The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1879-05-03
OUR STORY TELLER
THE LOST FOUND.
BY SARAH WINTER KELLOGG.

youths Compauionl
She saw David gazing intently at
her hand. The color flashed into her
cheek The hand was whirled on its
back, and the fingers trembled in haste
on the palm.
Whose ring are you wearing
now?'
She answered lightly, trying to dis
arm his disapproval: It's not an en-
gagement ring"
But the brothers grave face did not
relax.
1t belongs to Mollie Bond, one of the
girls
have asked you not to wear Dor
rowed ornaments" said David. "Your
own sense of propriety would keep you
from it. To me it is unseemly, vulgar
indeed. You force me to use strong
words. Wearing borrowed finery--"
81 have to wear borrowed tinery if
wear any" Edith said, holly. q You
never bought me piece of iewelry in
your life."
"Why haven't I2' David said, with
slight twitching at the corners of his
mouth
Edith cast down her ewes to hide the
ShdhC III butui, anu answered WIN
soitened voice, Because you could not
afford it."
How mean it was to taunt David, the
patient, steadfast soul that from boy
hood had taken the battle-brunt of
life!
Then why not acquiesce in the fact
that you cannot have such things, at
least for the present? Why will you
sacrifice your self-respect and really
demean yourself by incurring obliga-
tions?"
But you don't know how hard it is
to see all the other girls with rings, and
watches, and chatelaines, while you re as
plain as lead-pencil, without even an
ivory top"
Do you think | don't know It's
hard? Do you think | have not
suffered to see you poor, and to Re
peorP'
Edith wondered if he had really suf-
tered, he seemed always so self-cou-
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 just to show off her
rings. She's always wishing her rings
on to somebody's fingers
Well, | wish her rings off your
fingers" David said quietly.
Well, don't scold any more, Dady,
and I'll never allow another girl to put
ring on my finger, though i can't see
what great harm can come of it."
Can't you see that you might lose
the rlngl At the best, it pains me and
snames me to see you in borrowed
plumage." ee
He was six years older than Edith.
Since the mothers and fathers death, he
had cared for her, worked for her. over
looking her education, keeping loving
watch over her conduct, standing, in
deed, as well as he conceived, in the
stead OF father and of mother to her.
Edith doubtless missed her mothers
care and mothers sympathy, and she
may have felt at times, that David's
pure and conscientious nature made him
exactlng; but he was faithful as the
sun, moon and stars, put together" she
used to say.
A few evenings after their converse.
ton, Edith's music teacher, Prof. Pipp,
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 ask Len Harvey. But David
did not decline.
She had a piano solo. As this was an
nounced, Edith glanced with complacent
pride at the diamond flashing, starlike,
on her finger. Len Harvev-invited by
one OF the other pupils-was standing
near the instrument, and would be sure
to mark the beautiful gen.
when she was seated, and was wait
ing for the Professor to place the music
before her, she saw her brother was ap-
preaching her from tae back part of the
room. He meant not only to near how
she played, but to see.
80 my patiencep 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
lap. 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 performance.
nef nngeIs were In a panic. They
tripped, they skipped, they stumbled
and futtered in a generally wounded
way. AT last there was a complete
breakdown, and Edith left the piano her
lace blazing, her head Keeling.
The ring was forgotten; Len Harvey
was forgotten. She thought of nothing,
remembered nothing, but David's dis,
appointment, his grave face, his down
cast eyes
She sat, possessed by her humiliation,
until the next performer had left the
piano amid rapturous applause. Then,
with threb of dismay, she remembered
the ring.
OF course it had fallen to the floor.
What if it should be trod upon,
When the concert was ended. Edith
tried to avoid David by mixing with the
crowd. She saw him exchanging words
with the teacher, and took that OBJ
portunity to dodge in and out am ong the
people till the piano was reached. Stoop-
ing, she hastily passed her hand over
the carpet, under the piano, once, twice,
three times. One and another person