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

to consciousness, and her delight knew no
bounds when she recognized her preserver.
"Where we're 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.
al may as well tell you, she said, after
a pause, al was going TO pawnshop-
mamma sent me with this ring, it Is an
opal aud dear friend gave it to her be-
fore ever she saw my father Has kept it
oil this time because she liked the one
who gave 1t to her very much, and she did
not want to part with the ring. But, you
see, we got very poor, and mamma was
sick, and this ring was the last we had
to part with, except mammals wedding
ring Saying which Odds and Ends took
the ring from its little casket and slipped
it 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 tho brilliant and
changeful colors of the opal, or was some
old memory Of the past, long latent, now
asserting its existence?
Margaret Margaret he said in
tremulous voice, stake this bank.note to
your mother, and leave me the ring
Haven't you made mistake, sir2 This
bill has fifty on It,"
"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 nov wit
ness the emotion.
FIFTY dollars Oh, what viii poor
mamma say must hurry now, for she
will be anxious about Inc. Good night"
"Wait, Margaret, sm going with you. "
In few minutes little Margaret, with
her preserver, 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 oil its forms, he had
seldom witnessed SO cherries an apart
ment in winter as this, where he now, by
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, aud see-see the bank note-and-"
"Husb," said the doctor, imperatively.
"Your mamma has tainted. Bring me
glass of water quick p
The restoratives the doctor always car.
ried with him were applied, and languidly
the dark eyes opened, and the pale lips
whispered name.
ROLAND y
Julia -
To end the story quickly, and without
circumloeutiop, will say that fifteen
years before these two were engaged low
ers, and the opal ring was the sign outward
Of their engagement.
A misunderstanding, a fit of jealous an
ger, terminating words, lovers quarrel
md parting from each other, left one to
marry in haste her next sutton, while the
other journeyed to distant city to prac.
tice the profession of his choice
Upon the inner circle Of the ring we're
these words :--"While life shall last, r.
H."
IL 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 he was in the wrong. But after
all these years how strangely were they
brought together once more,
Is there indeed 80 divinity that shapes
our ends, rough hew them as we may2"
The once estranged lovers sat hand in
hand and recounted the histories Of the
past.
"Julia, now have found you, cannot
lose you again; you must go home with
me and now Mrs Badger will make you
both comfortable. Come !"
Happy tears fell from eyes used to tears
Of sorrow, Sudden joy ilumes all things
as the three crossed the threshold of that
miserable room, never again to enter it az
a 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 DR.. Howard, softly,
Mrs. Badger was made acquainted with
the facts, aud, lifting her hands, said -
"Well, l never However, wish you all
a happy new year. Odds and Ends you're
treasure !"
$50 she is" quietly said her mother, as
she kissed her fondly.
The next morning, New Years day,
there was a wedding in the doctors parlOr
HWhat strange mystery life is, said
the doctors wife that evening,
at is made up of "odds aud ends, I"
laughed the doctor, as be drew livtle Mar
garet to his side.
"How long will you love us ?" she In
quired, as she turned the opal ring upon
his finger.
"WHnE LIFE SHALL LAsTi' was the
,.a,.o -a..l,,