Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1877-07-07
The Lost Sapphire.

phire ring. She had been out walking with
I him one afternoon, and on returning home she
observed parcel of new music that had just
arrived for her. Sitting down to the piano,
she played over several Of the pieces, chatting
occasionally as she did so with her mother and
sisters, who were at work in the drawing-room
Soon afterwards they all went up stairs to
dress for dinner, and owing to the time that
had been spent over the new music, were
rather hurried in their movements, as 1t was
close on the dinner-hour. The bell sounded
almost before the young lady was ready, and
hastily finishing her toilet, she ran down to
Join the circle in the drawng.room. Proceed
ing 10 the dning-room, she found that she had
neglected to put on her rings, aud calling one
Of the servants, she desired him to tell her
maid that she would find them lying on the
wash-haud stand, as she had laid them there
before washing her hands. The man quilted
the room, and returned in few minutes, car
rying the rings on a small salver. The young
lady took them up, glanced at them and said ;
There ought to be one more-my sapphire
ring. Please so back to Smith and ask her to
look for it"
He went, iras absent rather longer this time,
aud on his return Informed his young mistress
that no other ring was to be seen.
"Oh, it must be there, said the young
lady. a laid them all down together. How
ever, I'll go and look myself after dinner"
She did so, and her sisters with her; but no
sapphire ring rewarded their search and the
young lady became very much distressed, not
only on account Of the value Of tie ring, but
Because it was a present from her lover, and n
family jewel very much prizod by him. The
ring ,ras there and must be found, =" she said
very decidedly; and once more they all prose
cuted a totally unayaiiing search.
Matters began TO look serious. The young
ladys mother appeared on the scene, and
locke and spoke very sravcly upon the sub
iect. The lady's maids character was unim-
peacbable she had been more than ten years
in tic family, and was thoroughly trusted
servant. She declared solemlly that on re-
ceying the message she went at once 10 the
wash-hand stand and found four rings lying
on it, the sapphire ring was not there, for
she knew its appearance perfectly. She did
not think Of looking more particularly for it,
as the rings were all close together; and she
handed the four she saw to the mau-seryant
Then came a very unpleasant surmise: had
any one else been in the room? Inquiry
elected the fact that young girl who had re-
GENTLY come as nder-houSemaid had entered
the room very soon after the young lady had
gone down to dinner. Suspicion pointed dis
agreeably towards her as the only person who
could possibly have taken the ring and yet
the whole family felt very much adverse TO
charge her with the theft. She was a pretty
and very respectabelooking girl; but she bad
only been week or two in the house, and
nothing was known as TO her antecedents be-
yond the circumstance Of her having been
well recommended by her previous mistress.
The mother of the family took the girl aside
privately, and told her that they feared she
Ind been tempted to steal the jewel urging
her if she had done 50, to confess ber fault and
restore the ring Immediately, and her fault
would be overlooked. In an agony Of grief
and indignation the girl warmly protested her
innocence begging that detective might be
sent for directly TO examine her boxes, re-
quest 10 which all the other domestics concur
red.
An officer was fetched and a narrow in
spection made but nothing could be seen Of
the missing ring. Suspicion still remained
attached to the unfortunate young housemaid,
who, i. was concluded, might have found
means skillfully to conceal the ring; there was
no proof against her, but the cold looks Of the
other servants were more than she could en-
dure so she threw up her situation, aud went
home with tarnisLed name aud breaking
heart.
Several days passed away, and tie young
lady was sadly distressed about her ring aud
vowed over and over again that she would
never again leave her Jewels exposed in such q
careless manner; she was now also much
yexed about the poor youog housemaid, and
blamed herself for putting temptation in her
way. It 50 happened that she had not been
out Of doors since the day Of the unfortunate
occurrence, the weather having been cold and
wet. and her occupations OBTAINING her good
deal bot bright, pleasant day appeared,
and she arranged to go out after breakfast
with one Of her sisters The maid looked ont
ber walkiug-tbings and the fair faaees dom
ned her bonnet aud sealskin jacket, aud then
took up her muG, which bad been laid on the
toilet-table beside her She drew out her
hand again directly, and with It pair Of kid
gloves, and as she put them down, Que Of them
fell rather heavily on tie table.
What's that 2" she exclaimed. Taking
up the glove, she felt a small, hard object in
side one Of the fingers deep. burning
flush dyed cheek aad brow. o he .astantly
succeeded by deathly palehess. Sinking
down ou a chair, she covered ler face with her
hands and gasped family, 30, Smith, Smith
I shall never forgive myself That poor
innocent girl-she never took my ring. It is
there :" And 50 it was caught 10 the finger
Of the kid glove, which the young lady had
,..or,esf,. 1-,,r- Of IN Lar -e,rrr from her