Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-03-28

that second cousin of her own had a third
cousin living in the village where Maria was
staying. The whole story of the ring was
written to this person. who was an Idle
young man, loafing about town, and he was
commissioned to watch Maria to see If she
should wear the missing emerald on any
occasion.
Having nothing better TO do, this young
man hinted the matter about, 30 that in a
very short time it became generally known
in the village that Maria Randall had been
sent from her home ON account of her thiev-
ing propensites.
There was no end to the stories told about
her; some going so far as to say that she
had stolen registered letter from the post
office others, that she had been an accom-
nlice in bank robbery With nobody TO
contradict these cruel scandals, the old gen
teman-Maria's grandfather-and his aged
housekeeper seldom going out, IL became the
general opinion that Maria was in the habit
Of purloining small articles from the village
stores and shops It was not long before
she became painfully conscious that she was
watched whenever she went out, and one
day she received an anonymous letter, ap-
prising her of the foul reports that were
being spread against her
room for DAYS. She could not be induced
to leave it, until one cold, cheerless day in
March telegram was handed her, saying
| that her father wished her to come imme-
1iately home; then the stricken girl arose,
weak and emaciated, and fastened prepara-
tions for her return She knew that the
guarded yet tell-tale phraseology of the tele-
| gram barely concealed the fact that her
mother was very ILL., and the long, lonesome
Journey homeward was a sad one indeed.
The quick mother-love saw, the moment
her daughter had entered the sick chamber,
that the pale, careworn face mrrored some
gnawng trouble within, and presently, when
questioned, the sobbing, broken-hearted girl
vas obliged to admit that the story of the
| ring had followed her almost across the con-
'inent, and there in that far-away town
where her grandfather lived, it had been
hinted about with all its frghtful additions.
| Poor Mrs. Randall, a sweet Christian
| lady, who had all her life been a blessing to
very one about her fingered few weeks,
and one bright morning in that early spring,
Is the first arbutus buds were pouring out
| heir fragrance upon the air as they peeped
| from their snowy beds, she bade farewell to
her weeping husband aud daughter and
faithful pastor, and mounted the golden
,tair.
With her dying breath she had begged
her daughter to keep up good courage, tell
ing her that in Gods own time her inno-
>ence would be established that she needed
this discipline, or the good Father would
not have called her to bear this grievous
burden.
Maria found these to be fearfully trying
lays, although she had the rather barren
consolation of knowing that few staunch
friends stood by her. among whom were her
pastor, Mr.. Wiswall, and her dearest girl
friend, his daughter Jane.
1t was the first warm, spring-lke day in
April when Mrs. Randalps funeral took
place. People from both of the social fac
tions which the loss of that emerald tritle
had engendered turned out to attend the
,ervices, for as has been said, Mrs. Ran
dali was a lady universally beloved and re-
,pected Yet many, it cannot be denied,
we're curious to see how Maria bore herself,
one sentimental unmarried woman declar-
ing. with a sigh, that " 1t was not often one
Jaw so young girl as Maria Randall bring
The gray hairs of a mother in sorrow to the
grave"
Among these curious ones were Mrs.
Ninot and Cora. Dressed elegantly in
colors, in sad taste for funeral occasion,
hey came in their carriage, and before the
solemn services began crowded up in front,
where they could get full view OF the
stricken mourners.
At last, when the friends were gathered
in the churchvard around the open grave,
Cora, in her elegant seal-brown suit pushed
mp so closely to the mourning group that
her own friends even WINGED at her heartless
presumption.
While the arrangements for lowering the
coffin were being made, the sun came shin
ing out, and Cora Nlinot opened her brown
p silk paraso As she did so something bright
flew out, sparlled in the sun an instant, and
! hitting the coffin, reboanded and fell at the
pastors feet He quietly picked the object
mp, and said, his voice trembling with emo
! tion, " Here, think, is the emerald ring
which has caused so much i'll feeling among
| many of our friends, and brought such a
load of misery upon one poor innocent head,
: while the death of our beloved sister, whose
, mortal remains now lie before US, was doubt
less hasteued in consequence. Let us, as we
, now give thanks to God for the good ex
5 ample of this his servant, who, having fin
, ished her course in faith doth now rest from
d her labors,' also return thanks that the in
/ nocence of this dear motherless one has been
established in this most solemn and i'm
y pressive manner"
i The scene which followed those touching
t words of the pastor, and the restoration OF
:, the ring there over the open grave, battle;
, description. The modification and remorsC
l. which seized upon Cora Alinot and hel
mother, and their friends who had formed
t the Minot party" during the rise anC
I progress of the cruel scandal, can be easily
; imagined.
= Although overcome with chagrin Corr
e confessed on the spot that the last time sh'
Z had carried that parasol was on that day, il
l. the previous autumn, when she called OF
! Maria to show the emerald ring. She wei
0 remembered partly opening tue parasol a
She was about to leave, but on descending
2 the steps, feeling the air to be chilly, sh
J. had closed it again, when the ring mus
Q have slipped off her finger unobserved, AM
e lodged within the silken folds. She hat
+ fingered, chatting with Maria, and on he
# return home had put the parasol away fo
e. the winter. This occasion was the frs
J. one on which it had been used since tina
II memorable day.
Is it necessary that any words of min
e should frame moral to this simple narra
% tive of facts ?--Erdminer and Chronicle.
! Humorous Waits.
!. nNt, of tba Southern r,pars tollc of a IN a