The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-06-09
WESTMINSTER, MD SATURDAY, JUNE 8, 1877

were bright even when wet with tears, ant
as he wiped them away he caught sigh
Of something amongst the pebbles tina
glittered and flashed with strange bright
ness, and leaving his masters side he crep
forward and stopped with Il low cry and
caught it and hid it in his BOSOM.
80, | have found it !" he cried.
"Anl Reuben Eden, starting from hi,
bitter reverie, said
"What have you found ?"
"a little ring, sir, }" said Ching Fo.
"a ring" said Mr.. Eden. "Give it tC
me"
Pardon said Ching Fo, 81 found il
Let me keep it.
"Not if it is what | think it is," said
his master, "I will give you another, ring
or more than its value in money. But il
1t is womans ring set with a diamond
with "Ada from Reuben" engraved with
in, | must have il"
at is the ring" said the Japanese
He advanced and put it into his masters
hand.
"Ching Fo, said Reuben Eden, "you
are a good tender-hearted fellow. Let me
tell you why love this ring so well. 1t
belonged to the girl who should have been
my wife. She is dead now. / tried to
save her, but in vain. TO, | was cruel to
to her-cruel, cruel--and that was all
have left l deserve i'll deserve it"
He dropped his head passionately upon
his hands. But two smaller arms lifted it
up. A soft cheek pressed his. Lips
touched his SCARED forehead.
30, Reuben T. cried voice, full of
all tenderness of love, "you did love me
after ALL"
1t was Ching Fo who spoke-Ching Fo
who showered these kisses on the aching
eyes, and fondled and caressed Ching
Fo, and not Ching Fo.
"In heavens name speak again !" cried
Reuben, "Tell me who you are"
And though the voice only answered,
"No, no, let me 60" it was enough.
"Ada," he said, and held her fast,
"Ada, no, | will never let you 90 again.
Since you are not dead, but living; since
you have stopped to minister to me in this
disguise, you must love me. Take the
ring again-put it upon your finger. |
have made fool of myself, but God only
knows how bitterly have paid for it.
81 never meant you should find me out, l"
said she. II heard that you could scarce
ly see, and you believed me dead.
grieved for you so bitterly, and grandpa
who could not bear to come to the old
place, sent me down when he heard what
had happened. We were not in the house
when the fire broke out; we were away on
visit, and before Gretchen whose life you
had saved-was sensible enough to tell
people that, her friends had taken her
home. When | came down here met the
little japanese, who had been sent to you
by chance, and he really looked like me,
and was much my size.
| told him you would not be kind
master, and sent him to some one knew
who has wanted servant for a long time,
and | bought two of his suits and got a
recommendation, and grandpa thinks am
visiting Jane Lorne, and o, indeed, |
meant to go away before you could guess
at the truth, my poor blind darling"
"And you must go before any one else
guesses it, said the man, with sudden
remembrance of evil tongues But you
will come back to me in your own person?
You will promise me that, Ada-you will
be my wiie2'
Ada promised. That night the Japan
ese servant disappeared.
The next day the village was astonished
by the news that Romer and his pretty
grand. daughter were alive, and long before
he was strong of limb and eyesight again
the minister had wife, over whose wed.
ding ring glistened the diamond that
Laughing-Brook had kept for two long
wears