The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-07-05
THE STORY OF A RING.

Il IL I5- E# On
1t seemed to me the most unfortunate
position in the world. E =
I had arrived, about ten minutes be-
fore, at the house of an aunt whom l
had never seen, and who was sick. l
was to be her nurse and companion.
Her servautt :, had shown me into this
wretched trap, as I now called it, IN
anguish of spirit, though it was really .
pretty, cheerful little room, opening by
a curtained arch from the parlor, in
forming me that the, housekeeper would
be there Immediately to conduct me to
nv raunt. And here was I, an utter
stranger, assisting at lovers quarrel.
Two persons had entered the room an
instant after I had seated myself. It
was twilight, and the lamps we're not
yet lighted. I was wholly invisible, and
they evidently imagined themselves to
possess the solitude beGtting their con-
versation.A - u. ..'.. ...
"The farce may as well end here, !"
had said woman's voice at the moment
of her crossing the threshold. "For
my part, am weary of the play. .. I no
longer love you, and I will not pretend
affection merely to feed your, vanity,
which is as imitless as your imperti-
nence in persisting in attentions that
you see detest.
TWAS the mostintolerably proud voice
that could be imagined.
"I still love you, and you know it.
And I have far too much faith In your
former Professions to credit the. words
put into your mouth by the. anger Of an
unfortunate moment. You are utterly
mistaken in your supposition. My love
for you is always ~,
"Your love for me! Your love !"
with an, accent Of angry scorn that de-
fies description. g Never dare to men
tion to me again word that you cannot
comprehend. lit is an insult to me to
hear it-an insult that will not endure.
And 10 cure your apprehension of: my
repentance, let me tell you that l., who
know the meaning Of this word that you
utter so gibly-I love some one else.
She stepped swiftly to the window
and threw it open. There was an IN
stanfs silence There was audible the
rustleIof her sleeve as she tossed some
thing from her with force.
al have thrown your ring away" she
explained, with a raonchata,ace in extra
ordinary contrast with her former vio-
lence., '"sI threw it toward the cistern.
Possibly it has slipped through some
crevice or other, and gone down into
the water. / hope so, In that case it
isimpossible that the sight of it can
ever again insult me with the remem-
brance that have worn it. Permit me
towish you an exceedingly good even
ing!" 2 F.tg.s :. (
reverence of the courtesy she now swept
him ;Sthen she wss gone. Immediately
after, and'silently, he also left the apart
ment.
Theyidid not 60 too soon, whoever
they WERE; a cold perspiration damp
ened my forehead; 1 really trembled.
The yehemence of the feelings engaged,
the certainty felt by the actors of their
complete isolation, and my own inno-
cent guilt in oyerhearing, all quite over
powered me. ri. ..... H.,
Half minute did not elapse after the
last sound of the gentleman's footsteps
before the parlor door again opened,
and q prim little woman entered, with q
lamp in her hand. She looked in all the
corners, as one might search for a
dropped pocket handkerchief, and at
last perceived the new. conner.
""Ah, miss, I have kept you waiting
quite a time, to be sure ! But your aunt
took sudden notion to put mustard
draughts on her ankles-though Dr..
Richardson had just gone, and he never
thought of ordering them and have
'em hhe must: And I supposed you'd
be comfortable here" = -.
"Quite comfortable, thank you. The
serva aot said you would come presently.
"NVell, you'd best have some tea be-
fore you see your aunt. She told me
to give you some. I shall try to find
something you like; though what with
all these people flying about the house
that have got no business here-this
company, mean-I don't know whether
Ism on my head or feet.
l. received the refreshments she
brought me gratefully, after which 1
was conducted to my aunt's room.
Consideration for the feelings Of
other people was not one of the old
lady's characteristics, and after q few
disparaging remarks on my personal ap-
pearance, I was dismissed for the
night. It1: .'.E.-
The sun was just risen next morning
when took courage to.step outside and
look about me. The grass was very
l~,,I 1oI n
that fresh ightl All at once I.stopped
and stared about me. There, glitter
ingmthe grass,lay ring. I stood like
one fascinated, gazing at it very foolish
ly, for / knew, we'll what ring it was.
Presently I heard some one calling far
of, and not stopping to think, picked
the ring up, and ran back to the house,
all trembling.
At breakfast endeavored to discover
the hero and heroine of last evenings
drama. Two of the ladies' were sisters,
tall, languid blondes, very beautifully
dressed, and very dainty. They trifed
elegantly with their knives and forks.
and carried on airy summer morning
firtations with two gentlemen, who
were each dark, and, like, the ladies',
dressed with care little too exquisite.
The third lady, Miss Huntingdon, was a
little person, with soft, pleasant, viva
cious manners, in whose conversation
was always o concealed sarcasm. But
it was far too Indifferent and too good
natnred to belong to the lady of last
night. Besides, her sweet mocking
voice was as different as possible from
the deep, passionate tones that had SO
thrilled NE. And of the four gentle
men present, certainly not one at all re-
sembled the portrait I had painted for
my hero. I was puzzled, and felt sadly
guilty again. as thought Of the ring
lying all silently there in my pocket, and
carrying everywhere with it a story
which I knew and had NO right to
know.
Day followed day, and the days melted