The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1876-06-01

spoken until last night, and l had
been somewhat troubled that lie did
not do so, for I could not help doubt
ing sometimes whether he really
cared for me as l cared for him, and
knew il would break my heart II he
should go and marry another now.
Girls in books always 90 on through
| their courtships with the most de-
Flightful Inconsistencies, and never
dream that they are in love until they
are asked, and then the knowledge
/ that they are fsthoms deep in this
biissfui state comes 10 them like
magic and they fall into their lovers
arms as easily as If that had always
been their abiding place. But some
way the girls in Plumlield are differ
emf, and when Tom singled me out
/ from all the rest, and went home
with me from church and the singing
school, ard came to our house nearly
every evening in the week when he
was on shore, and made soft little
speeches to me, supposed he would
ask me me to marry him some day,
and knew that loved him with all
my heart.
/ forgot the dinner, ministers and
everything and everybody but Tom
for as many as fifteen blessed min
| utes then il suddenly occurred to
! me that il was high time that the
corn was on the fire, and it was still
rustliDg on its stalk in the bacK field.
! So, witEoEt removing the ring, / hur-
ried out OF doors, and succeeded in
| finding q number of ears that were
large .nOugh, though felt inside the
husks Of whole rows OF those that
were Just beginning to show their tiny,
milky kernels. Tae dinner was alto
ge.her a success, and the ministers
seemed likely to be well fortified for
| their afternoons work. Mr.. HibbaTd
grew almost jOcOse over ii, and Uncle
Reuben's wife, who came from the
city, and who is dreadlully particular,
praised everything, until mothers
face was glowing with satisfaction.
Something had happened TO me
which came near wrecking my hap
pinesg forever. Tue ring was miss
ing from my finger. In my hurry
and hustle / did not think u it, or
know that it was gone, until | came
to wash the dishes after dinner. Then
it suddenly flashed into my mind
thai jewels like that would not bear
WettIng, and wondered how l could
have been such an idiot as to wear
it under mothers very nOse-she
knew nothing of the step yet-Rnd {
why Sam, my wide-awake, small
brother, bad not remarked upon it in
h is usual striking manner. Then, to
my horror and amaZement | found I
my finger bare, aLS the ring nowhere {
to be found. 1t had been a little
loose, but it did not seem nearly en- |
Ough so as to slip off of its own ac-
cord. ran up stairs and looked IN :
the case to see If might have absent
mindedly put it away; but nc, it was
not there. ] must have lost il in the
cornfeld and leaving everything as
it was. / rushed out there searching
frantically under and between every
stalk that came in my way, but with
out success. The dish-water grew
cold, the dinner table stood in the
middle OF the floor and mother was
calling me at the top of her voice,
without gaining any reply. At last
master Sam appeared in the cOrndeld,
having caught glimpse of nay pink
dress in the distance, He was always
jealous in bringing offenders to jus
tice.
"My gracious won't you get q
scolding when you go into the house
Mothers dreadfully mortified at hav-
ing things left so and Aunt Jane Of
fering to wash up the dishes. Mr..
Hibbard couldn't get any Shawn
water either, and is going to preach
this afternoon with his beard grown
awful. Amt you ashamed 'er yer I
self ."
80, Sam ~ L gAsped, "pve lost
something, pve lost my ring, and if
you'll find it pll give you anything
I've got-anYthing in the world"
"Lost the gold ring grandma gave
you o, my ~ said Sam, 'and will
you give me dollar and your new
pocket-book, if find it ?''
ayes, yes, anything" I said.
"Well, what If don't find it; I've
got 20 be paid for hunting"
l succeeded in satisfying him on
this point, and left him searching
with great zeal, while crept forlornly
into the house to do up my work. An
ncur passed away, and Sam appeared
without the ring.
That's no place TO look for any
thing, he remarked. "The ground is
so soft 'twOuld sink right into il il it
dropped"
L felt the wisdom of his remarks
aud could not help bursting into tears.
| Tne ring was gone forever, l should
never find it, and what would Tom
say to see nv finger bare tonight q?
There was no way that could make
him acquainted with the loss before
hand. had no idea where he could
| be found, and it was very unlikely !
should find chance to speak to him
at the social. Cousin Mary Ann. who
was visiting at our house, stuck to
my side continually when she wasn't
st meeting, and there was no getting
! rid of Sam, either at home or abroad
Then Tom was q very quick, sensitive
| fellow. He wouldn't wait fJr . single
word of explanation IL he found that
I did not honor his gift, but be of
before could give him an fmploring
| glance. / wonder il it wouldn't be
best not to go to the s0cisl st all. |
/ could have q headache, and to go to
bed and cry to my hearts content all
the whole wretcded evening. But
no, I could not miss seeing Tom when
/ he was going away Tomorrow and
might never see him again, | would
go and brave the worst with what
courage / might. But it seemed as if
night would never come, though
goodness knows l was obliged ID be
| busy enough 20 make the moments
fly fast; and what supper the COM
pany had set before them on account
of nv grief The toast was burnt to
q cinder, the tea was boiled until il
vas black as lex and tasted like
| herbs, the cUstards were thin like
whey, and TON Hoods "endiess meal |
Of brick" that our school-master used
| 10 read about last winter, was light /
! diet compared To the biscuits The 4
minister's faces were longer than they |
ever were in vestry meeting Aunt I
James cough was ominOus, cousin |
Mary Ann giggled, sam indulged in |
uncOmpiimentary remarks, and moth !
er looked Just on the verge of despair. !
But what did care if all the suppers |
in ehristendom were spoiled? I had !
lost Toms ring, land lie was spoiled
as we'll.
"But at last TIE gaudy, bsbbling
and remorsefnl day ereOt into the
bosom of the sea,n aad at 8 o'clock
undid my eTimps and went With the
rest over to Uncle Ethan's. didn't
expect to have very good time there
at best, for few young people cared u
90 where there were gn many minls-
ters, and there would be nothing to do
I but sit round the room, ssd remark
, to the person next TO you, "Wiat de-
, lghtful weather we are having" or,
"Wbat interesting meetings" It
Tenn hadn't been going to be there !
should hare staged away, but | ftAt-
tered myself that ne would have re-
, manned away also but for the pleasure
7 of seeing me, though Uncle Eshan's
wife was bis aunt.
J But when 1 entered the best room,
, where the company was assembled,
? the first person I saw was this love Of
I nine. who lnoked into my face with
4 a half confident, half anxious express
. sion, then glanced esgerly, towards
: my hand, which / kept hidden on
[ purpose. Mr.. Hibbard sat down at
+ nv side, and addressed me with en-
d l.air of solemn devotion. Tom COM
D men eed to be very sweet on Lucy
Shelby, Who was always hanging
? about him with heF lilsis air sud
e graces.
e grew 90 vexed that 1 forgot all
IL ii, II