relied at the gate and lost the ring. That
is ALL EE
s's All y repeated,
Little wife, have we not been happy
together ?" -
"I have supposed so.
And have known it.
But the long deceit"
Con my word there has been none.
After you introduced me oKate, / never
hear, nor looked look that you did not
see. She fascinated me once, but I never
really loved her. -
/ believe men often make this sort o1
remark to their wives touching thei1
youthful follies, but it has comforted
many another wife. I had always worn
the sapphire ring, the sign of our be-
trothal, and as we talked had been
slipping it up and down around my
| finger. -,
| As we turned to leave the gate, saw
deep crack in the ground where frost
had 1oosened 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
usual preference for moonlight over fog
and found Kate walking alone on the
doorstep ttI will not darken YOU
doors again, y she said, sc till you say
that you forgive me,
eyes," said the doctor, ",she will le
/ by-gones be by-gones," and Kate tool
that for her answer.
"You will find your ring where yoI
left it," Whispered to Kate as left he
for the night. ES
Z When Z was taking out hair-pins un
der the gas-ight, I saw the doctor lool
curiously at my forefinger.
Yes" L said, sit is gone; I fount
/ the owner, you now. q
He made eme no reply, but he drey
from under the dressing table the littl
leather-covered box that held all hi
private papers, the only thing in tn
house of which did not possess tn
key. He took out a little case ant
uncovered a pearl ring, an exquisit
solitaire. -
4 "I bought this ring for you, he said
"on the day after you accepted me
feeling sure that you would some da
throw away the other"
I put on the ring, and chfistened
with kisses and tears. could not lon
be angry with my doctor; I loved hir
too well.
As to Kate, I can forgive, but I ca
never quite forget. - RI 81
| Tho nrioin of fha Tafa HorSa niSnaSt