The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-03-27
A TURQUOlS RING.

Hattie Thorpe, the nursery governess
sat playing at building block house;
with her two little charges, Artie, aged
nine, and Louis, agod seven. She wa'
only eighteen herself-a tiny girl fol
that age, with IN sweet face, and evident
" so much OF child that it seemed
perfectly natural to see her with younge,
children, and as much interested in
their childish games as themselves. A
most efficient nursery governoss Mrs.
Langley found her, ne she gave the chill.
dreu their reading aud spelling lessons
daily, aud played with them ut addition
and subtraction in way to make the
horrors OF arithmetic quite fascinating.
She slept in their room at night, dressed
them in the mornings, and romped with
them all day, Us well as kept a gentle
surveillance over them at tho table,
where she always sat with the family,
except on grand company occasions,
when sho disappeared with them into q
small temporary salon, where the three
dined together, enjoying these meals
most OF auy.
As Nelly Langley told her cousin Ed.
ward, with laugh, she was not even
called upon to play the part OF elder sis.
ter except whcu she was in the humor.
It was n perfect comfort to have q girl
like Hattie. She took all responsibility
about the children of ones mind.
Mr.. Edward Montague was wealthy
young man, aud, indeed, the great catch
OF the set in which Miss Langley was n
bright, particular star; aud that ambi-
tious young lady left nothing undone to
captivate the heir of the family; be.
sides which she greatly admired her
cousin, and was as deeply in love with
him as any society young lady permits
herself to be before marriage or posi-
tive engagement warrants IN extrava-
giant amount OF feeling.
Tho cousins smiled at each other rs
their eyes met, after a minutes survey
OF the three children playing block
houses. Nelly put ont her hand as il
inspired to assist at the game; and then,
catching sight OF her slender fore6nger,
she uttered an exclamation.
"Oh. my ring my lovely ring,
Cousin Edward, tnat you gave me |"
"Have you lost til" the gentleman
inquired, languidly.
II hope not this time. It has been
mislaii SO often, and tuned up again.
But l shall lose it some time, 1 know.
I'm unfortunate about it. You see, Oh
account OF the pearls, I take it of every
time I wash my hands, and then l forg I
to put il on again"
"Pooh! Ii isn't lost, Nelly. Send
Miss Thorpe to see il you have left it OH
your dressing table.
Miss Thorpe didn't wait to be sent,
but ran away at once to look for the
missing trinket. 1t was lovely ring,
md many timo little Hattie had looked
on it with almost cOvetous glanccs,
longing ior such ring to wear on her
oTu pretty finger, She returned from
her quest in few minutes, looking dis.
appointed, and saying she couldn't find
it anywhere.
"You couldn't have half looked" the
Young lady declared, impatiently, "be
cause I know I left it on the dressing
table. l remember quite well now, and
SO must you. Hattie. It was Just before
dinner, and You were there, because
you dressed my hair. Go again, Hat
tie, and look on the window sill it's
Just possible I might kave laid it
there"
Hattie went, and was gone long
time ; but she cane back looking more
disappointed than before. She had
looked on the dressing table, on the
bureau, bchind the bureau, on the floor,
on the wiudow sill-everywhere; but
not vestige OF the turquois ring could
she find.
"How provoking! Was the windoW
open. did you notice I"
ayes, Miss Helen, the window was
open"
"Thcn it must have fallen out. Come
with me, Edward, and We will look =
aud the pair went ont together, while
Hattie and the boys resumed their en-
ployment.
Mr.. Montague and Miss Langley
sauutered round the house, aud looked
in the grass under her window, but
without success and then they plucked
roses, and playfuIly reltcd each otheI
with them, and very soon forgot oil
about what they came out for, and pro
ceelel to hirt aud make love in non
committal but delightful style, after thu
most approved fashion made and pro
viled for such cases.
The new moon was glittering like
silver sickle in the sky before the.
thought of returning to the house; ans
they were brought back to the contcln
plation of such an idea by Helen re
marking that the dew was falling, AM
she dare not remain ont any longer.
"And I haven't found my ring! The
call turquois 4 lucky stone; I'm sur
I've had the wrong kind OF luck wit
that one. Who could have taken itf
know 1 left it on the dressing table
Some one has stolen it,
"Oh, nonsense, Nell; and never mint
anyway. I'll ct you another, and
prettier one, without pearls on it, 40
then you won't have to remove il a