Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1879-06-27
THE LOST RING.

THE LOST RING.
Had been my own mistress | should
never have served Marie Rosis. But
poverty, the need of food and raiment,
The hungry mouths that must be filed,
were too strong for me, and / engaged
myself TO her. True, she asked no ref
erence; but why need sheP
You are poor, Louise" she said,
with slight French accent. "Money
is of no account to mel only ask you
to be faithful. 1 said that l should
travel; SO you must supply your broth
er's and sisters wants before we go.
shall be liberal with you. Take this"
AS she spoke, she reached out six or
eight half-eagles. l drew back my
hand.
1T is too much,'' | said
"Allow me TO be the judge of that. l
know what will be required of you"
A little chill ran over me. What
would be required of me? looked up
TO see, if possible, what meaning lay
hidden beneath her words.
81 shall travel as fancy pleases,"
she continued. Zone spot is as pleas.
ant to me as another. 1 go in search
of something which l have lost. 1t
may be here, it may be there. / have
nothing to guide me in my search. 1t is
all blind chance"
At first was not happy in my migra-
tory 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 Kosis soon grew
to be the world to me, and her bond
slave.
Sometimes we rested for two or three
weeks from our travels, and then went
forward, day after day and week after
week, without stopping. do not
know how long l had been with her,
whom 1 discovered we were not travel
ing alone--thaJ we nau q follower, who
pursued us from place to place with
unwaverfng persistence. He did not
seem to be conscious of us. He never
addressed us-he only followed us like
shadow. do not know why l did
not speak of him to madam, nor why
she did not mention him to me. l
used to think sometimes that she did
not see him. And yet, why not9 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 Jour
neying 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 little to
alarm any woman. Ordinary people,
Madam Marie did not notice; and this
gentleman's presence was not marked.
So tried to think no more about him.
1t was after this stranger came that l
earned what madam was searching
for. A ring that had mysteriously dis
appeared from her finger one night
while she was sleeping. A strange
ring, with a garnet heart for its centre,
all that she had left of Monsieur Rosis.
1 glanced at her in surprise.
"Was it your wedding ringp"
Better than that Monsieur Rosis
gave it to me while he was dying. He
came back to life to give it to me-just
as we turn back when we have forgot
ten something"
l looked at her keenly. Was the
woman crazy?
"He gave it to me, and said that a
curse would follow me if / lost it. l
did not lose tit went away from me;
but l am not happy. Monsieur Rosis
was very hard"
"But you are 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
monsieur's heart was gone, and the air
full of shadows. I've been searching
ever since for it,"
She began pacing up and down the
room. We were stopping for a week
at hotel in large inland town. This
conversation had been carried on in the
parlor along, wide room, looking west
ward. AS madam 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 gauzv
scarlet mantle, as delicate and filmy as
the wing of a butterfly. While she
went TO and fro restlessly the stranger
came nOiselessly in and walked beside
her. She did not notice him, but looked
straight out of the window to the green
trees, aud beyond them to the wide
sunset.
For myself, l grew angry and heated
at the strangers boldness. If he had
anything TO say to her, why did he not
sPeakP What right had he TO dog her
steps so persistentlyP Atleast, would
tell madam. AS started forward TO
speak the strange gentleman raised his
hand TO his forehead, and l saw some
thing on 1t that glowed blood red in the
sunlight. looked at it eagerly and
saw the shape Of heart outlined on the
slender white finger. My heart
bounded. Here was the lover who had
stolen madam's ring. 1t should be re-
stored 70 her, and once more she should
know happiness. All, how frightened
l got, though! While my lips were
parted TO speak, and my hand reached
forth 10 touch his arm, he was gone,
and l stood quite alone with Madam
Rosis.
. What makes you so whiteP' she
asked, stopping short in her walk.
"Why, he has gonep'
"Who has gomez"
1.-THE gentleman who walked beside
you"
'iIndeed, who so honored meP' she
said, incredulously, Z" was busy with
my thoughts"
"A strange gentleman walked with
you-near youi and as started toward