The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1876-06-03

one else.
She stepped swiftly to the window and
threw it open. There was an instant's
silence. There was audible the rustic OF
her sleeve as she tossed something from
her with force.
IL have thrown your ring away" she
explained, with nOnchalance in extraordi.
nary contrast with her former violence.
81 threw it toward the cistern. Possibly
it has slipped through some crevice or
other and gone down into the water. /
hope so. In that case it is impossible that
the sight of it can ever again insult me
with the remembrance that have worn it,.
Permit me to wish you an exceedingly
good evening"
1t was easy to imagine the hooking rev.
erence of the courtesy she now swept him;
then she was gone. Immediately after,
and silently, he also left the apartment.
They did not go too soon, whoever they
were. A cold perspiration dampened my
forehead; really tremble6. The vehem-
ence of the feelings engaged, the certainty
felt by the actors of their complete isola-
ton, and my own innocent guilt in over
hearing, all quite overpowered me.
Half minute did not elapse after the
last sound of the gentleman's footsteps be-
fore the parlor door again opened, and a
prm little woman entered, with lamp in
her hand. She looked in all the corners,
as one might search for dropped pocket
handkerchief, and at last perceived the new
conner.
''Ah, miss have kept you waiting quite
Il time, to he sure! But your aunt took
a sudden notion to put mustard draughts
on her ankles-though DR.. Richardson had
just gone, and he never thought of ordering
them!-and have 'em she must. And |
supposed you'd be comfortable here
"Quite comfortable, thank you. The
servant said you would come presently"
"Well, you'd best have some tea before
you some. l shall try to find something
you like; though what with all these
people flying about the house that have
got no business here-this company, l
mean-I don't know whether am on my
head or feet
received the refreshments she brought
me gratefully, after which was conducted
to my aunt's room.
Consideration for the feelings of other
people was not one of the old lady's charac-
teristics, and after few dsparaging re-
marks on my personal appearance, was
dismissed for the night.
The sun was just risen next morning
when l took courage to step outside and
and look about me. The grass was very
wet with dew, but how it sparkled in that
fresh light. All at once l stopped, and
there, before me, gittering in the grass,
lay a ring. l stood like one fascinated,
gazing at it very foolishly, for / knew we'll
what ring it was. Presently heard some
one calling far off, and not stopping to
think, picked the ring up, and ran back
to the house, all trembling.
At breakfast l endeavored to discover
the hero and heroine of last evenings
drama. Two of the ladies were sisters,
tall, languid blondes, very beautifully
dressed, and very dainty, They tritled
elegantly with their knives and forks, and
carried on airy Summer morning tirtations
with two gentlemen, who were each dark,
and, like the ladies, dressed with care a
little too exquisite. The third lady, Miss
Huntingdon, was little person, with soft,
pleasant, vivacious manners, in whose con-
versation was always concealed sarcasm.
But it was far too Indifferent and too good
natured to belong to the lady Of last
night. Besides, her sweet mocking voice
was as different as possible from the deep,
passionate tones that had so thrilled me.
And of the four gentlemen present, GER
tainly not one at all resembled the portrait
| had painted for my hero. was puzzled,
and felt sadly guilty again as thought of
the ring lying all silently there in my
pocket, and carrying every where with it
story which knew and had no right to
know.
Day followed day, and the days melted
gradually into weeks. When the novelty
of my position was over, it proved not
Aunt Agnes said many harsh things, but
she did not mean them all, and the good
ness of her heart compensated in some
measure for the asl critics of her tongue.
saw great deal of DR.. Richardson.
He was more than kind. He thought my
life lonesome and joyless, and brought me
many books that l had longed for, and
interested himself in little things that
happened, talking with ME often, and
always leaving me happier than he found
me.
me much. l sometimes fancied-and with
unaccountable distress in DR.. Rich
ardson had discovered the owner of the
ring. Certain tones of his voice pierced
me like sudden pain, they carried me
back so wildly to that unfortunate hour
in the dim little alcove. Yet when l
looked into his face again, and into his
eyes, so content, so frankly happy, this
Imagination melted into sweeter dream.
But it returned again and again, and
always with deeper pain.
The visitors 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 becoming
quito intimate, had not all the talk and
revelation been on her side. l, for my
part, had had no advantages, and it
seemed to me not interesting to offer theories
to one who could narrate facts.
One day she upbraided me for my want
of confidence, but really had nothing to
tell, until at last bethought myself of the
story of the ring.
elbow very curious ~ cried Miss Hunt,
ingdon, when had ended, her brown eyes
opened wide. "Do let me see it. shall
certainly know it if l have ever seen it
before.''
So took it from the case where it lay
1litterinu and mt If in her hands And