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

its hiding place, il, in the spirit Of prac
tical joking which those young geutIe
men often indulged in, they hadsecrete
it; hut questions, complaints, threats
were NIL in vain; the turquois was
gone.
Something over n week had passed
away, and Edward Montague, in order
to redeem his promise to his cousin, haG
run up to town, and was returning ir
the late evening, carrying i'll his brtast
pocket small velvet case, inside oi
which reposed lovely turquois ring
having on it Helen's initial in tiny dia
monds. 1t was such lovely ring that
the salesman had smiled and given Ed,
ward knowing look, rs il to intimate
TINT he knew it was intended rs au en-,
gagement ring; and Edward, smiling t
himself as hs walked up the garden
path roun1 by the summer house and
toward the sidO door, half determined
to ask his cousin, rs he slippedit on her
finger, to wear it thore in token OF n
promise to give him not only that flu.
ger, but her whole hand and heart. As
he passed by the summer house the
sound Of smothered weeping from with
in smote painfully on his car. Could il
he Heleni He rushed iu, and nearly
stumbled over n little black bundle Of
something that crouched on the floor,
with his head bent over its arms, crying
and sobbiDg in q perfect tempest Of
tears.
Edward nearly fell, and did, in fact,
stumble, so that he caught the crouching
bundle OF black, and rs he steadied him.
self he also picked it up and set it on its
feet. And then, with the moonlight
shining on its little flushed, tear-wet
face, and its luxuriant brown hair all
hanging abont its shoulders, it proved
to be little Hattie Thorpe.
"AIiss Thorpcl Why, I'm SO sorry !
Is any thing the mntter?" Edward
asked, gently, fearing some misfortune
to the girl, or that she had lost some
relative for he was not aware that the
little governess was fatherless and moth.
erless, and withoutA n blood relation in
the wide world.
Hattie's tears and sobs redoublcd ;
she placed her two hands before her
face, and sunk down on q seat in an at.
titudo of shame and despair.
"Do tell me what is the trouble" he
said, kindly.
"Oh, Mr.. Edward" sobbed the poor
child, show can l say III Miss Helen
thinks l have stolen her turquois ring. "
Impossible |" exclaimed Edward,
shocked.
"Oh, yes, sir. Thank you, sir. It
is impossible, but she thinks so.
"Helen cant think anything so cruel.
I'm sure you must be mistaken. Il"
I'm not mistaken, sir. She said so,
plain, two or three times-that l stole
her ring because you gave it to her, Mr..
Edward, and that l would like to steal
You too"
Edward laughed, but warm blush
stole over his cheek. The silence be-
came q tritie awkward, aud too break it
he said:
"That's worse nonsense than the
other. You wouldn't steal ne either,
would youl"
II wouldn't steal anything, Mr.. Ed
ward, of course and besides
"I'm not worth stealing" Edward
interrupted.
"You are worth anything" cried lit
tie Hattie, with unnecessary fervor.
"But still you wouldn't steal me-"
said Edward, laughing.
~ couldn't, you know" aud the
large innocent eyes were raised appeal
ingly. .,
Tim not so sure OF that" thought
Edward, unconsciously pressing the
soft little hands lie still held between
his own. He bent over her in u gentle,
protecting way, and whispered
"You are q dear little thing, and I'm
sure you could do nothing in the world
but what is good and sweet like your
self" And then, what with the moon
light, which made the girl more child
like than ever, and the wet eyelashes
and pretty quiveriug mouth that
trembled like a baby's, and the two
faces being so close together, Edward
kissed little Hattie, and bade her not
cry any more, aud lie would see her put
right iu every way.
Hattie wasn't angry. He was Just
like nice big brother; but she thrilled
and trembled under his kiss, aud she
dreamed all night OF fair young prince
with beautiful torquois ring, aud he
could find no finger that fitted it till he
tried it on hers-iust like Cinderella and
the little glass slipper. Edward was as
good as his word, and spoke to Helen
very seriously about the accusation she
had made against Miss Thorpe; but that
didn't mend matters, for Helen really
believed that Hattie had stolen the ring,
and was very indignant with her cousin
for asserting the contrary. A lovers,
quarrel was the result, and Edward
kept the new ring in his pocket, and de-
layeI the important question he had ill.,
tended to put when presenting 1t.
Miss Langley had n scene with nam
ma, and insisted that the little chit OF a
Coyerness, with her mnke-believe child
like ways, and her deceit and hypocrisy,
ghould be turned ont Of doors; but
mamma chose to take time to think
about that-she knew she had a treasure,
and she wasn't going to throw it away
for the sake OF n mere suspicion, posi-
bly untounded. Besides, she had con
scientious scruples about dischNrgine
Miss Thorpe without character. aud
perhaps running her prospects in life,
Mrs. Langley very soon saw that
Helen was right, and that Edward wa
ouite too much interested in the little
governess; and Hattie received her dis
charge on the following day, being per
mitted 10 finish her week, to allow hel
! :. ii - H. 1;nr, abnthar rnn