The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-03-24


the young lady declared, inioatiently,
:. because know left il on the dress
ing-table. remember quite well now
and so must you. Hattie. IL was just
before dinner, and you were there, be,
cause you dressed my hair. Go again,
Hattie, and look on the window-sill. IL,
just possible might have laid il there. y
Hattie went. and was gone long
time; but she came back looking more
disappointed than before. She had
looked on the dressing-table. on the
bureau, behind the bureau on the floor,
on the window sill--everyw here; but
not a vestige Of the turquois ring could
she find.
How provoking, Was the window
open, did YOU notice."
Z" Yes, Miss Helen, the window was
open"
Then il may have fallen out. Come
with me, Edward, and we will look y
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 her window, but
without 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 10 fiirt and make love in non
committal but delightful style, after the
most approved fashion made and pro
vided in such cases.
The new moon was glittering like a
silver sickle in the sky before they
thought of returning To the house; and
they were brought back 10 the eonte m
plation Of such an idea by Helen re-
marking that the dew was falling, and
she dare not remain out any longer.
"And / 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
il? knoC left il on the dressing-ta-
BILE. Some one has stolen it,
"Oh, nonsense, Nell: and never
mind, anyway. Ill get YOU another, and
= prettier one, without pearls on it, and
then you won't have 10 remove il all
the time
Once or twice that evening, and
again the next day, Miss Langley spoke
of her missing ring; the servants were
interrogated; mamma was complained
to; Artie and Louis were ordered to di-
vulge it hiding place, if. in the spirit Of
practical joking which those young
gentlemen often INDUCED in. they had
secreted il; but questions, complaints,
threats, were all in vain: the turquois
was gone as much As If Jessica had ex-
changed il for q second monkey.
Something over a week had passed
away, and Edward Montague. in order
To redeem his promise 10 his cousin,
had run up 10 town. and was returning
in the late evening. carrying in his
breast pocket small velvet case, inside
Of which reposed lovely iurquois ring,
having on ii Helen's initial in tiny dia-
monds. II was such lovely ring that
the salesman at Titfany's had smiled
and given Edward a knowing look. as
If 70 intimate that he knew il was in
an engagement ring: and Ed
ward, smiling to himself as he walked
up the garden path round BIZ the sum-
mer-h0uSe and toward the side door,
half determined 10 ask his cousin, as he
slipped il on her finger, to wear it there
in token Of promise TO give him not
only that finger, but her whole hand
and heart. As be passed BY the sum-
mer-house the sound of smothered
from within smote upon his
Ear. Could il be Helen? He rushed in,
md nearly stumbled over little black
bundle Of something that crouched on
he floor, with its head bent over its
arms, crying and sobbing in q perfect
tempest Of tears.
Edward nearly fell, and did, in fact,
80 that he caught the crouch
ny bundle Of black, and as he steadied
himself he also picked it up and set ii
IN its feet. And then, with the noon
light shining on its little flushed, tear
vet face, and its luxuriant brown hair
III hanging about its shoulders, It
proved to be poor little Hattie Thorpe.
miss Thorpe, Why, I'm so sorry,
: any thing the matters'' Edward ask
"a, gently, fearing some misfortune 20
he girl, or that she had lost some rela-
i've; for he was not aware that the lit
lie governess was fatherless and mother
ess, and without ablood-relation in the
vide world.
Hattie's tears and sobs redoubled: she
placed her two hands before her face,
md sank down on a seat in an attitude
# shame and despair.
Edward was the tenderest-hearted OF
and felt infinitely grieved at
such a spectacle Of grief lie sat down
beside her, and drew the little hands
away from her face.
'sDo tell me what is the trouble he
said, kindly.
sob, Mr.. Edward sobbed the poor
child, :. how can | say il? Miss Helen
kinks | have stolen her turquois ring"
Impossible!'' exclaimed Edward,
shocked.
"Oh. yes, sir. Thank You, sir. II Il