The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-05-04

family; besides which she greatly admired
her cousin, and was as deeply in love with
him as any society young lady permits her.
self to be before marriage or positive en-
gagemant 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. Nell
~ put out her hand as if inspired to assist
at the game; aud then, catching sight Of her
slender forefnger, she uttered an exclama
ton.
"Oh, my ring! my lovely ring, Cousin
Edward, that you gave mel"
"Have you lost it?' the gentleman inQuir-
ell languidiy.
Il hope not this time. 1t has been mis-
laid so often, and turned up again. Blu.
shall lose it some time, know. I'm I'M
fortunate about it. You see. on account Of
the pearls, take it of every time l wash
my hands, and then l forget to put it on
again"
Pooh! It iss.'t lost, Nelly. SeId Miss
| Thorpe TO see il you have left it on your
| dressing table"
Miss Thorpe didn't wait to be sent, but
| ran away a: once to look for the missing
trinket. 1t was lovely, and many a time
! little Hattie had looked on it With almost
covetous glances, longing for such ring
| to wear on her own pretty fingers She re-
turned from her quest in = few minutes,
locking isappointed and saying she could
not find it any where.
| .You couldn't have half looked" the
young lady declared impatien,ly, "bec~use
know left it en- the dressing table. re-
1
Hattie. 1t was just before dinner, and you
Go, again, Hattie, and look on the window
sill; it's Just possible l might have laid ii
there"
Hattie went, and was gone long time;
but she came back looking more disappoint-
dressing table, on the bureau, behind the
everywhere; but not vestige Of the tur-
quoise ring coull she find.
"How provoking! Was the window open
did you no!icer'
''Then it may have fallen out. Come
with me, Edward, and we will lock-" and
the pair went out together.
Mr.. Montague and Miss Langley saun
tered round the house, and looked in the
grass under her window, but without sue
cess; and then they plucked roses, and play-
fully pelted each other with them, and very
soon forgot oil about what they came Out
for and proceeded to firt and make love in q
non -ccmmittal but delightful style, after
the mos, approved fashion made and provid
ell for such cases.
The new moon was glittering like . silver
sickle in the sky before they thought Of re-
turning to the houee; and they were brought
back to the contemplation OF such sn idea
Ly Helen remarking that the dew was fall
ling, and she dare not remain out any Longer
And haven't found my ring1 They cal
Turquoise lucky stone; Pm sure I've hae
the wrong kind Of luck with that one. Whs
could have taken it: know l lett it on tn'
dressing table. Some one has stolen it,
"Oh, nonsense, Nell; and never mind
anyway. II, get you another, and pres,icl
one, without pearls OH it. and then w.
won't have 10 remove it all the time
Once or twice that evening, and again th'
next day, Miss Langley spoke Of her miss
ing ring; the servants were Intercepted
mamma was complained to; AItie and Loui
we're ordered to divulse its hiding place, ii
in the spirits Of practical joking which thos
> young gentlemen often INDUCED in, the.
had secreied it; but questions, complaints
threats, we're all in vain, the turquoise wa
gone as much as il Jessica had exchanged
Tor u second monkey.
Something over a week had passed away
and Edward Montague, in order to redeea
his promise to his cousin, tad run up I
l town, and was returning late in the avensn
carrying in his breast pocket small vel
vet case, inside Of which reposed Lowell
turquoise ring having ON it He.ens init,s
: in thy diamonds. 1t was such a loyel
ring that the salesman at Tifany's h
smiled aad given Edward knowing looA
as ii 10 intimate that he knew il was intend
cd as an engagement ring; and edward
smiling to himself a. he walked up tho gaI
/ den path round by the summer-house "a
r toward the side door, half determined ;
i ASK his cousin as he slipped it on her hage
n to wear it there in token OF promise .
n give him no. only that finger. but her whol
f hana and heart. As he passed hy tie sun
o mer- house the sound OF snoihered weepia
b trom within smote painfully On his en-
+. Could it be Heleng lie rushed in, ani aea.
= " stumbled over little black bundle
9 something tins; csouehed on the aoar, wit
8 its head bent over lis arms, crying and sos
n bing, in perfect tempest Of tears.
;, kdward nearly fell aud did, in fac
q stumble, 80 that he caught the cronchiu
n bunsile Of black, and as he steadied himse
Il he also picked it up aud set it on i's fec
q Aud then. with the moonlight shinae 6
$ its little flushed, tear-wct face, ard IS Ia:
d urian. brown hair s.l hanging about j
d shoulders, it proved TO be poor little HIATT
s Thorpe.
:. Miss Thorpe! Why I'm SO sorry!
anything the mat:ers' Rlwsri asked, sen
"a ", fearing some misfortune to the girl.
N that she had lost some rclaiive;for he was
a aware that the little governess vas faths
1t less aud motherlcss, and wi.hou. q blood I
IL la,ion in the wide world
IF Hatties teArs and sohs reiosihicd; =
placed her two hands before her face. ~
be sank down on seat in sn attitude - shat
at and despair.
en- Edward was the tenaeress hearted
norsals. and felt infinitely gsiesei Il 50
iss = spectacle Of grief. Ea sal down oess
Oh her. and drew the litus bands away III
1 h,r fSA