The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-06-24

in the neighborhood, whence waiter
had just issued forth, bearing aluncheon
tray, on which, among other tempting
viands, was dainty TD:st chicken. My
poor sister involuntarily fixed such a
longing, hungry look on the food as it
passed before her that it almost broke
my heart. On our return home, found
letter from Judge Carleton awaiting
me. Apologizing for the irregular form
of his invitation, he said he, should be
happy to see me as guest at dinner on
the same evening.
AS the servant announced me, Judge
Carleton came toward me, and, taking
me kindly by the hand, introduced me
to his wife and daughter, and then to
several of his guests who had known my
father. All were so kind and cordial to
me that in fewmoments felt quite at
home. The dinner was brilliant one.
| was engaged in an animated conversa-
ton with a charming and very witty
| lduy pCHluO NuOlll Nd6 bFdICu1 "ACh
suddenly all my gayety fled from me.
had just perceived at one end of the
table splendid roast fowl that a domes-
tic had just placed there. The scene of
the morning and the hungry look in my
sisters eyes rose up before me, and my
heart was wrung by the remembrance.
The next instant portion of the fowl
was placed before me. In the meantime,
the lady beside me, finding l had sud-
denly become taciturn and diStrait, gave
her attention to my next neighbor, and
left me to my devices and the satisfac-
tion Of my greedy appetite. l made
such good use of the liberty thus ac-
corded to me, and in few seconds every
| trace of food on my plate had disap-
peared. Dinner was nearly over when
the conversation turned on a lawsuit
that my host had gained for one Of his
clients.
"Well," said the judge, laughing,
"the case is one of my best, I'll allow;
but my client deserves a little mention
too. Just look at the handsome present
he has sent me;" and he drew from his
finger a magnificent diamond ring, and
handed it for inspection to the lady who
sat next to him. In the midst of ex-
pressions of delight and admiration, the
jewel was handed from one guest to an
other round the table. and Mrs Carleton
had just risen and was proceeding to
pass into the drawing-rOom and her
husband exclaimed, "My dear, have you
my ring ?"
"No, indeed; Mrs M returned it TO
you few minutes gince.
"Bless me! Then where can it be %
he said, shaking out his napkin, and
feeling in all of his pockets, one after
the other. No one stirred from the table.
and for some minutes the room was filled
with confused hum of voices and the
jingling of knives and forks, china and
glass, brought into violent collision by
the excited guests in their search after
the missing jewel But the search was
all in vain; the ring had certainly dis
appeared.
81 see how it is," said the Judge,
j6kingly, "that ring must be some
wicked fairy who has maliciously hidden
herself away in the pocket of one of our
number. Now, l am going to make
proposal, if you willard which you
would utterly reject if it came from any
other quarter; but which you will accede
to, coming from an eccentric individual
like me-"
Explain explain p cried all the
guests in chorus.
81 propose then" continued our host,
"that before we leave this room we shall
proceed to search each other, the ladies
ON this side, and we gentlemen yonder
Let all who object hold up their hands"
At the word Search" all the blood in
my veins rushed back to my heart, and
cold sweat broke out on my forehead
and trickled down my face, which felt
had become ashy pale. l stood there
apart, with rush Of sound in my ears, a
mist before my eyes, and swaying to and
fro like man drunk with wine. And
through it all, | could hear the laughing
voice Of my host counting the votes in
favor of his proposal. Suddenly he con-
fronted me, and said in peculiar tone
and with significant glance at my arms,
which were tightly folded on my
breast:
"And you, sir, do you not approve of
my suggestion"
81 do not, sir,' replied with outward
Hrmness, but with face paler than ever.
A silence as of death succeeded these
words, and every eye in the room was
turned in my direction.
81 beg your pardon for this foolish
joke, sir" said the judge after pause,
in , +opa oh II payar forrat 0I would