The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-02-09
that she wore, and begged for a closer in

| opNNeiOhs
1t was large emerald, surrounded by
a row ofbrilliant diamonds "a combination
l always admired; she at once slipped it
off and handed it to me, smilnglv re-
marking that it was birthday gift from
q favorite cousin.
"Ahp l replied, cousins are serious
things sometimes, Miss Jennie, especially
when they happen to be gentlemen"
She blushed and candidly replied:
"To tell the honest truth, Mr.. Ham,
mond, it is gentleman cousin, and a
very dear one, too; 80 dear that, SIX
months from this very day, i intend to
change my name for his There! Is
my confession very great surprise, sir"
acknowledged that it was not as,
from several remarks she had made, l
had already concluded that she was en-
gagged, and said in conclusion:
although | am not fortunate enough
to be able to claim cousinship, l should
be much pleased to replace the ring with
wish" ... s.. BE-.
Silently she extended her hand, and,
taking it, was about to slip the ring
upon her finger, when a slight rustic
caused me to raise my eyes, and there, in
the doorway that connected the parlor
| and the library, stood Annie Sheldon,
looking at us with mingled expression
of grief, contempt and astonishment'
The next instant she turned, and with
a gesture Of infinite scorn swept away,
and directly heard the hah door close
after her. ..... ......
This was an event l had not antici-
pated.
knew that as Annie had seen me in
the very act of placing ring on her
supposed rivals finger, she would at
once infer, and naturally enough, too,
that it was the seal of our engage
ment. III
This knowledge made me very un-
easy.
| I tried various excuses to free myself
from my companion, and finally sue
ceeded.
hurried through the cool hall and en-
tered the fragrant little garden.
glanced hastily around but could see
no trace of Annie; and then suddenly l
remembered favorite haunt of hers, a
rustic bench at the foot of a sturdy oak,
from which the ground sloped gradually
to the rivers bank below, and from
which. glancing to east, one commanded
a superb view.
So fplunged in among the trees, and
fastened along the shady woodpath,
glancing to the right and left as I went,
in hopes of catching glimpse Of her fut-
tering white robes. .....
But I saw nothing Of her, until l came
in sight of her favorite resort, and there,
as surmised, she sat; but her face was
buried in her hands, while her whole at
titude betokened the deepest grief.
crept softly to her side, and then, by
her low, suppressed sobs, knew that she
was weeping; and, ah! how l reproached
myself then for my cruelty. ...
! Tenderly | threw my arms around her,
and said as quietly az my excitement
would allow me:
"What is the matter, Annie, my dar.
ling? Will you not let me comfort your
She started at my touch and the accom-.
panying sound of my voice, but did not
raise her head, and / continued:
won't you tell me, Annie? Won't
you give me the right to share your
grief p l cried, passionately.
Thrusting me from her, she started to
her feet, and, drawing herself to her full
height, exclaimed, angrily, although the
bright tears yet sparkled in her eyes:
"Is it that you wish to insult me,
Paul Hammond, that you, the accepted
lover of another, speak such words to
mef Or have you followed me only to
reproach me for being listener to your
loye-making! If the latter, I can assure
you it was entirely unintentional," and
her lips curled.
"Far from it," I cried hastily. III am
here to tell you that I love, adore you,
and to ask you to give me this precious
| little hand, to be my own forever"
| And l pressed it to my lips.
| But she snatched it away, laughing
scornfully; and | thought, rather hysteri
cally, as she replied:
II am not one to be satisfied with sec
ond love, Mr. Hammond. must have
| first, or nothing; but, even were l con
tent to take secondary place, wha1
would Miss Benson think of my accept
ance of her recreant lover?'
"Miss Bensonl She is nothing to me
and never will be; and more than that
she is already engaged; my darling, it il
| you l love, and you only will wed.'
| Still she hesitated, and said, doubt
ingly:
"But what did you mean by givin.
her ring? For you did, saw you'll"
| But l laughed gayly, and boldly draw
ing her yielding form to my side, re
lplied:
/, "All that can explain to your entire
satisfaction, fair lady mine, if you vii
say, just once, 4 love you, Paul. and vii
marry you.'" ... ....a a
/ And l imprisoned her face between m,
hands.
1 She struggled an instant, and then
finding resistance useless, pouted:
"Well, then, Ilove you, torment, ant
SO 1 suppose shall marry you some day
and now tell me about that ring; but re
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