Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-11-05
The Lost Ring.

Il
Fever have served Marie Rosis. But pow
erty, the need of food and raiment, the
hungry mouths that must be filled, were
too strong for me. and engaged myself to
her. True, she asked no reference; but
why need shel
''You are poor, Louise, she sad, with a
slight French accent. ''MOney is of no ac-
count to mel only ask you to be faithful.
| said that | should travel; so you must
supply your brothers and your sisters
wants before we go. | shall be liberal with
YOU. Take this As she spoke she
reached out six or eight half-eagles. !
drew back my hand.
at is too much.." l said.
',Allow me to he 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, if
possible, what meaning lay hidden beneath
her words.
Il shall travel as fancy pleases, she con-
tinued. ''One spot is as pleasant to me as
another. go in search of something which
l have lost. 1t may be here, 1t may be
there. l have nothing to guide me in my
search. 1t is all blind chance
At first | was not happy in my migra-
tory. l used to long for home-or what
had been home-and for the caresses OF
those loved. But this did not last long.
Marie Rosis soon grew to be the world 10
me, and her bOnd-slave.
Sometimes We rested for two or three
weeks from our travels, and then went for
ward, day after day and week after week,
without stopping. do not know how long
had been with her, when | discovered
that we were not travelling alone-that we
had follower, who pursued us from place
to place with unwavering persistence. lie
did not seem TO be conscience of us. lie
never addressed us-he only followed us
like a shadow | do not know why l did
not speak Of him to Kadame, nor why she
did not mention him to me. / used to think
sometimes that she did not see him. And
vet, 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 journey
Ing alone, with no one TO protect US, and
was naturally timid Still, about this
man with his gentle mouth and clear blue
eyes. there was little to alarm any woman.
Ordinary people Madame 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
learned what madame was searching for.
4 ring that had -mysteriously disappeared
from her finger one night while she wa:
sleeping. A strange ring, with garnet
heart for its centre, all that she had left Of
Monsieur Rosis. / glanced at her i'll sur
prise
WAS it your wedding ring.
ssBetter than lhat-MonsierT Rosis gave
it to me while he was dying. lie cam'
brck to life to give it to me-just as wt
turn back when we have forgotten some
thing.
| looked at her keenly Was the woman
crazy?
s.He gave it to me, and said that ours
would follow me if lost it. | did not los'
tit went away from me; but | am no
happy. Monsieur Rosis was very hard
ssBut YOU are not to blame for what yo'
could not help" =,
"Ah! but if lover took it," she said
shaking her head slowly. 81 had fallen t.
sleep in the drawing rOom-the day wa
warm. When | awoke Monsieur's hear
WAS gone, and the air full of shadows. Tv
been searching ever since for 1t.
She began pacing up and down the room
We were stopping for week at hotel L
large inland town. This conversiitio
had been carried on in the parlor-a Ion
wide room. looking westward. As mad
anne walked thought | had never seen he
half so beautiful. She wore dress Q
some soft black stuff, which trailed on tn
bright hued carpet. This was relieved b
n gauzv scarlet mantle, as delicate an
tilmv as the wings of butterfly. Will
she went to and fro restlesSly the strange
came noiselessly in and walked beside hel
Sine did not notice him, but looked stralgi
ont of the window to the green trees, an
hevond them to the wide sunset.
For myself, grew angry and heated
the Strangers boldness. If he had any
thing to sav to her, why did he not speak
What right had he to dog her steps so pc
s;s,ently9 At least l would tell madame
Az 7 started forward to speak the stranG
gentleman raised his hand to his forehea
and saw something ON it that glove
'bIood red in the sunlight. I looked at
eagerly and saw the shape of heart ou
lined or the slender white finger NJ
heart bounded. Here was the lover WI
had stolen madam's ring. Ii should be
stored to her, and once more she shou
hnow happiness. All, how frightened
got, though, While my lips were part
TO sneak, and my hand reached torth