The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1879-02-25
ling her with the theft OF the ripg,as Mrs.
Waters had done. Etie

w utCtp u0u uouO.
"Mamma sat up half last night will
her." said Edua, trying to induce her T.
confess, and promising that if site woul,
do so she should not be punished. 0
course we coud not allow her to leav'
the house, and at first she was half viii.
about the fright which she said her moth
er would be in-they live alone some
where in little house in the suburbs
and mamma even sent message Their
to pacify her. She don't deny that sh'
sold q ring, but in lists that it belonged
to her mother, and that they parted Will
ii to pay some debts that were rnaf'
sometime when her mother was ill Sht
said that inside the ring were the initials
y. r., but as the jeweler had alread,
sold it to some unknown gentleman
when We went to see 1t, we could not Ger
tairly know about that. But of course
we could not believe that, especially as
the jeweller had noticed no marking. and
the description of the ring corresponded
with mine" w sH s3i =
"Pardon me. Miss E lna," interrupted
Morris with some agita ion, "but where
was the ring sold p
cat No 80, Broadway"
sf"Then I am the man that bought it
and the poor girl speaks the truth I"
Edna, Mary and Charlie cried out with
astonlshment, while Morris drew a tiny
casket from his pocket and opened it.
THAT is not mine, said Edna, after .
moments examination, "though it is
wonderfully like. And, yes, see it nov
distinctly, j. r. written iu the TIMES,
letters. Poor, poor Miss Ray! How
she has suffered Aud how can she
ever forgive US 2" m
Luke Morris laid his hand on Mis-;
Waters arm; his voice was husky snG
his face pale
"What-wbat name did you say!' al
"Miss Ray" 81.
''Jennie Ray 2" yg ,47 sa6
"Yes," answered Edith in amaze.
"Did she ever live in Milton, do yor
know,s' ~ h.es.s afsft
"In Milton3" said E Ina, thoughtfully
Yes, am sure l once heard her say
so"g VI r ..e... .- y.
"Then, thank Ged r. said Luke Nor
ris, and he sank into chair in the west
reaction Of bis strange excitement. :
"Charlie, Miss Waters, Miss Mary," ht
said, 81 cannot explain now, bu. wher
you have relieved Miss Rays distress
will you do me the kindness to tell bel
that fiiend wishes to see her2" ~
The sudden shock Of Joy was too greaI
for Jennie Ray. and while Luke Morris
waited in the parlor for the sound of bel
footsteps she lay in heavy swooli. B,
and by, when she was conscious anG
calm, Morris was called to her room ant
the two were left alone.
Two full hours passed, while the house
hold down stairs sat in wondering con
clave. Al the end of that time the dool
opened and Mr.. Morris entered will
Jennie on his arm, the deep paIIor Of hel
face lighted with perfect trust and Joy.
"Dear friends" said the young man
"it is due to you to know that word o
Jennie Rays savel me from myself, anG
put hope and courage into my life AL
that / can ever hope to be owe, undel
God, to her. / came across the sea Il
fnd her, my heart torn with great fea
that she might be dead-or, dead to m,
as the mistress Of some other man.
home. I searched 10 vain for any srac,
of her, and when at last was almost il
despair, God gave her to me here in thi.
house, where day after day only wal
has kept me from her presence Tut
ring, which caught my eye from the pc
culiar lustre Of the gem it held, bough
in strange obedience to an unaccount
able impulse, after tracing upon it tht
letters which to me represent the sweet
est name in the world. And now thi.
ring, her mothers, blessed by the low,
of the dead father who gave it'-he held
up her hand on which the pearl was shi
ming in steady, &opalescent splendor-
my Jennie will wear as the outward sigI
of the betrothal of our hearts,"
Mrs. Waters, in the. overflow of he
i.ue1 motherly beart took Jennie in be
arms; Edna and Mary were laughing ant
crying in'the same breath, and, to thei
credit be it spoken, without q singl
thought of their own shattered hopes :
Charlie was shaking his friends hand
with both of bis, at the extreme peril O
pair of dislocated shoulders And al
that was needed to complete the geners
confusion was supplied by the suddel
apparition of little Stella, who burst int
the room crying out: "Mamma-Edn
-oh, please listen! Here is Edna
ring! Jane found it in the parrots cage
Oh, that dear, naughty, thievlng Poll |!
"Ab," said Luke, "if Poll had not etc
len Edna's ring, might now be huntin
for Jennie. Who thought that l woul
ever amount to :, ,anything :"
81 did, Luke"