The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-02-10

Ny next visitor was lady, ex-
tensively got up, of imposing height
and carriage, rougcd, scented, spec
taclcd.
eve meet under singular circum-
Stances" began this Indy, with a
condesccnding haughtiness; 81 am
the principal of u college for young
! ladies'"
With deferential bow at the
honor done me, l begged to know
what had procured it.
''In the hours of recreation we are
accustomed to promenade IN the
park--a delightful spot, 50 sugges-
tive Of the blushing country. Dur
ing our ramble yesterday young
lady under my charge was 50 unfor-
tunate as to lose her ring. You, slr,
are the fortunate finder.
Il certainly did, madam, pick up
4 ring, but"
"Ah, how grateful my pupil will
be at beholding itagain" exclaimed
the teacher of youth, clasping her
hands ecstatically.
"Describe it," ess-e
'Dcscribe it! A diamond ring.
handsome and massive, but plain, =
"And the crcsty'
"Thc crest, All, that my young
charge were with me! Stupid to
have forgotten. The crest of the
Deloraines. 1t is q lion, p"SSdnt
Or? No, | am wrong. Unfortu-
nate that she should be too unwell
to accompany me. But it is imma-
terial; | will take it for inspection;
she will recognize it Immediately" "
Il fear madam, that | should
scarcely be justified"
"Sirw
81 feel 1t my duty" said, firmly,
''under the circumstances to take
every precaution against mistakes.
| trust the young lady is not too
seriously indisposed to give you the
necessary information"
every well, sir. Exceedingly
well, sir. | fanciel-that | was
speaking to q gentleman. You will
find, sir, that the lady principal of
female college is not to be insult
ed with impunity. Good morning"
Very narrowing this. | am scarce
ly recovered from my lady govern
ess, when there is dash of wheels
to the door, and a young fellow,
hinging the reins to q groom in
livery, springs up the steps to the
door bell.
ooh, dash itr' he begins, breath
ing out volume of stale tobacco,
II beg your pardon, and that, but
the old woman-dash it! that's my
mothcr-told me ! should find my
ring here; so | ordered out the ves-
sci and the cats and spun along like
nincpencc for it"
81 shall be very glad to restore
the ring | was so unfortunate to find
when | can discover its owner
''Discover! dash it. didn't ! tell
You it's mine? l say, | wish you
wouldn't be so precious slow
don't want the eats to catch cold
I've just had 'em shampooed, y
know, nnpthnd, and that"
What sort of a ring was yoursY
"What sort? Oh, come, as if you
didn't know-that's good
| intimatcd that | should be glad
to find out if he knew.
"Not know my own ring, ch. /
I know its worth q couple Of ponies.
Come, let's hear the damage and
III STUN up"
81 cannot give up the ring unless
you describe it,
90. dash it. don't chaT q fellow
now. | don't care q hap about the
thing only it belonged to some de
funct party, and the governor would
cut up so dcuccd rough. I've got
heaps of 'em. Come, I'll swap you
any one Of these because Of GOV
crnor.'
( l respectfully declined the pro
Iposal.
"Well, dash it," explained the
young fellow, rs though struck with
a sudden idea, "what u couple of
muns we are! | could tell you in a
minute fits mine, dash it,
f, | replied that | was very sorry
that | could not oblige him, and,
adding that he had better obtain
an exact description of the thing
from his governor. recommended
him not to keep the cats longer in
the cold
Mem. | am getting exceedingly
tired Of my treasure trovc, | re
tire to my room with view of
dressing to 90 out. | am informed
that q lady wishes to see me, and |
an afraid my mental calculation
was not complimentary to tne lady
in question.
A tall, graceful figure, draped in
heavy mourning, rises at my en-
trance. She opens the negotiation
in some confusion, turning away
her face. She has come to me in
the hope Of regaining ring, care
| lessly lost, the parting gift Of a
fond father to her brother and her
self.
Ny eyes rested on the Grape about
her dress-on her pale, beautiful
face, from which the blush of con
fusion and tlmllity had faded. De
fcrentially / request her to describe
| it.
al large diamond, handsome, i"
she believed, "but valuable to her
for other reasons"
"But," l said, gently, ''chased on
the gold inside the ring there is"
"1 crest; | am aware of it," she
answered, sadly, "but | know moth
ING of heraldry, and have never Civ
en- it more than q second glance. My
brother is dying, sir" she said, lift
ing up her pale face in mine. "On-
ly this morning he missed the ring
from my finger, uneasily; we were
alone in the world; it is the only
relic left of one so lately taken from
us; how can l tell him it is lost?'
Il am sorry to pain you," / said
trying to be firm, "but it would he
moro satisfactory for all parties, and