Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-12-26


might import one.
| Doctor, 1 have an idea.
How startling! bring it forth that
may admire it.
You be the lover.
All right. Pm willing.
Then we're engaged.
| Yes-for the present.
In fun, you know.
Oh, of course. Till Sam gets mar
ried, or till you wish to break it.
Where's the ring?
Oh, l have one up stairs--an old
one. Isuppose it will answer to
cover our little arrangement.
How splendid of you doctor!
Now you must go. Old Mrs. Da-
vid is coming with her neuralgia
Shall tell her?
Tell her what?
Of our engagement.
Yes. Just hint it, and before
night the town will know it.
And they d id. How they snatch
ed up the stray morsels of gossip
and stirred it into their own tea
with the sugar. Fortunate circum-
stance. Itsoured on their stomachs
the news, not the tea. Even the
sugar and the good Bohea did not
save them from expressing with
beautiful freedom just what they
thought about it.
Such an old goose to be taken in
by that Sally Depford! the miuxl
the little contriving, artfui-
Such language! 1t is not pretty.
History like this cannot stoop to re-
port all that was said concerning
the last new engagement. As for
Sam Barrett, he faded beautifully
away, and actually disappeared
He suddenly found a tiptop chance
for business, you know, in New
York. Ought to go right on and fix
it up.
His parting with Sally was not
particularly affecting. She wouldn't
allow it. That curious, antique,
diamond ring flashed in his aston
ished eyes, and his affection uassd
softly away into nothing, lis -aa
cloud of white steam under which
he escaped in the $40 P. M. expross
The whistle echoed among the
Wauchusetta hills, and the gentle
Sally heard it without sigh.
Some of the other girls could
b ardly forgive her for driving away
the only available young man in the
place but they soothed their lacera-
ted feelings with the sweet hope,
that, as the summer vacation was
near at hand, a new Importation of
the city visitors from Boston and
New York might make it gay
again and spread wideii once more
the matrim 0nial horizon.
The suddenness and complete
success of the victory rather sur
prised the victor. She had succeed
ed beyond her expectations. Now
that it was all over she would re-
turn the ring, and-well, no, per-
haps she might keep it just one more
night. Cousin Mary Depford was
coming to spend the night, and it
would be rather amusing to wear
the ring little longer and to let
her into the secret. She would re-
tu IN the ring in the morning.
Pleased with this unspoken plan,
she set the ring frmer on her finger,
and prepared to receive her 'comPa-
n.y.
Cousin Mary Depford was charm
ed with the ring, and was profuse in
her congratulations. Sally took
them quietly enough.
Its all a joke, you know, dear.
A joke!
Yes, dear, a little-well game, if
you may so speak.
Cousin Mary was properly shock
ed. In the retirement of her own
room, she expressed her mind fully,
and declared that she would noS wear
the ring another moment. 1t was
pretense and. shame to 10 sueh
thing.
Sally was startled, end pleaded the
dreadful necessities of the case;
He was such s bore, you know,
and. really-what could do? 1t was
ali IN finn Yhcre's nothing serious.
( mean to feturn the ring tomorrow.
wor;dn't wear it another minute
If 7 wsre you, Sally DepfOrd.
silly laughed and still retained
.Le ring. She would return it to-
morrow. 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 ever
ask her to ride or walk.
He walks so fast, and as for. that
old chaise-you know how it creaks.
1t was a very proper engagement
rather cool, perhaps. What could
you expect? He was past forty, ev-
cry day, they said.
She did not return the ring the
next day. 1t rained. She sent u
note to the doctor by friend, the
following day, asking him to call
for it. He was away-would not be
back till Monday. OF course she
must wear the ring one more Sun
day; 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 profession
al tour when she came, and he was
so merry, and there were so many
things to talk about, that she quite