Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1876-08-10

same white fluffy stuff that made her hands
look so pretty-and the purple stone In her
ring shot and sparkled as they few to and
fro. A sudden thought struck me as
watched the nimble fingers, and the CLEAN
OF the amethyst In the freight. A rascally
mean thought it was. but was in a des-
perate condition. The week of grace was
nearly ended, and had raised, BY dint oI
actual beggary, the sum of $40. had
written imploring letters to my relations, I
had dunned to distraction everybody tha,
owed me cent; had gone on my knees,
pretty nearly,to everybody knew that had
a cent to lend; and the sum total Of my
scrapings was $40.
II was not to be expected that Mr.. Black
lock would except any such half payment
as that. lie was known for . hard man,
and II was great deal for him to give me
the chance at all. knew what | had to
nams to lo6R iR'a for aGotfsf dsSflsr. II G8as
know. ! can only say to excuse my mean
ness, that | was desperate and the sight
OF that ring flashing In the freight made
me think of the money paid for it-more
than that, made me wonder If l couldn't
contrive to turn it into money again. And.
just as the thought was passing through
my mind, Molly gave little quick jerk at
Il I
her woodland the ring flew or her finger
There" she cried. as it tinkled down on
the hearthstone: That's the third time to-
day my ring has dropped off. Something
is going to happen. Jack. and know it.
Something is always happening ,ain't 1t 2
said |. The rings too big tor your ridic-
ulous little finger; that's what's the mat
ter.
That isn't my fault she answered, de-
murely. 1t wasn't that bought it.
We'll, it's got to be fixed, or else you'll
lose it some day. I'll take 1t back to the
jewellers. and make him put little band
inside. You can spare il for a DAY or two,
can't you?
'Well--yes. if you're sure he won't sroil
IL, aud il you'll be very careful not to lose
IL, Jack
Don't you be bit alarmed And
stole kiss from the pretty, saucy lips that
pretended TO pout at me. III lose it I'll
get you another
But | don't want another-another
wouldn't be the the same thing at all, she
sail.
All right, then, won't lose it.
And didn't intend to, If | could help il.
only meant to make her believe | bad,
poor little Molly after had sold it TO pay
my debt. | was the first customer at that
Broadway jewellers next morning. and
the clerk who had sold me the ring came
forward, polite enough, wanting to know
what he could show me. lie changed his
tune when told him | hadn't come To buy
but to sell. Lord. what difference it
makes, don't itl You go TO buy thing,
aud how it Is cracked up tor the most per-
feet thing in all creation, Take il back to
the same place aad try to sell it,and you're
made TO feel that 1t and you too, are mean
cr than dirt.
Twenty five dollars you paid for this
ringE says the clerk, picking it up as II il
were beneath hi, notice. oh, yes, dare
say. But prices have come down since
then. 1t wouldn't be worth anything like
that now, you know, even if it wasn't sec
ond hand.
Second iiddlestick = said |, in a rage.
tie ring was bought week ago, aud the
store shine amt oil it. You can see that
as well as can
But i, is marked, and that's enough t.
make it good for nothing. even il it hadn t
been used at all
Pretty jeweller you are, If YOU can't
scratch out couple OF letters | sneered
ut him. Il know what you are up to; but
let's make an end of 1t. hats the high
est figure ysu'll put upon it,'
We'll, we don't want it all, you know,
but, since you're anxious to sell, I'll see
what Mr.. So-and-so says
And Mr. So-snd-so, after two or three
minutes whispering, Was good enough to
offer me s. for the article had paid him
S25 for little more than week ago. I'm
glad to remember that | told him I'd see
him hanged first; ana walked out of the
store with Molly's rim. safe in my pocket
a. ain.
No use TO try my luck with it anywhere
else, 50 ! went down To the office and
pitched into work with all my might. Any
thing to keep from thinking. At lunch
time Higginson and | went out together !;
and with a kind OF forlorn hope-Higgin-
son being kind-hearted fellow-I told
him that | was in scrape, and wanted
somebody, awfully, 10 help me out of it. |
hadn't said word before 10 any of he
fellows in the office partly because knew
how poor they al! were, and more because
dreaded rousIag any curiosity that might
end III suspicion. Joe HoXie had such "A
nose To scent out things, aud he was eter-
nally gabblims about that check anyhow,
and betting On Blackjack. But ul.gInson
WAS different, and | knew he would hold
his tongue At least, If he couldn't help me.
50 told him trumped-up story-thA'
my laudlady was down on me for boad
locked u'e out of my room and
my traps. | couldn't .ct 80
much clean shirt or n handkerchief un-
less paid her up, and what in thunder was
going TO dog
Higginson whstled.
That's rough, amt it2' he says. How
much do you owe the Old hag?
Over hundred dollars-bad luck to
her.
'whewl That is rough he says, again.
1T it wasn't such figser now
oh, welln | Interrupted. Shed take
on account, | s'pose. | don
believe she'd hold out for the lump. If
could raise thirty or forty to quiet her for
a week or two, there might be some chance
Of salaries coming in by that time
So there might said Higginson, 'and
then again there mightn't. I'll tell you
the Ouly way | know OF to help you, Jack,
and it's mere chance at that. Tom Lip
pincott owes me some money-not as much
as hundred dollars, though-and he
promised TO pay II as soon as he came
back from Philadelphia. He's an agent
tor Block & Gilsey, and heard to day
hat ne vas due In town Tomorrow. Ii he
comes aud if he pays me, I'll divide with
you, old fellow. How's that for high!'
IL was enough to make me give his hand
such a squeeze that he jumped and wrung
IL away from me.
Don't put mans knuckies out of joint
because he's trying to do yOn a good turn!
he said, laughing. Have a glass Of lager,
and let's drink to Toms safe return
Never did drink to anything with such
a good will as that. To-day was Friday,
to morrow was Saturday, my dreaded day
Of payment. If only Tom LiPpincott came
back IN time!
don't know now got through the rest
Of the day and round till noon Saturday.
went of to look tor his mau
thOn, and waited tor him at Crook &
Fox's, in a perfect fever OF hope and fear
first one thing. then another. 1t was ruin
If he didn't come, knew. but it was too
good luck. altogether, for me. If he did,
Still, il he only did. and got out of thi.
scrape how l would toe the mark in future
do Justly, love mercy. walk hambly before
the Lord!
1t was no use, all my vOwing and prom
Using. Higgingson came back with long
face. Lippincott hadn't arrived.and it was
uncertain ii he would come by an evening
train, or stay over till Monday.
Pm sorry for you Jack he said, kindly
.Bnt don't let il worry you, old fellow
Came home with me and sfav over Sunday