The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1879-03-26

vor, he dares everything he an
swered, and held up hisifght hand.
On the littles finger cleaned the
opal ring. Jack saw it, and his dark
face flushed crimson. He.cleated the
distance between hjmseli and the
speakefwitR one 6Stind, and before
the bystanders so9ld interfere had
folled Bob TO the.gloand:
N"stand back, neighbofs," he pant:
ed, as he tore the ring from the pros;
trate mans finger 'HI'lI have his.
life for.it,"
But the bystanders interfered; and.
Bob-was got out Of TIE way.
Jack went lome, with ill the
brightness.of his life dashed out
His young wife met him IT the door,,
lin the silver sheen of The spring.
Twilight. Hecaught her and'held
her at arm's length.
"susan," he said augrily, "where
isyour wedding ring?H
"Why, JACK, !" flushing And speak
ing with embarrassment SIT was
on my finger ! hope .IIhave not
lost it,
Her husband threw herfrom him,
with a muttered exclamstion,. ahd
strobe out Of the house without: a n
word.
All through the night, from the
rising to the setting Of thestars, Su-
san waited, but Jack did rbt return
She fancied he vas angry because
her wedding ring was missing, and
wept herself i'll over his eplelty,
Alorningcame atlsst; alala airs. Rcd
fern, Jacks mother Appeared She
had the opal ring on her finger, and
a letter from jack in her hand
"Your husband has returned the
opal to me-" she said in a severe
voice. Ellis letter will explain the
rest"
Susan read the letter, and then,
with the pathetic cry, "0h, Jack,
come back to mel" fell at Mrs. Red,
ferns feet in a swoon.
The tulips had bloomed, and were
withering on their stalks in the gar
den, when she awoke from that aw-
/ ful trance of death. On her White,
thin finger glimmered the old opal.
Hearing of her illness, and bitterly
remorseful for the evil he had
wrought, Bob had lold the truth
about the ring. But it was tcp late.
Jack had gone.
"1ll find him, and bring him back
TO her, if it costs my life!" said Bob,
in remorse. And, with a last look
at her death-like face, he departed.
Months came and went, and the
cry of the little newborn babe was
heard in the cottage.
Jacks little baby" said Susan, as
it lay on her heart, "and he may
never see i'll"
And now, in the early autumn,
she sat by the old stile, waiting for
the post-man's arrival. She had
waited so many, many times, but
surely the letter would come today;
the letter from Jack assured her that
he loved her still.
The shifting sunlight fell on her
fair head; a golden leaf tluttered here
and there across the green turf at
her feet. Wife and mother in one,
her bosom thrilled with tender long
ing. Susan looked at her wedding
ring, and waited.
A quick, resolute tread on the
white country road below. Could
that be the postman's nag2
Susan looked up, with her heart
in a wild Autter. 1t was not the
postman, but a tail, bronzed man.
sol, Jack! oh, Jackl"
In twinkling Jack had her in
ms strong arms, and his tears were
on her cheek.
"oh, Susan, can you forgive me2"
he said, with choking voice,
"rhere is nothing to forgive" she
said, clinging to him. "see, Jack, |
have got my wedding ringI Jack,
you can never know how my heart
has hungered for you, Jack" hid
ing her hot face in his breast,
"there's some one beside me to well
come you. Cant you guess, Jack2
A little wee baby, Jack, with his
fathers own eyes. ! thought once