The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-14
The Lost Found.

She saw David gazing intenty at her
hand. The color flashed into her cheek :;
the hand was whirled OH it's back, and the
fingers trembled In haste on the palm.
"Whose ring are you wearing now2"
She answered lightly, trying to disarm
his disapproval: "It's not an engagement
ring"
But the brothers grave face did not
relax.
"It belongs to Mollie Bond, one of the
girls"
81 have asked you not to wear borrowed
ornaments, said David. "Your own sense
Of propriety should keep you from it To
me 1t is unsecmly--vulgar indeed. You
force ME to use strong words. Wearing
borrowed finery-"
''I have to wear borrowed finery, if I
wear any," Edith said hotly. "You never
bought me piece of jewelry in your life. ="
"Why haven't II" asked David, with a
slight twitching at the corners of the
mouth.
Edith cast down her eyes to hide the
shame in them, and answered, with soft
ened voice, "Bccausc you could not afford
it,"
How mean it was to taunt David, the
patient, steadfast soul, that from boyheod
had taken the battle -brunt of life.
"Then why not acquiesce in the fact
that you cannot have such things, at least
for the present9 Why will you sacrifice
your self-respect, and really demean your
self, by mourning obligations?"
"But you don't know how hard it is to
soc all the other girls with rings, and
watches, and chatelaines, while you are as
plain as lead pencil, without even an
ivory tip"
"Do you think don't know It's hard !?
DO you think have not suffered to be poor
and to see you poor9"
Edith wondered If he had really suffered
he seemed always 80 self-contained.
"You surely would not choose rings and
necklaces to the thorough course Of music
you are having"
Il didn't really want to put on the ring,
but Mollie Bond insisted that should She
put it on with wish. believe she does
1t to show off her rings. She's always
wishing her rings on somebody's fingers"
"Well, wish her rings off your fin
gers" he said quietly.
Swell, don't scold any more, Davy, and
Will never allow another girl to put ring
on my finger, though can't see what harm
can come Off it,"
"Can't you sec that you might lose the
rlng3 AT the best, it pains me and shames
me to see you In borrowed plumage."
He was six years older than Edith, and,
since the fathers and mothers death, he
had cared for her, worked for her, over
looking her education, keeping loving
watch over her conduct, standing, indeed,
as well as he conceived, In the stead Of
father and mother to her.
Edith doubtless missed her mothers care
and mothers sympathy, and she may have
felt at times that Davids pure and con-
scientioue nature made him exacting, but
he was faithful Gas the sun, moon and
stars put together" sho used to say.
A few evenings after their conversation,
Edith's music teacher, Prof. Pipp, gave q
parlor concert. Each pupil had permission
10 invite one friend.
"Of course must invite David" Edith
thought hoping in her heart that he would
decline the invitation, 30 that she might in
vite Len. Harvey. But David did not de-.
cline.
She had q piano solo. AS this was an
nounced, Edith glenced with complacent
pride at the diamond flashing, starlike, on
her finger. len Harvey---invited by one
OF the other pupils---was standing near the
instrument, and would be sure to mark the
beautiful gem. .g
W henl BIG was seated, ana was waiting
Tor the professor to place tie music before
ller, she saw her brother was approaching
her from the back part OF the room. Ha
meant not only 70 hear how she played, but
10 zee. e Ss 4 fst
Oh, my patienoe:l she exclaihed mon.
tally, n great fright. !" hc will sec the
ring 5ls s n Il
In frantic haste, slie tore tho ring from
her finger, and 1t dropped iii hor lap. BY
this time, theg professor had placed the
music before her, and her fingers few TO
3 the keys. But Aiie 1was too nervo,ls for q
successful performance. Her fingers were
II q panic. They tripped, they slsipped,
& hey Stumbled and fiuttered in q generally