The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-05-13


"Ms pearl ring" said she; "it's gone.
Nov Mias Horitagcs pearl ring WAS
not 81 ordinary trinlet, but costly
pegai-shaped pearl, set In slender
heon Of braided gold.
assmer Jennings set down his coffee
cup and stared; Mrs. Jennings uttered
little cry; Lucy who was bringing in
a plate OF hot toast from the kitchen,
stood still.
fDeary mel" said Mrs. jennings,
"where can you have dropped itl"
81 never dropped it at all" said
Laure, positively. at has been taken
--stol from my room"
"But, Miss Heritage said tho far
mer's wife, mildly, "who is there that
woule steal itl'
sl don't know" said Lapea, excited
y. 'd knew that IL has been stolen,
ans ] wish you would send for the 20.
lice at once"
OF course there WAS no ono upon
whom suspicioA could fall but Lucy
poor, friendloss, orphaned Lucyi Not
exactly frisndless, either, for Mr.. Aus
tin quietly declared that it WAS quite
impossible that she could have com.
mitted crimc like this.
81 have known her ever since she
came to Maple Farm" said he. "She
is member Of my Biblc-claaf- She
never did itI"
And Mis-. Jennings valiantly assert
ed that "she wouldn't never believe no
such thing of Lucy, as never yet 80
much as took pin as wpsn't herr"
"You are all infatuated about that
girl" said Laura, petulantly. "Who
else could have taken III"
"But surely, Miss Heritage" pleaded
Dir. Austin, "you will not prosecute tho
poor thingi You will give poor Lucy
the benefit Of tho doubt"
'I do not see that there is any doubt" :"
said Laura. StiTy, "and my pearl ring
must be returned"
81 will pay you the value Of il my
self" said Dir. Austin, eagerly, ''if-"
You are very much interested in the
eulprit," said Laura, with curl Of her
full, red lips; "but that will not answer
the ends Of justice at all. No. She
stole the ring g--let her confess, or suffer-
The curate looked ut Laura with
mute surprise-almost with disgust.
Al that moment, when Miss Heritage
sat, like female Fate, on the sofa, md
MIs. Jennings was comforting poor
little Lucy up stairs, JOB came shutting
in.
"Found your ringf m,i.i Le.
NO." sAid Laura
Here il is, said job
tnd sure enough. tic great pearl
shaped pearl lay giimmer.ng. ike
drop OF moonlight, IA the horny l..lni Of
his hand.
Where did ynu set it, brrr,hls,s'y
demanded Miss Heritage"
job ehuekleJ, aud looked ,atber
.sheepish.
..ssant J hooshel o'i,uis - .nY e1asin
genny,' said he. Jenny was alseys
Partial TO nuts; and she wr.s back 10
mc-what did mcan by seudin' her
pearl ring ia 'emi" Didn't / krow she
was keeping company with Peter
Cranel And / writ / didn't send no
pear ring; aud this mornin' this came
back oy post" nodding his head at the
jewel. "And the very minute ! set
eyes on it / knowed it was tho one
Miss Heritage wore that afternoon at
the nuttin."
Laura turned scarlet.
II must have dropped it in the nuts,
said she.
"Of course you did" said job.
wonder YOU never thought of it aforsl"
So the awful shadow OF suspicion was
lifted off Lucy; aud Miss Heritage even
eondecended TO murmur some sort Of
apology before she went away.
But it's too. ridiculous the fuss thoy
make about that GIRL" said Miss Her
itage, viciously. "Richard Austin will
never forgive me for daring to doubs
her"
No; il was quite true, Mr. Austin
was completely disenchanted with the
dimpled and rock-hearted Laura. And
when he did marry, three years after
wards, the brides name was simple
"Lucy."
For the dark-eyed child had grown
into radiant wemsnhood, and Rich.rd
Austin knew that she was diamond
fit to wear on any mans breast.