The Republican journal., 1876-06-15

one who could narrate facts
One day she upbraided Inc for my want
of confidence, but really had nothing to
tell, until at last bethought myself of the
story of the ring.
GLOW very curious y cried Miss Hunt.
ingdon, when l had ended, her brown
eyes opened wide. ''Do lei me see it.
shall certainly know it if have ever seen
it before"
So | took it from the case where it lay
glittering, and put it into her hands. And
1T was with a strange foolish pang that
saw her examine it, and heard her chatter
concerning it. She looked at it with IN
feigned interest
1T is really beautiful she said, ''and
most uncommon. No. there is rot one
among my acquaintances that have ever
seen wear such ring 1t is the oldest
thing And it all happened the evening
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 / concealed as
well as was able, ''will you answer me
a question truthfully?'
ANY question that a friend should ask,
/ will answer truthfnilv" 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 frank
ly N the eyes.
'Iruthfully, it was not l."
| "Thank you-oh, thank you =
Why did | furtively kiss the ring
Why, if she had said Yes" would |, in
turn, have thrown it passionately away !?
All the reader guesses.
1t was perhaps fortnight after that
that / sat alone at my window watching
the sun set beyond the hills. white with
snow. but seeing it as one sees in q
dream. All my thoughts were wander
ing toward a happy hour last evening,
when Dr. Richardson had asked me to be
his wife
From thence the days fled by like a
short-that was all had to Complain of !;
and they coo rapidly brought near a day
that l longed for and yet dreaded. And
it is Il sad confession-for the first time
in my life | looked at myself often ia the
mirror. 1t seemed as if | had suddenly
grown almost pretty There was pink
color in my cheeks; my pale eyes had
darkened and frightened. One day =
| think how foolish II really leaned over
and kissed my own lips; it seemed so de-
| lightul to be a little handsome that felt
| grateful to the mirror
"Do not you wish | were beautiful ?n
said, one afternoon, to DR. Richardson
with a wistful longing that he should tell
me he thought me So We were standing
near the open door of the parlor, Just as
he was taking leave
"Indeed | do not he answered, frank
| ly. 81 love you just as you are"
That was pleasant, but not what | wish
ed to hear
"But do not you wish were as hand
some-as Miss Huntingdon, for iDstance?n
| | persisted Think how bright and
| laughing her brown eyes are And what
a gypsy color rises in her cheeks when
she is excited! She locks atlame some
times"
''she does indeed said DR.. Richardson.
smiling; "but | am not a salamander.
have no wish that you should resemble
| her. Miss Huntingdon is too
Too excellent for this world Y cried
that lady's laughing voice outside. She
had just entered the room, and stopped a
moment at the parlor door, Good after
noon, DIR. Richardson. Is the patient up
stairs better to-day? | am on my way to
see her. shall not take you with me,
Agnes, in order to earn DR. Richardson's 5
good opinion over again-for once he had
good opinion of me" She looked up at
dertully pretty this aiternoon-al sparkle
and glow.
There was an instant's, but only an in
stants, odd constraint in DR.. Richardson S
manner; then he said, quite gravely,
"You have not forfeited my good opin-
ion, Miss Huatingdon.'
The truth is, DR.. Richardson" said
Miss huntington, her face all lighted
with saucy, inward laughter-''the truth
is, you owe me debt Of gratitude deeper
than you ever can repay. Tell me now
| frankly, if it were not for me, would
you be at this moment the happy man
| you are?n
"Frankly, would not"
Dr. Richardson was very serious, Even
Miss Huntingdon seemed to veil some
feeling under her gay manner. l was
troubled.
"NNhy do you two talk in riddles ?n
asked, ''Do not you both know that |
have no talent for guessing?"
AT least you shall not cultivate it Just
now, dear" said Miss Huntingdon. "Dr
Richardson will tell you when | am gone
must 60 to your aunt 1t does her good
to scold me-" She turned away and NOV
ed step or two, and then looked back
with changed face, agnes" she said,
wistfully. would you mind kissing me ?"
"Mind kissing you? What question ,
But You are not going away Immediate
ly?"
ooh, l don't know Perhaps | had bet
ter bid you good-by now" She kissed me
twice. Good by % she said Absolutely
the spark in her eyes was quenched in
dew "Agnes,' she said, with an odd
sort of hall-laughing seriousness, elf you
should ever come to think that Ananias
was a moral character in comparison
with myself, it would be impossible for
you to love me any more, would it not?
But let me assure you, my dear, that
some stories are told with the best posi-
ble intentions"
Then she left US.
'What can she mean, dear?' | asked.
turning in wonder to DR.. Richardson.
He led me to the chair had quilted,
and placing me there again, stood before
me.
agnes, she means me to confess to you
something that you need never have
known. And yet, perhaps, it is better
that you should. She means that once
loved her"
He went on talking for a few minutes,
but | do not know what he said. My
hands were cold, and objects before my
eyes were blurred She had deceived me.
1t was to her and to him l had listened
that evening so long ago. He had loved
her. |, who heard him declare it. knew
the depth of sincerity in the voice that
told her so. Had he sought my love only
as solace for the wound that she had in
tlicted? Friend and lover-were both to
fail me?
Have you nothing to say. Agnes?
Why do you not answer me ?"
"Wait for me one moment" | replied,
hearing my voice but hardly recOunizinU