Montgomery County sentinel., 1879-09-05

to make his daily round Of calls but
first of all, he drove to the squalid abode
of Mrs. Maginnis, for DR.. Howard was
never known to neglect the humblest
child of earth, when such were sick and
suffering
But all that day, and for many sub
sequent days the good doctor was
haunted by the wistful eyes of the
strange child whose way in life seemed
to him so hard and unnatural He in
quircd Of Mrs. Badger many times to
know if she had seen or learned any
more of quaint little Odds-and- -Euds;
but Mrs. b. declared she had not seen
hide nor hair Of her since the morning
she brought the message from Mrs. Ma
I giupisg aud that lard working woman.
lost the run of her entirely.
1t was a whole year from that time
when one evening DR.. Howard was
hurrying along crowded thoroughfaro,
he was startled by a sudden cry and
confusion of voices, as a runaway horse,
dragging the remnant of a carriage, came
leaping and plunging along the street.
One glance showed the excessive danger
of child who was midway upon the
crossing, and directly in the path of the
furious animal
Another instant and Dr.. Howard and
the child were both down in the mud of
the street and the dangerous creature
was at bay. The doctor had snatched
the child from beneath the very hoofs of
the horse, and with the other hand seized
the bride of the foaming, wild-eyed
animal, and the next moment, as assis-
tance came, fell with the rescued one
prone in the street. Recovering him
self iu second he looked into the face
of the burden that lay quite unconscious
on his arm and beheld the countcnance
Of little Odds-and-
A carriage bore him and the new
found wandcrer quickly to his office,
where, in a short time, Odds and Ends
was restored to consciousness, and her
delight knew no bounds when she recog-
nized her prcserver.
"Where were you going when the ac-
cident happened ?'' asked the doctor,
Odds and Ends was sill
"You need not tell me unless you
WISH" said the doctor.
Il may as well tell you," she said af-
ter pause. II was going to pawn
shop-mamma sent me with this ring,
it is an opal and dear friend gave it to
her before ever she saw my fahctr. Has
kept it all this time because she liked
the one who gave it to her very much,
and she did not want to part with the
ring. But, you see, we got very poor,
and mamma was sick and this ring was
the last we had to part with except NAM
mas wedding ring" Saying which,
Odds and Ends took the ring from its lit
tie casket and slipped it upon the doc
tors smallest finger
What was there about the act that
caused the mans face to change to a pal
lid hue and his firm hands to trcmble as
leaves in the winds of October? Did he
attach any superstition to the brilliant
and changeful colors of the opal, or was
some old memory of the past, long lat
ent, now asserting its existence" q"
Margaret, Margaret !" he said in a
trcmulous voice, "takc this bank-note to
your mother and leave me this ring"
Haven't you made a mistake, sir?--
This bill has fifty on it,"
"No mistake, Margaret. This ring
is worth much more indeed, it is price
less, and he turned away his head that
the wondering eyes of the child might
not witness the emotion.
Fifty dollars Oh, what will poor
mamma say l must hurry home now.
for she will be anxious about me Good
night"
wait, Margaret, | am going with
you"
In few minutes little Margaret, with
her preserver, was being whirled rapid
ly in the doctors carriage to the poor
dwelling she called home.
DR.. Howard on entering the abode
was struck with amazemcnt, for, used as
he was to seeing poverty in all its forms,
he had seldom Witnessed so cherries an
apartment in winter as this, where he
now by train of unexpected crcum-
stances found himself.
',Oh, mamma, I have been almost
killed, / have but this kind doctor, the
same you heard me tell about, you know,
saved me and has brought me home I;
mamma, and see--see-the bank note
and"
"Hush - said the doctor imperatively.
"Your mamma has tainted. Bring me
a glass Of water, quick"
The restoratives the doctor always
carried with bin were applied, and Ian
guidly the DIRK eyes opened and the pale
lips whispered name.
"Roland !"
Julia w
To end the story quickly and without
circumlocution | will say that fifteen
years before these tive were engaged
lovers, and the opal ring was the sign
outward Of their engagement.
A misunderstanding, n Gt of jealous
anger, recriminatiDg words, n lovers
quarrel and a parting from each other
left ono 10 marry 10 haste her next suit
or, while the other journeycd 10 dis
tant city to practice the profession of his
choice.
Upon the inner circle Of tho ring were
those words: "Whilc life shall last. Il.
H."
It was the recognition Of the sentence
and the ring, as we'll as the great rcsom-
blance Of the child 10 the mother, that
awakened the memory Of other days and
other scenes. Whca il bad been TOO late