Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-07-26

ring IL was. presently D0ArO some
one calling far off, and not stopping to
think, l picked the ring up, and ran
back to the house, all trembling.
AT breakfast endeavored to discov-
er the hero and heroine Of last even
ing's drama. Two of the ladies were
sisters, tall, languid blondes, very beau
tifully 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 ex
quisite. The third lady, Miss Hunting
don, was little person, with soft, pleas
ant, vivacious manners, in whose con
versation was always a concealed sar
casm. But it was far too Indifferent
and too good-natured to belong to the
lady of last night Besides her sweet
knocking voice was as different as pos
sible from the deep, passionate tones
that had SO thrilled me- And of the
four gentlemen present, certainly not
one at all resembled the portrait / had
painted for my hero. / was puzzled
and felt sadly guilty again as thought
Va viz AiIS y 1IS feil ollOutIy olIOI = LII III J
pocket, and carrying everywhere with
it a story which | knew and had nc
right to know pea
Day followed day, and the days
melted gradually into weeks. When
the novelty of my position was over, il
proved not nearly so terrible as it had
seemed at first. Aunt Agnes said many
harsh things, but she did not mean
them all, and the goodness of her heart
compensated in some measure fol the
asperities of her tongue. aa scr
saw great deal of DR.. Richardson
He was more than kind. He thought
my life lonesome and joyless, and
brought me many books that / longed
for, and interested himself in little
things that happened, talking with me
often, and always leaving me happier
thar he found me.
But there was one thing that troubled
me much [ sometimes fancied-with
what unaccountable distress that in
Dr. Richardson I had discovered the
owner of the ring. Certain tones of his
voice pierced me like a sudden pain,
they carried me back so wildly to that
unfortunate hour in the dim little al
cove. Yet when I looked into his face
again, and into his eyes, so content, SO
frankly happy, this imagination melt
ed into sweeter dream. But it re-
turned again and again, and always
with deeper pain.
The visitors I found on my arrival
were long since gone. Miss Huntingdon
lived in the neighborhood; and it would
perhaps be proper to say that we were
become quite intimate, had not all the
talk and revelation been on her side. /,
for my part, had had no adventures,
and it seemed to me not interesting to
offer theories to one who could narrate
facts H.g
One day she upbraided me for my
want of COL fdence, but I really had
nothing to tell, until at last 1 bethought
myself of the story of the ring. aal
"How very curious!" cried Miss
Huntingdon when [ had ended, her
brown eyes opened vide. Do let me
see it. l shall certainly know it if Ihave
ever seen it before"
So took it from the case where it
lay glittering, and put it inc her hands.
And it was with a strange, foolish pang
that [ saw her examine it, and heard her
chatter concerning it. She looked at ii
with unfeigned interest.
1t is really beautiful" she said
"and most uncommon. No, there is not
one among my acquaintance that have
ever seen wear such ring It is the odd.
est thing! And it all happened the even.
ing you arrived ?"
She had turned quite away from me,
and was looking out of the window. ]
could not see her face at all.
"Miss Huntingdon" said, gravely
with an emotion which I concealed as
well as [ was able, "will you answer me
question truthfully p
"Any question that a friend should
ask, [ will answer truthfully." She did
not turn toward me as she spoke.
"Well, then, was it not you yourself
who threw this ring away?"
Now she did turn, and looked me
frankly in the eyes.
Truthfully, it was not I. Iga.
Thank you-oh, thank you p
Why, did furtively kiss the ring
Why, if she had said EYES," would I,
in turn. have thrown it passionately
away? All the reader guesses.
1t was perhaps fortnight after that
sat alone at my window watching the
sun set beyond the hills, white with
snow, but seeing it as one sees in a
dream. All my thoughts were wan
dering toward a happy hour last even
ing, when DR.. Richardson had ask ed me
to be his wife.
From thence the days fed by like a
dream. They were SO happy, but so
short-that was all 1 had to complain
off and they too rapidly brought near
day that longed for and yet dreaded.
Audit is a sad nfession-for the
first time in my life looked at myself
often in the mirror. It seemed as if I
had suddenly grown almost pretty.
There was pink color in my cheeks;
my pale eyes had darkened and bright
ened. One day-think how foolish i
I really leaned over and kissed my own
lips; it seemed SO delightful to be a lit
tie handsome that felt grateful to the
mirror.
"Do not you wish were beautiful"
[ said, one afternoon, to DR.. Richard
son, with a wistful longing that he