Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1879-07-03
THE LOST RING.

poverty, the need of food and ranment,
the hungry mouths that must be filled,
were too strong for me, and engaged
myself to her. True, she asked no ref
erence; but why need she? 80.
"You are poor, Louise she SAID, with
slight French accent. "Money is of no
account to mel only ask you to be
faithful. I said that should travel, 50
you must supply your brothers and SIS
ter's wants before we 60. I shall be
ibe, al with you. Take this" As she
spoke, she reached out six or eight half
eagles. drew back my hand.
at is too much" said.
"Allow me to be the judge of that. I
know what will be required of you? I
looked up to see, if possible, what mean
ing lay hidden beneath her words.
II shall travel as fancy pleases,' she
continued. zone spot is as pleasant to
me las another: 60 in search of some
thing which have lost. 1t may be here,
it may be there. I have nothing to guide
me in my search. 1t is all blind chance
At first I was not happy in my migra
tory life. I used to long for home--or
what had been homeland for the caress-
ses of those I loved. But this did not
last long. Marie Rosis soon grew to be
the world to me, and I her bondslave
Sometimes VIC rested for two or three
weeks from our travels, and then went
forward, day after day and week after
week, without stopping. l do not know
how long L had been with her, when I
discovered We were not travelling alone
that we had follower, who pursued us
from place to place with unwavering per-
sistcnce. He did not seem to be con-
scious Of US. He never addressed us-he
followed us like a shadow. 1 do not know
why did not speak of him to madam,
nor why she did not mention him to me.
I used to think sometimes that she did
not see him. And yet, 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 journeylng alone,
with no one to protect us, and I was nat
urally timid.. Still, about this man with
his gentle mouth and clear blue eyes,
there was little to alarm any woman. Or
binary people, Madam Marie did not no.
tice; and this gentleman's presence was
not marked. So I tried to think no more
about him. ~-...
It was after this stranger. came that
learned what Madam was searching for
A ring that had mysteriously disappeared
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. I glanced at her in
surprise. ---- ~
WAS it your wedding ringY'
"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 forgotten some
thing
I looked atsher keenly. Was the woman
crazys 4
"He gave it to me, and said that a
curse would follow me if I lost it. l
did not lose tit went away from me
but I am not happy. Monsieur Rosls was
very hard" -
"But you are not to blame for what you
could not help"
"Ahl but if lover took it?' she said,
shaking her head slowly. II had fallen
to sleep in the drawing room---thc day
was warm. When I awoke monsieur's
heart was gone, and the air was full of
shadows. I've been searching ever since
for it, '-@''' >~>5
She began pacing up and down the
room. We were stopping for a. week at
hotel in large inland town. This con-
versation had been carried on in the par
lor-a long, wide room, looking west
ward. As madam walked, I 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 gauzy scarlet man
tie, as delicate and filmy as the wing of a
butterfly. While she went to and fro
restlessiy the stranger came noiselessly in
and walked beside her. She did not no.
tice him, but looked straight out Of the
window to the green trees, and beyond
them to. the wide sunset.
! For myself, grew angry and heated
at the strangers boldness. 5fIfAhe had
anything to say to her, why did he not
speak9 What right had he to dog her
steps SO persistently2 At least, would
tell madam As / started forward to
speak, the strange gentleman raised his
hand to his forehead. and saw some
thing on it that glowed blood red in the
sunlight. II looked at it eagerly and saw
the shape of heart outlined on the
slender White finger. My heart bounded.
Here was the, lover who stole, madam's
ring. It should be restored to her, and
once more she should know happiness.
All. how fri0htene1v Issfxpot. thouph
While my lips were parted to speak, and
my hand reached forth to touch his arm,
hetwas gomez and I stood quite alone with
Madam Rosis. c..ss,5y.,ssss, -.
.What makes you SO white2' she asked,
stopping short in her walk.s ts'zSszsI s4:sE ,
why, he is gone!'., ]
"Who has lgune2p - sfzgsssxxzs~Y n J
s'The gentleman who walked beside
you" .." =
r. - S~a--.5 -