New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-04
THE RING WITH TWO LIONS

bought it in Venice, on the Rialto. !
was very curious old pice of jewelry, wit
two lions heads in bold relief. They wer
in profile, like those of royal personagee
satire on some Emperor and Empress,
satire! great improvement upon some O
them, no doubt.
The old king lion, bold and imperial, haG
diamond eyes, those of the liOness were
rubies So cunningly had the artisan buried
the diamonds that the old lion seemed tO
wink and fash on the gazer; sometimes in
contempt, sometimes in sympathy. Igave il
next day to Mary Jessamine, my friend OF
plat6nic intentions. do not say what nv
intentions were-hers. che had said, would
ever remain platOnic. That asst evening on
the csnai by moonlight had seemed to me to
modify her views. But did not know. She
did not look displeased az put the ring on
her finger, if perhaps held her white hand
trifie longer than was really necessary to
see the effect. Her hand did not 90 back
to her till / had kissed it, If the old lion
winked ut me as did 80. winked back. l
was in courageous mood, and not at that
moment afraid of lions; but was afraid of
Mrs. Jessamiue, Mary's grim and terrible
aunt, an old woman eaten up with avarice.
wise in her own cOnceit, and nothing else
Mary was an enchanting and most accom-
Plished girl, winning every one by her
OU"uty anu wiz, UIlukluk ucI huuU Ill ire
nice people and good society, speaking
several languages, and play ing the part of
courier and purchase maker, while her aunt
stood behind bullying and abusing her. 1t
was sight to make ones blood run cold,
this angel in CALLING harness, slave to a
miser.
Mary had had repeated opportunities to
change her service for better, but she
seemed to hug her chain. There was pa.
hence On0pr her 10
sublime.
II feel the spirit of murderer within
me" said the Rev. Mr.. Ainslie, as we came
home from an expedition with the ladies.
shall push Mrs. Jessamine into one of
the dark corners under the Bridge of Signs.
Did you see her refuse to pay for the little
Lace handkerchief Mary had bought"
"Alas, yes!'
"And Mary bears it so patiently. l sup
pose she has no other alternative9'
"She has me-" answered plainly.
"Oh, yes, she has you CharletOn, and
could have me were l not as good "a mar
ried to dear girl in the British provinces +"
"She has Baron Hammerstein, too. He
IL ready to put five centuries of German
nobility at her feet"
BY the way, here comes Mr.. Handyside
Marbury. Do you know him, Ainslie9
'That seedy old fellow with such a COR
geous name! No, l do not. One of our |
men"
Eyes, one of our few inpecunious ones.
Americans are SO vulgarly rich generally. l |
met Mr.. Handyside Msrbury at Alexandria.
and had the pleasure of lending him a few |
pounds, pending the arrival Of his letters. |
imagine they never have arrived, as he has |
not mentioned it."
"And does he not show some awkward
ness, and desire to avoid your
"Oh, no. In the words of the popular
,ong, i Thought he Would Shun Me- but
10 does not. l suppose he belongs to the
l0ble army of bOrrOwt rs who are described
" Charles Lamb. A more amusing old
elbow never meta scholar, Q poet and |
suriem. Come and be introduced"
IL was great pleasure to hear Mr.. Mar
ury and Ainslie talk. History, and poetry,
nd romance were all 1T their fingers ends.
nd ~ they rsmbled on l could not buI
bserye sort Of resemblance between the
babby old ruin and the dspper yOunk |
ergyman, who was ~ correct AS his own
,urch clock, 90 far as knew. Yet did
,t know Ainslie we'll, nor did quite BE-
,ye in him. He and / had met travelling. {
I'd ~ he was most brilliant and agreeable, =
Q soon became friends. Sometimes il
Cured to me that his opinions were some |
Let auctuating and shallow, and psiaei- ] t