Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-04-12
A Turquoise Ring.

sat PLAYING at building block-houses
with her two little charges, Artie, aged
nine, and Louis, aged seven. She was
only eighteen herself-a tiny girl for
that age, with a sweet baby face, and
evidently so much of a child that it
seemed perfectly natural to see her with
Younger children, and as much inter
ested in their childish games as them
selves. A most efficient nursery gov
erness Mrs. Langley found her, as she
gave the children their reading and
spelling lessons daily, and played with
them at addition and subtraction in a
way TO make the horrors of arithmetic
quite fascinating, She slept in their
room at night, dressed them in the
morning, and romped with them all
day, as well as kept gentle surveil-
lance over them AT the table, where she
always sat with the family, except on
grand company occasions, when she
disappeared with them into small
temporary salon a mdnger, where they
three dined together, enjoying these
meals most of any. -
As Nelly Langley told her cousin
Edward, with a laugh, she was not
even called upon to play the part OF
elder sister except when she was in the
humor. Ii was a perfect comfort TO
have a girl like Hattie. She took all
responsibility about the children of
ones mind.
Cousin Edward laughed, too, when
she said it; but perhaps it occurred TO
him that a little responsibility about the
children now and then would do Nelly
good, while a little less might occa-
sionally relieve Miss Thorpe, for Artie
and Louis, though cherubs i'm a general
way, were not always angels. But he
felt no disposition to argue the point
with the handsome, brilliant girl, who
always received him with smiles, de-
ferred TO his opinions, played her best
music for him i'm her finest style, and
showed in her whole manner that she
considered her cousin Edward the choice
specimen of manhood in the universe.
Mr.. Edward Montague was wealthy
Young man, and, indeed, the great catch
of the set in which Miss Langley was a
bright particular star; and that ambi-
tious Young lady was a credit to her
mammals bringing up, and left nothing
undone to captiyate the heir of the
family; besides which she greatly ad-
mired her cousin, and was as deeply In
love with him as any society young
lady permits herself to be before mar
riage or positive engagement warrants
an extravagant amount of feeling.
The cousins smiled at each other as
their eyes met, after minutes's survey
of the three children playing block
houses. Nelly put out her hand as II
inspired TO assist at the game; and then,
catching sight of her slender forefnger,
she uttered an explanation
''Oh, my ring my lovely ring, Cou-
sin Edward, that you gave me!"4 80 II
sHave you lost it2'' the gentleman
enquired, languidly.
"I hope not this time. 1t has been
mislaid so often, and turned up again.
But shall lose it some time, know.
I'm unfortunate about it. You see, on
account of the pearls, take it of every
time L wash my hands, and then Tor
get to put it on again."
"Pooh, 1t isn't lost, Nelly. Send
Miss Thorpe to see if you have left 1t on
your dressing-table."
Miss Thorpe didn't wait to be sent,
but ran away at once TO look for the
missing trinket. Ii wss lovely, and
MANY a time little Hattie had looked on
it with almost covetous glances, long
ing for such ring to wear on her own
pretty finger. She returned from her
quest in a few minutes, looking dis
appointed, and saying she couldn't find
it any where
.sYou couldn't have half looked" the
young lady declared, impatiently, "be-
cause know / left it on the dressing
table. remember quite well now, and
so must you, Hattie. 1t was just before
dinner, and you were there, because
you dressed my hair. Go again, Hattie,
and look on the window-sill; it's just
possible might have laid it there
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-everywhere; but
not vestige of the turquoise ring could
she find. -r--
open, did you notice?" = -
.sYes, Miss Helen, the window was
"Tben it NAV have fallen out. Come
with me, Edward, and we will look,
and the pair went out together:
Mr.. Montague and Miss Langley saun'
tered round the house, anu iooAec ~
the grass under her window, but with.
out success; and then they pluckeo
roses, and piayfully pelted each Other
with them, and very soon forgot all
about what they came out for, and pro
ceeded to fiirt and make love in non
commitaI but delightful style, after the
most approved fashion made and pro
vided 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 70 the contem'
plation of such an idea by Helen re,
marking that the dew was falling, aho
she dare not remain out any longer:
"And haven't found my ring! They
call turquoise lucky stone; I'm sure
I've had the wrong kind Of luck with
that one. Who could have taken IL!
knOio / left it ON the dressing-table'
Some one has stolen it"
4 m