Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-03-10

such a lovely ring that the salesman at |
Tiilany's had smiled and given Edward |
knowing look, as II to Intimate that he |
knew it was intended rs 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,
rs he slipped II on her finger, TO wear it
there in token of promise 10 give him
not only that finger, but the 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 crouchcd on the floor,
with its head bent over its arms, cry
ing and sobbing in a perfect tempest of
tears
Edward nearly fell, and did in fact,
stumble, so that he caught the crouching
bundle of black and as he steadied him
self he also picked it up and set it on its
| feet. And then, with the moonlight shin
| ing on its little flushed tear wet face, and
| its luXuriaut brown hair all hanging about
It's shoulders, II proved to be poor little
Hattie Thorpe
Miss Thorpe! Why, I'm so sorry Is
anything the matter?" Edward asked,
| gently, fearing some misfortune to the girl,
or that she had lost some relative; for he
was not aware that the little governess was
iather,ess and motherless, 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
a spectacle of grief. He sat down beside
her, and drew the little hands away from
her face.
-" Do tell me what is the trouble" he
said, kindly.
"Oh, Mr.. Edward" sobbed the poor
child, chow can say it? Miss Helen
thinks have stolen her turquois ring.
Impossibler' exclaimed Edward,
shocked.
"Oh, yes, sir. Thank you, sir. 1t is
impossible; but she thinks So"
:" Helen can't think any thing so cruel.
| I'm sure you must be mistaken"
I'm not mistaken, sir. She said so,
plain, two or three times-that / stole
her ring because you gave 1t to her. Mr.
Edward, and that would like to steal
you, too"
Edward laughed; but warm blush
stole over his cheek. The silence be-
| SdnIC ullC dWhMdIui anu W DIcdh IL lic
said:
THAT'S worse nonsense than the 9th.
er. You wouldn't steal me either, would
youY
wouldn't steal any thing, Mr. Ed
ward, of course; and besides"
=" I'm rot worth stealing" Edward in
terrupted.
You are worth any thing" cried little
Hattie, with unnecessary tervor
g But still you wouldn't steal me o. said
Edward, laughing.
" / couldn't you know" and the large
innocent eyes were raised appealingly.
"lm not so sure of that" thought Ed
wald, unconsciously pressing the soft lit
lie hands he still held between his own.
He bent over her in gentle, protecting
way, and whispered
You are dear little thing, and I'm
sure you could do nothing in the world
butwhat Is good and sweet like yourself"
And then, what with the moonlight, which
made the girl more childlike Than ever,
and the wet eyelashes and pretty CULVER
ing mouth that trembled like baby's,
and the two faces being so close together,
Edward kissed little Hattie. and bade her
not cry any more, and he would see her
: put right in every way.
Hattie wasn't angry. He was just like
a nice big brother; but she thrilled and
trembed under his kiss, and she dreamed
all night of a fair young prince with a
beautiful turquois ring, and he could find
no finger that fitted ii till he tried it on
hers-iust like Cinderella and the little
glass slipper. Edward was as good as his
word, aud spoke to Helen very seriously
about the accusation she had made against
t Miss Thorpe; but that didn't mend mat
FgN. IInInv l,aIsn 4I,,t al.
{ had stolen the ring, and was indignant
| with her cousin for asserting the contrary.
{ A lovers quarrel was the result; and Ed.
ward kept the new ring in his pocket, and
S delayed the important question be had in.
r tended to put when presenting it.
Miss Langley had scene with mamma,
[ and insisted that the little chit of gov.
? erness, with her make believe child like
I ways, and her deceit and hypocrisy, should
4 be turned out of doors; but mamma chost
4 to take time to think about that-she knew
. she had a treasure, and she wasn't goinl
: to throw it away for the sake of mert
2 suspicion, possibly unfounded Besides
she had conscientious scruples about dis
G chargir Miss Thorpe without a charae
+. ter, and perhaps running her prospects il
:. life.
4 Mrs. Langley maintained this vrtuou
u U0us? What would you have? Are ever
d the conscientious scruples of gooC
c mother to stand in the way of her daugh
ter's advancement? Mrs. Langley verl
y; soon saw that Helen was right, and tina
J. Edward was quite too much interested il
n the little governess; and Hattie receivet
d her discharge on the following day, bein,
= permitted to finish her week, to allow he
&c the opportunity to find another roof t
shelter her poor homeless head.
" But we all know the fate of "vaultin
ambition" and even the cleverest man
IS mas do at times O'erleap discretion, an
suffer in similar way; and it happene
Ie so on this occasion. IT, as Mrs Langle
/" and Helen declared, Hattie was playing
lie deep game, these ladies threw. her "a trum
Y card and played it for her Edward foun
the little governess crying again; and thi
n- time her despair was complete, for sh
ne was thrown on the world with blemishe
c. reputation and the suspicion of theft al
I'd tached to her, The young man ovel
n, flowed Swith pity and Indignation, an
~ having been gradually falling in low
ID with the childish little creature, her pres
It. ent misery brought his feelings to a cl
IN max. He took possession of her, bad
her consider herself his promised wifi
a and with many tender assurances an
hit several kisses on the trembling lips
re vowed she should never know care c
IA trouble again. Then he put the new tul
W quois ring on her finger, and as the dis
1t mond initial was ii, little Hattie did nC
know it had been first intended to signif
~ Helen.
ie Edward was not hypocrite, but he wa
G. angry with his aunt and cousin, and so h
il went away to town and did not cOntide
as the ladies the news of his engagement
and Hattie had little inducement for col
d, fidence on her part.
a Mrs. Langley believed Edward to /
I'd really attached TO Helen, and 50 he la
he been, and was still TO certain extent
she made no effort to keep him, therefor
in feeling sure that he would soon return {
or | hio nu,n nl.nnrl and shn Nvns nniin we