The daily gazette., 1879-06-19
FIRST EDITION.
THE LOST RING

eity, the need of food and raiment, the
hungry mouths that must be filed, were
too strong for me, and l engaged myself
to her. True, she asked no reference
but why need shep
"You are pooor, Louise" she said,
with slight French accent. "Money is
of no account TO me-I only ask you to
to be faithful. j said that should tray
ell; so you must supply your brothers
and sisters wants before we 90. | shall
be liberal with you. Take this" As
she spoke, she reached out six or eight
hal Ceagles. drew my hand back.
at is too much," said.
"AllOw me TO be the judge of that.
know what will be required of YOU"
A little chill ran over me. What
would be required of me? / looked up
to see, II possible what meaning lay
hidden beneath her words.
81 shall travel as fancy pleases," she
continued. "One spot is as pleasant to
me as another. 90 in search of some
thing which have lost. 1t may be here
it may be there. l have nothing to
guide me in my search. 1t is all blind
chance"
AT first was not happy in my migratory
life. l used TO long for home-or what
had been homeland for the caresses of
those loved. But this did not last long.
Marie ROss soon grew to be the world
| to me, and / her bond slave.
Sometimes we rested two or three
weeks from our travels, and then went
forward, day after day week without
| stopping. do not know how long had
been with her, when l discovered we
were not travelling alone-that we had
follower, who pursued us from place to
place with unwavcring persistence. lie
| did not seem to be conscious of us. lie
addressed us-he only followed us like a
shadow. ! do not know why | did not
speak of him to Madame, nor why she
| did not mention him to me. used to
| think sometimes that she did not see him.
And yet, why not? Her eyes were too
sharp to allow anything to escape them.
Perhaps she was afraid that she might
alarm me by speaking. We were two
women joumeying alone, with no one to
protect us, and l was naturally timid.
| Still, about this man, with his gentle
mouth and clear blue eyes, there was lit
tie to alarm any woman. Ordinary peo-
| pie Madame Marie did not notice and
this gentlemans presence was not mark
ed. SO tried not to think any more
about him.
1t was after this stranger came that l
learned what Madame was searching for.
A ring that had mystcriously disappear
ed from her finger one night while she
was sleeping. A strange ring, with Il
garnet heart for centre, all that she had
left of Monsieur Rosis. glanced at her
in surprise.
| tsINae IL ypur tuaJiipo ripu p,5
"Better than that-Mon ROsIs gave
it to me while he was dying. lie came
back TO life to give il to me-ilist as we
lrn back when we have forgotten some
thing"
looked at her keenly. Was the VIC
man crazy?
"He gave it to Inc and said that curse
would follow me if lost il. did not
loso lit went away from me but l am
not happy. Monsieur Rosis was very
hard"
"But you arc not to blame for what
you could not help"
"Ah but if lover took it ?" she said,
shaking her head slowly. 81 had fallen
to sleep in the drawing-room-the day
was warm. When | awoke Monsieurs
heart was gone, and the air full OF
shadows. I've b ell searching ever since
for it,"
She began pacing up and down the
room. We were stopping for week al
hotel in large inlaud town. The
conversal ion had been carried on in the
parlor-a long, wide room, looking west
ward. AS Madame walked, l thought
had never seen her half so beautiful.
She wore dress of some soft black
stuff, which trailed on the bright-hued
carpet. This was relieved by gauzy
scarlet mantle as delicate and filmy as
the " Ing of butterfly. While she went
to ana fro restlessly the stranger came
noiseessly in and walked beside her
She did not notice him, but looked
straight out of the window to the wide
sunset.
For myself, grew angry and heated
at the strangers boldness. II he haC
anything to say to her, why did he moi
speak What right had he to dog hel
steps so persis:ently At least, would
tell Madame. As started forward tt
speak, the strange gentleman raised hi.
hand to his forehead and l saw some
! thing on it that glowed blood red in the
sunlight. l looked at 1t eagerly ant
saw the shape of heart outlined on the
slender white finger. My heart boun lee
. Here was was the lover who had stoler
Madame's ring. 1t shou d be restored
to her, and once more she should know
happiness. An, how frightened l got
: though! While my lips were partet
to speak, and my hand reached forth t.
touch his arm, he was gone, and l stoo'
quite alone with Madame Rosis.
"What makes you so white ?' sh
asked, stopping short in her walk.
"Why, he has gone ~
"WhO has gone ?"
"1he gentlemen who walked besid
you." ., :,
v "lndeed, who so honored me ?" sh
\ said, incredulously. 81 was busy wit
my thoughts" .,
"a strange gentleman walked wit
my thoughts" ,
Madame laughed low, musical laugl
|s but saw that the white hand that clasI
ed her scarlet mantle over her heart wa
shaking. Her lips grew white and dry
- 81 hope he was handsome"
] every; and mouth like a girls"
Her forehead grew puckered int
scowls.
"And what clser'
"He wore a ring ,oith blood re
heart r'
| pray that may never on earth SC
a face so fearful as was Madame's