American citizen., 1874-10-17
VOL. NNIN.

RED. or TIL YOU wish to break 1t.
Where's the ring?'
"Oh! have one upstairs-an old one
| suppose it will answer to cover ouI
little arrangement
g" How splendid of YOU Doctorn
:" Now YOU must go. Old Mrs. Davis
is coming soon with her neuralgia. Shall
tell her?'
Tell her what2"
'Of the engagement"
Yes. Just hint it, and before night
the town will know it
And they did. How they snatched up
the stray morSel OF gossip and stirred it
into their tea with the sugar. For
tunate circumstance. 1t soured on their
stomachs-the news, not the tea. Even
| the sugar and the good Bohea did not
| save them from expressing, with bcauti-
full freedom, just what they thought
about it.
such an old goose to be taken in by
that designing Sally Depfordi The mink.
| the little contriving-artful--
Such language! 1t is not pretty. His
tory like this cannot stoop to report all
| that was said concerning the last new en-
gagement. As for Sam Barrett, he faded
beautifully away, and actually disap-
peared. He suddenly found =" a tip-top
chance for business, you know, in New
York. Ought to go right on and fix it
up"
| His parting with Sally was not partic-
ularly affecting. She wouldn't allow it.
That curious, antique, diamond ring
flashed in his astonished eyes, and his af-
fection melted softly away into nothing,
| like the cloud of white steam under
which he escaped in the $40 p. m. eX-
press The whistle echoed among the
Wauchusetta hills, and the gentle Sally
heard it without sigh.
Some of the other girls could hardly
forgive her for driving away the only
available young man in the place, but
they soothed theirlacerated feelings with
the sweet hope that, as the summer va
cation was near at hand, new importa
ton of city visitors from Boston and
New York might "make it gay again"
and spread wide once more the matri-
monial horizon.
The suddenness and complete success
of the victory rather surprised the victor.
She had succeeded beyond her eXpecta-
tions. Now that it was all over she
would return the ring, and-well, no,
perhaps she might keep it just one more
night. Cousin Mary Depford was com
ing 10 spend the night. and it would be
rather amusing to wear the ring a little
longer and to let her into the secret.
She would return the ring in the morn
ing.
set the ring firmer on her finger and pre-
pared to receive her company"
Cousin Mary DepfOrd was charmed
with the ring and was profuse in her CON
gratulations. Sally took them quietly
enough.
4 It's all a joke, you know, dear"
a joker
Yes. dear, little-well-game, if
may so speak"
NJ IL, T..
the retirement of her own room she eX-
pressed her mind fully, and declared she
would n OF wear the ring another moment.
1t was pretense, and-a shame to do
such thing
Sally was startled and pleaded the
dreadful necessity of the case.
He was such bore, you know, and,
really-what could l do? 1t was all in
fun. There's nothing serious. l mean
to return the ring tomorrow
:" wouldn't wear it another minute if
/ were you, Sally Depford."
Sally laughed and still retained the
ring. She would return 1t tomorrow.
She would wear it one more night-for
it was, really, such a handsome ring.
The doctor behaved beautifully. He
only called once, and didn't even ask
her to ride or walk.
He walks so fast-and as for that
old chaise, you know how it creaks"
Ii was very proper engagement.
Rather cool, perhaps. What could you
expect? He was past forty, if day,
they said.
She did not return the ring the next
day. 1t rained. She sent Il note to the
doctor the following day, asking him to
call for it.. He was away-wOuldn't be
back till Monday. OF course she must
wear the ring one more Sunday; and she
did-in spite of Cousin Mary Depford's
remonstrance.
On Monday she carried the ring, still
| on her finger, to the doctor. He was just
starting off on a professional tour when
she came, and he was SO merry and there
were SO many things to talk about, that
she quite forgot the ring. Besides, there
stood the Widow Bigelow in the next
yard pretending to hang out her clean
clothes on the line and watching with
both eyes.
Cousin Mary Derford was harassing
| They had Il little "i.iff," after the man
ner of girls, and made it up on the
strength of promise from Sally that
| she would certainly return the ring to-
morrow.
On the morrow she started, ring on
/ finger, to duly return it. He was not at
home. She went again Just before tea
time. He was at tea and pressed her to
stay and take supper with his good old
| housekeeper and himself She hesitated
moment-then accepted. She could
quietly hand him the ring after supper,
and in the meanwhile she might as well
have good time"
The fine old house, the elegant
! dining room, and the cosy table, set
for three, were charming The doc
/ tor was a good talkcr, and cultivated and
refined in his manners. She had
been obliged to bear much
wretched gossip for the last week or two.
/ 1t was quite proper she should stay to
| tea. 1t would be rather amusing to see
just how it seemed to be engaged. She
might rs well have IA good time, for it
would soon be over. She would return
the ring as soon as the housekeeper re-
tired. The housekeeper did nothing of
the kind. As soon as tea was over she
took her knitting and sat down by the
open window in the parlor, where she
could see everything that happened both
in the house and in the garden.
The doctor acted his part to perfec
! ton lie was not too attentive, to at
tract attention from the housekecpcr
nor did he forget for Il moment to b,
watchful of his guests happiness
At 10 30 p. IN. Sally returned to hcl
own room, looking wonderfully seren,
and happy Cousin Mary Depiord wa.
silent and watchful. Presently she saw
something, and said:
40 Sally"
well, tiear?"
Where's the ring?"
90 my love, | quite forgot all abou
it; did, indeed. I'll take it right bacl
Tomorrow"
AS for the doctor he sat up half tn,