The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-09-23
MRS. FITzPATRICK'S DIAMOND
RING.

INI-N1s
Twelve months ago last November. (
ran down into Warwickshire, England,
| to spend few days with my cousin,
Horace Mason. immediately after my
arrival | was escorted up to my room,
aud then down to the drawing room,
where [ found Mrs. Patton, Horace's
lady hoEsekeeper-his duenna, as he was
won't TO call her-and Mr. Fitzpatrick,
the rector of the parish. Mrs. Patton /
knew well. She was most amusing
compound of dignity and jolli:y, and we
were the best friends in the world, though
she always declared that / did nothing
but make fun of her. Mr.. Fitzpatrick 1
had never seen before; for during my
previous visits he had always happened
to be from home. He was tall, portly,
elderly, gentleman, with a rather forid
complexion, and magnificent head of
perfectly white hair, the effect of which
was increased by pair of bushy and
perfectly black eyebrows. He greeted
me very cordially and as soon as we were
seated at the dinner table I discovered
that his forte was conversation and his
foihle monoiogue. l have heard some
good steady takers in my time, but 1 am
prepared to back Mr.. Fitzpatrick against
any of them.
] had noticed during dinner that, as is
the habit of some widowers, he wore
welding ring, which had presumably
been his wife's; and over this another
ring, of the kind usually worn by ladies,
III which set three very handsome brill
iants. After dinner, when Mrs. Patton
had retired, tho conversation somehow
or other took a turn in the direction of
precious stones, and Horace, who at last
managed to get in q word or two, said
something about the difficulty of distin-
gushing, in the absence of tests, Il true
stone from a really well executed imita-
ton, and took from his waistcoat pocket
a manufactured diamond which / certain
II should have pronounced genuine. -
For purposes of comparison, Mr.. Fitz.
patrick slippe from his finger the ring
of which | have just spoken; and after it
had been examined and replaced, he
said: There is a curious story connected
with that ring, Mr.. Mason. / dare say
you have heard it.
"I've heard something about it." said
Horace; ''but don't know all the par
ticulars; and don't think my cousin has
heard anything of it,"
"Well, then, said Mr.. Fitzpatrick, 81
may as well tell it to you, if you care to
hear it. The story begins and ends
long time ago. tits forty. years this very
month since l became engaged to be
married. | was then a curate, and had
not much money to spare; but l had just
| received legacy of rather less than 9100;
and in fit Of extravaganza, hardly ex-
cusable even in lover of %, l spent the
| whole of it and few pounds more in
purchasing ring for my future wife,
We expected the engagement to be long
one; but the rector of his parish died
suddenly, and my great uncle, in whose
gift the living was, presented me to it
The rector's death took place in Febru-
ary. | read myself IN on Easter Sunday
and on the first of jane we were married.
/ suppose every newly married husband
| and wife think themselves the happiest
people IN the world; but l honestly be-
Iie7e that we were really so. We had
not only each other, but We had every
thing else that we could possibly desire
a larger income than we needed, work
that was thoroughly congenial TO both of
Us, few real friends, q number of pleas.
ant acqualntances, and an utter freedom
from all anxiety.
''rhis unalloyed happiness lasted foI
six months, when my wife's health failed
in mysterious manner. She began tc
be subject to strange fits of languor,
physical depression and drowsiness
which gradually became longer and more
frequent. / had advice at once; but the
doctors seemed completely at sea. The
organs, they said, were perfectly sound
and though the action OF the heart was
not quite so strong rs it ought to be,
there was absolutely nothing to account
for the symptoms. At all events, they
could only recommend tonics, gentle open
air exercise, and an occasional stimulant.
In spite of them all, however, my wife
grew worse and worse. AT last she tool
20 her bed; and she had not been in BED
week when one evening l left her, ap
pareotly much the same as usual, ant
went into my study TO spend couple O
hours over my next Sunday morning:
sermon. / had been down. stairs only
about three quarters of an hour. wher
my wlfes sister, who had been sitting
t with her during my absence, burst intc
: the room and threw herself upon me
exclalmlng, %, James! she's deadl On
darling Hates dead!'