Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1879-05-16
THE LOST FOUND.

She saw David gazing intently at her
hand. The color flashed into her cheek.
The hand was whirled IN it's back, and
the fingers trembled iii haste on the
palm.
'Whose ring are you wearing now"
She answered lightly, trying to dis
arm his disapproval: Its not an en-
gagement ring"
But the brothers grave face did not
relax.
at belongs to Mollie Bond. one of the
girls"
Il have asked you not to wear Dor
rowed ornaments" said David. "Iour
own sense of propriety should keep you
from it. To me 1t is unseemly-vulgar,
indeed. You force me TO use strCng
words. Wearing borrowed tinery-"
Il have to wear borrowed tnery, if
wear any," Edith said hotly. You new
er bought me piece of jewelry in your
life"
"Why haven't I?' asked David, with
q slight twitching ut the corners of the
mouth.
Edith cast down her eyes to hide the
shame in them, and answered, with Il
softened voice, Because you could not
afford it,"
How mean it was to taunt David,
the patient, steadfast soul, that from
boyhood had taken the battle-brunt of
life!
"Then why not acquiesce in the fact
that you cannot have such things, ut
least for the present. Why will you
sacrifice your selfrespect, and really de-
mean yourself, by mourning obliga-
tions?"
"But YOU don't know how hard it is
to see ali the other girls with rings, and
as plain as Il lead pencil, without even an
ivory tip"
"Do you think | don't know it's hard?
DO you think have not suffered to be
poor and to see you poor"
Edith wondered If he had really suf
fered he seemed always so selfcon-
tanned.
"You surely would not choose rings
and necklaces to the thorough course
Of music you are having"
:" didn't really want to put on the
ring, but Mollie Bond insisted that |
should. She put it on with a wish.
believe she does it to show off her
rings. She's always wishing her rings
on somebody's fingers"
"Well, wish her rings off your fin
GERS he said quietly.
Well, don't scold any more, Davy,
and | will never allow another girl to
put ring on my finger, though | can't
see what harm can come of it.
Cant you see that you might lose
the ring? At the best, it pains me and
shames me to see you in borrowed
plumage."
He was six years older than Edith,
and since the fathers and mothers
death, he had cared for her, worked for
her, overlooking her education, keeping
a loving watch over her conduct, stand
ing, indeed, as well as he conceived, in
the stead Of father and mother to her.
Edith doubtless missed her mothers
care and mothers sympathy, aud she
may have felt at times that David =
pure and Conscientious nature made
him exacting, but he was faithful as
the sun, moon and stars put together"
she used to say.
A few evenings after their conversa-
ton, Edith's music teacher. Prof. Ppp,
gave parlor concert. Each pupil had
permission to invite one friend.
"Of course / must invite David"
Edith thought hoping in her heart that
he would decline the invitation, so that
she might invite Len Harvey. But
David did not decline.
She had piano solo. AS this was
announced, Edith glanced with COM
placent pride at the diamond flashing,
starlike, on her finger. Len Harvey
invited by one of the other pupils-was
standing near the instrument, and
would be sure to mark the beautiful
gem.
When she was seated, and was wait.
ing for the professor to place the music
before her. she saw her brother was an
preaching her from the back part Of the
room. he meant not only to hear how
she played, but to see.
"Oh, my patience' she exclaimed
mentally, in great fright, che will see
the ring.
In frantic haste. she tore the ring
from her finger, and it dropped in her
Jap. BY this time, the professor had
placed the music before her. and her
fingers flew to the keys. But she was
too nervous for successful perform
ance. Her fingers were panic. lhey
tripped, they skipped, they stumble d
anu fuitered in generally wounded
way. AT las. there was complete
breakdown, and Filth left the piano,
ner face blazing. her head reellng.
The ring was forgotten; Len Harvey
vas forgotten, She thought Of nothing,
remembered nothing but David's dis
appointment, has grave face, his down
cast eyes.
she sat, possessed by her humiliation,
until the next performer had left the
piano amid rapturons applause. Then.
with throb Of dismay. she remem-
5ered the ring.
OF course il had fallen to the ground.
What lift should be trodden uponl
When the concert was ended Edith