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

A TURQUOIS RING.
HATTIE THORPE, the nursery govern
ess, 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 sweet baby-face, and evident
ly so much of a child that it seemed per-
fectly natural to see her with younger
children, and as much interested in their
childish games as themselves. A most
efficient nursery governess Mrs. Langley
found her, as she gave the children their
reading and spelling lessons daily, and
played with them at addition and sub.
traction 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,
as well as kept gentle surveillance 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 q man
ger, were they three dined together, en-
joying these meals most of any.
AS Nelly Langley told her cousin Ed
ward, with laugh, she was not even
called upon to play the part of elder sister
except when she was in the humor. 1t
was perfect comfort to have girl like
Hattie. She took all responsibility about
the children off ones mind.
Cousin Edward laughed, too when she
said it; but perhaps it occurred to him
that title responsibility about the chill
dren now and then would do Nelly good,
while little less might occasionally re-
lievc Miss Thorpe, for Artie and Louis,
though cherubs in a general way, were
,fNt nj ralc Ia ~ In falt
sition to argue the point with the hand.
some, brilliant girl, who always received
him with smiles, deferred to his opinions,
played her best music for him in her fin
| est style, and showed in her whole man.
ner that she considered her cousin Ed
ward the choice specimen of manhood in
the universe. Mr.. Edward Montague was
a wealthy young man, and, indeed, the
| great catch of the set in which Miss Lang
| ley was bright particular star; and that
ambitious young lady was credit to her
mammals bringing up, and left nothing
undone TO captivate the heir of the family
besides which she greatly admired her
cousin, and was us deeply in love with
| him as any society young lady permits
herself to be before marriage or positive
| engagement warrants an eXtravagant
amount of feeling.
The cousins smiled at each other as
their eyes met, after minutes survey OF
the three children playing block houses.
Nelly put out her hand as if inspired to
assist at the game; and then, catching
sight of her slender fOretinger, she uttered
an exclamation.
"Oh, my ring!-my lovely ring, Cousin
Edward, that you gave me!'
Have you lost ityn the gentleman in
quired, languidly
4" l hope not this time. Ithas been mis-
laid so often, and turned up again. Bu
shall lose it some time, | know. I'm
unfortunate about it. You see, on accoun
of the pearls, l take it off every time
wash my hands, and then | forget to pu
it on again"
Pooh! 1t isn't lost, Nelly. Send Miss
Thorpe to see if you have left it on you
dressing table"
Miss Thorpe didn't wait to be sent, bu
ran away at once TO look for the missing
trinket. 1t was lovely ring, and many
a time little Hattie had looks ON il witt
almost covetous glances, longing for sucl
a ring tO wear on her own pretty finger
She returned from her quest in few MN
utes, looking disappointed, and saying
she couldn't find it any where.
You couldn't have half looked" tn,
young lady declared, impatiently, "be
cause | know | left it ON the dressing
table. l remember quite well now, ant
so must you, Hattie. 1t was just befOr
dinner, and you were there, because yol
dressed my hair. Go again, Hattie, am
look on.the window-sll; it's just possib
| might have laid it there"
Hattie went, and was gone long time
/ but she came back looking more disap
, pointed than before. She had looked o
! the dressing table, ON the bureau, benin
the bureau, on the floor, on the window
sill-every where; but not yestige of til
turquois ring could she find.
i "How provoking! Was the windo'
{ open, did you noticey"
Yes, Miss Helen, the window wa
Q open"
Then il may have fallen out. Com
y with me, Edward, and we will look
; and tine pair went out together, Will
Hattie and the boys resumed their emplol
s ment.
= Mr.. Montague and Miss Langley saul
d tered round the house, and looked in Il
a grass under her window, but without su,
: cess; and then they plucked roses, an
Il playfully pelted each other with then
!. and very soon forgot all about what the
o came out for, and proceeded 10 tiirt an
o make love in non-committal but deligh
Q ful style, after the most approved fashiC
made and provided for such cases.
The new moon was glittering like
silver sickle in the sky before they thoug
9 of returning to the house; and they we
. brought back to the contemplation of sue
a an idea by Helen remarking that the de
4 was falling, and she dare not remain OF
II any longer.
"a "And haven't found my ring The
v call turquois lucky stone: I'm sure I'N
3 . had the wrong kind of luck with that on
e Who could have taken itY kiiOtO left
|. on the dressing table. Some one III
Il stolen it,"
!, "Oh, nonsense, Nell; and never min
!, anyway. I'll get you another, and
|. prettier one, without pearls on it, al
:. then you won't have to remove il all Il
n time"
n Once or twice that evening, and aga
d the next day, Miss Langley spoke of h
!. missing ring; the servants were inter-
Ie gated mamma was complained to; Art
,e and Louis were ordered TO divulge
n hiding.place, if, in the spirit of practic
r Joking which those young gentlemt
I, often INDUCED in, they had secreted
lie but questions, complaints, threats, we
,e all in vain; the turquois was gone
q. much as if Jessica had exchanged il I
u second monkey.
Something over week had pass
/. away, and Edward Montague, in order
redeem his promise TO his cousin, had II