The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-19

TO consciousness, aud her delight knew no
bounds when she recognized her preserver
"Where were you going when the ac-
cident happened ?" asked the doctor.
Odds and Ends was silent.
"You need not tell me unless you wish,
said the doctor.
81 may as well tell you" she said, after
a pause. ~ was going 10 pawnshop-
mamma seut me with this ring, it Is an
opal and dear friend gave it to her be.
fore ever she saw my father Has kept il
all this time because she liked the ono
who gave it to her very much, and she did
not want to part with the ring. But, you
see, we got very poor, aud mamma was
sick, and this ring was the last we had
to part with, except mammals wedding
ring Saying which Odds and Ends took
tho ring from its little caskct and slipped
il upon the doctors smallest finger.
What was there about the act that
caused the mans face to change to pal
lid hue and his firm hands to tremble like
leaves in the winds of October? Did he
attach any superstition to the brilliant and
changcful colors cf the opal, or was some
old memory Of the past, long latent, now
asserting It's existence?
Margaret Margaret r he said in a
tremulous voice, stake this bank-note to
your mother, and leave me the ring"
Haven't you made mistake, sir? This
bill has fifty on il"
"No mistake, Margaret. The ring is
worth much more; indeed it is priceless, -
and he turned away his head that the
wondering eyes of the child might not wit
ness the emotion.
FIFTY dollars Oh, what will poor
mamma say | must hurry now, for she
will be anxious about Inc. Good night.
"Wait, Margaret, am going with you.
In few minutes little Margaret, with
her prcseryer, was being whirled rapidly
in the Doctors carriage to the poor dwell.
ling she called home.
Dr. Howard, on entering the abode, was
struck with amazement, for used as he was
to seeing poverty in all its forms, he had
seldom witnessed so eheerless an apart
ment In winter as this, where he now, by
a train Of unexpected circumstances, found
himself.
"0h, mamma, have been almost killed,
| have; but this kind doctor, the same one
you heard me tell about, you know, saved
me, and he has brought me home; man.
ma, and see-see the bank note-and-''
"Hush, said the doctor, imperatiyely.
"Your mamma has tainted. Bring me a
glass of water quick !"
The restoratives the doctor always car.
ried with him were applied, aud languidly
the dark eyes opened, and the pale lips
whispered name.
"Roland !"
"Julia p
To end the story quickly, and without
circumlocution, will say that fifteen
yean before these two were engaged lov.
ers, and the opal ring was the sign outward
Of their engagement.
A misunderstanding, fit Of jealous au-
ger, terminating words, lovers quarrel
and parting from each other, left one to
marry in haste her next suitor, while the
other journeyed to distant city to prac.
tice the profession Of his choice.
Upon the inner circle Of the ring were
these words :--"While life shall last. r.
H.
II was the recognition of the sentence
and the ring, as well as the great resem
blance of the child to the mother, that
awakened the memory of other days and
other scenes. When it had been too late
and Julia was married to another, he had
seen that be was in the wrong. But after
all these years how strangely were they
brought together once moro,
Is there indeed "a divinity that shapes
our ends, rough hew them as we may?h
The once estranged lovers sat hand in
hand and recounted the histories Of the
past.
"Julia, now l have found you, cannot
lose you again; you must go home with
me and now. Mrs. Badger viii make you
both comfortable Come !"
! Happy tears fell from eyes used to tears
of sorrow. Sudden joy illumes all things
rs the three crossed the threshold Of that
miserable room, never again to enter it as
home.
Just as they drew up before the doc
tors beautiful house, the city hall clock
rang out the hour Of twelve.
"Ring out the old, ring in the new,
said DIR. Howard, softly.
Mrs. Badger was made acquainted with
the facts, and, lifting her hands, said =
"Wel, never However, / wish you all
q happy new year. Odds and Ends YOU re
a treasure !"
$50 she is, quietly said her mother, as
she kissed her fondly,
The pext morning, New Years day,
there was wedding in the doctors parlOr.
HWhat strange mystery life is,' said
the Doctors wife that evening,
"It Is made up of "odds and ends, -
laughed the doctor, as he drew little Mar
garet to his side.
"How long will you love US ?" she ln-
quired, as she turned the opal ring upon
his finger.
"WnmE LIPE SHALL LAsT' was the
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