Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1876-05-25

lore QlIUeI- anu you WptC tiiSiO, oSot"SS
| you dressed my hair. Go again, Hattie
and look on the window-sill; it's just
possible might have laid it there.
I Hattie went and was gone long
time; but she came back looking more
disappointed then before. She had
looked on the dressing-table, on the
bureau, behind the bureau, on the floor,
on the w-sill-everywhere; hut
not yestige of the turquois ring could
she find.
s'How provoking! Was the window
open, did you notice =
eyes, Miss Helen, the window was
open"
serhen it may have fallen out. Come
! with me, Edward, and we will look;
and the pair went out together, while
Hattie and the boys resumed their en-
ployment.
Mr.. Montague and Miss Langley
sauntered round the house, and looked
in the grass under window, but with
out success; and then they plucked
roses and playfully pelted each other
with them, and very soon forgot all
about what they came out for and pro
ceeded to fiirt and make love III nonA
conmittal but delightful style, after the
most approval fashion made and pro-
vlded for such cases.
The new moon was glittering like
silver sickle in the sky before they
thought of returning to the house; and
they were brought back to the contem
pla.ion of such an idea by Helen res
marking that the dew falling and she
dare no. remain out any longer
"Anl haven't found my ring! They
call turquois lucky stone; I'm sure I've
had the wrong kind of luck with that
one Who could have taken it? |
kmow l left it on the dressing table,
Some one has stolen it"
ooh, nonsense, Nell, and never mind,
anyway. III get you another, and
prettier one, without pearls on it and
then you won't have to remove it all
the time
Once OF twice that evening, and
again the next day, Miss Langley spoke
of her missing ring; the servants were
Intercepted; mamma was complained
to; Artie and Louis were ordered TO
divulge its hiding place if, in the spirit
of practical joking which these young
gentlemen often INDUCED in, they had
secreted it; bu. questions, complaints,
threats, were all in vain; the turquois
was gone as mach as if Jessica had ex~
changed it for second monkey.
Something over week had passed
away, and Edward Montague, in order
Ito redeem his promise to his cousin.
had run up to town, and was returning
in the evening, carrying in his breast
pocket a small velvet case, inside OF
which reposed lovely turquois ring,
having on it Helen's initials in tinty
diamonds. 1t was such a lovely ring
that the salesman at Titfanys had
smiled and given Edward a knowing
look, as if to intimate that he knew it
was intended as an engagement ring;
and Edward, smiling to himself as he
walked up the garden path round by
the summer-house and toward the side
door, half determined to ask his cousin,
as he slipped it on her finger, to wear
it there in token OF a promise to give
him not only that finger, but her whole
hand and heart. AS he passed by the
summer-house the sound Of smothered
weeping from within smote painfully on
his ear. Could it be Helen? He rushed
in, and nearly stumbled over little
black bundle Of something that crouch
ed on the floor, with its head bent over
its arms, crying and sobbing in per"
feet tempest of tears.
Edward nearly fell, and did, in fact,
stumble, SO that he caught the crouch"
ing bundle of black, and as he steadiea
himself he also picked it up and set it
on its feet. And then, with the moonr
light shining on its little, flushed, tears
wet face, and its luxuriant brown hair
all hanging about its shoulders, it
proved to be poor little Hattie Thorpe
"AIiss Thorpe! Why. I'm so sorry !!
Is anything the matters" Edward ask
ed, gently, fearing some misfortune to
the girl, or that she had lost some rela-
tive; for he was not aware that the little
governess was fathsrless and mother
less, and without blood relation in
the wide world.
Hattie's tears and sobs redoubled; she
placed her two hands before her face,
and sank down on seat in an attitude
of shame and despair.
| Edward was the tenderest.hearted Of
mortals. and felt infinitely grieved at
such spectacle of grief. He sat down
beside her and drew the little hands
away from her face.
s.Do tell me what is the trouble" he
said, kindly.