The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-05-02
me, think 1 shall have good news for

PiOW0usuo WG oapPcueu 70 pass
restaurant ia tho neighborhoot
whence a waiter had just issue
forth, bearing q luncheon-tray o
which, among other tempting visndl
was . dainty roast chicken. NJ
poor sister involuntarily fixed such
longing. hungry look on the food a
it passed before her that it almos
broke my heart On our return hom
l found . letter from Jodge Carleto
awaiting me. Apologizing for tn
irregular form Of his Invitation, b
said be should Be happy to see me q
. guest at dinner on the same even
ing.
As the servant announced me
Judge Carletos came toward me
and. taking me kindly by the han'
introduced me % bis wife and dsugh
ter. All were 70 kind and cordial T.
me thatin . few moments felt quit
at home. The dinner was brillian
one. l was eaGaged 10 an animated
conversation With a charming ant
very witty lady beside whom I wa
seated, when suddenly all my gayety
fled from me. I had just perceived !
splendid rorst.fowl that . domesti,
had placed there The scene of the
morning and the hungry look in ms
sisters eyes rose up before me, and
my heart was wrung By the remem
brance. The nsxt instant a portion
of the fowl wasI placed before me
In the meantim@ the lady beside me
finding | bad suddenly become taci
turn and Distant gave her attention
to my next neigt t6or, and left one to
my devices and fthe satisfaction oi
my greedy appetite. 1 made such
good use Of the liberty thus accorded
10 me that in a kw moments every
trace of food on my plate bad disap
peared. Dinners vas nearly over
when the conversation turned on q
lawsuit that my host had gained for
one Of his clienta
"Well' said the judge, laughing,
"the case is one Of my best, I'll al.
low; but my client deserves a little
mention too. Just look at the hand
some present he has sent me; and be
drew from his finger magnificent
diamond ring, and handed it for in-
spection to the lady who sal next to
him. In the midst Of the expressions
of delight and admiration, the jewel
was handed from one guest to anoth-
er round the table, and Mrs. Carleton
had just risen, and was proceeding 10
pass into the drswing-room, when
her husband exclaimed, MY dear,
haYe you my ringfD
"No, indeed; Mira NJ. returned it
to you q few minuses since.r
BLESS me. Then where can it
be ?" be said, shaking out bis napkin,
and feeling in all his pockets, one sf-
Ter the other. No one stirred from
the table, and for some minutes the
room was filed with confessed hum
Of voices and the jingling of knives
snd forks. china and glass, brought
into violent collision BY the excited
guests in their search after the miss
ing jewel Bot the search was all in
vain; the ring had actually disap-
peared
II see how it is,r said the Judge,
jokius y /; that ring must be some
wicked fairy who has maliciously
hidden herself away iu the pocket Of
one Of our number. Now / am go
ing to make proposal, if you will
and which you would utterly reject
# it came from any other quarter !;
but which you will accede to. coming
rom an eccentric individual like me-"
Explain! explain. ~ cried all the
guests in chorus.
Il propose then" continued our
host, that before we leave this
-oo.n We shall proceed to search each
other. the ladies on this side. and we
gentlemen yonder. Let all who
,bjec, hold mp their hands.
At the word search all the blood
10 my veins rushed back to my heart,
and a cold sweat broke out on Inv
'orehead and trickled down nv face,
which / felt had become ashy pale.
stood there apart, with q rush of
sound in my ears, mist before my
eyes, and swaying to aud fro like q
man drunk with wine. And through
i all l could hear the laughing voice
,f nv host counting the votes in IA
For OF my proposal. Suddenly he
confronted me, and SAID, in q pecu-
lar tone, and with q significant
ylsnce at my arms. which we're tight
" folded on my breast:
"And you. sir. do not approve OF
ny suggestion ?"
Il do net, sir" l replied with out
ward 6rmDess, but with a face paler
han ever. A silence as of death sue
seeded these words and every eye in
he room was turned in my direc-
ion
Il beg your pardon Tor this foolish
oke." said the judge, after q pause,
u tone I shall never forget Il
would rather be loser of ten thousand
dollars than wound the feelings of
zuest under my roof" and, moving
;oward the door, be added, lightly,
Gentlemen the coffee will be ruined
+ we delsy here longe-." Just as
he was passing through the open
ioor, / advanced toward him
Il owe you sn explanation, Mr.
Carleton 1 said you viii bear
nes Pray do not refuse me- l
added, seeing him turn coldly away.
He stood s,ill for Q moment, and
hen. turning towards me, be said,
,rusquely. but without looking At
ne.
"yery well, come.r and be led the
ray to his study
The door was hardly closed be-
hind rs when shouts Of laughter
we're heard from the drawing room.
lnd before bad time TO utter . word,
Ars. Carleton burst into the room,
solding the missing ring in the palm
If ber hand.
There is your ring she said,
handing Is TO her husband ; . servant
has just found t.
Where p stammered Mr. Carie-
on With . look Of srupeied amaze