Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-02-03
SAVED BY A RING.

Twelve months ago last November
ran down into Warwickdale, England,
to spend a few days with my cousin
Horace Mason. Immediately after my
arrival l was escorted up to my room,
and then down to the drawing-room,
where l found Mrs. Patton, Horaee's
lady housekeeper-his duenna, as he
was wont to call her-and Mr.. Fitz-
patrick, the rector of the parish. Mrs.
Patton / knew well. She was most
amusing compound of dignity and
jollity, and we were the best friends in
the world, though she always declared
that did nothing but make fun OF her.
Mfr. Fitzpatrick never had seen before;
For during my previous visits he had
always happened to be from home. He
was n tall, portly, elderly gentleman,
with rather florid complexion, and
magnificent head of perfectly white hair,
the effect of which was increased by
pair OF bushy and perfectly black eye
brows. He greeted me very cordially;
and as soon as we were seated at the
dinner-table, / discovered that his forte
was conversation and his foible mono
logue. have heard some good steady
takers in my time; but I am prepared
to back Mr. Fitzpatrick against any of
them
had noticed during dinner that, as is
the habit of some widowers, he wore n
wedding ring, which had presumably
been his wife's; and over this another
ring, of the kind usually worn by ladies,
in which set three very handsome bill
liants. After dinner Mrs. Patton had
retired, the conversation somehow or
other took turn in the direction of
precious stones, and Horace, who at last
managed to get in word or too, said
something about the difficulty OF distin-
gushing, in the absence of tests, a true
stone from a really well executed imita-
ton, and took from his waistcoat pocket
q manufactured diamond which | GER
tainly should have pronounced genuine.
For purposes of comparison, Mr.. Fitz-
patrick slipped from his finger the ring
of which | have just spoken; and after
1t had been examined and replaced, he
said; There is curious story connect
ed with that ring, Mr.. Mason, dare say
you have heard ita"
I've heard something about it, said
Horace, but don't know all the par
ticulars; and I don't think my cousin
has heard anything oft"
We'll, then" said Mr.. Fitzpatrick.
" may as well tell il to you, If you care
to hear it. The story begins and ends a
long time ago. 1t is forty years this
very month since became engaged to
be married. was then a curate, and
had not much money to spare; but
had just received legacy OF rather less
than hundred pounds, and, in a fit
Of extravaganza, hardly excusable even
in lover OF fve-and-twenty, / spent
the whole Of it and few pounds more
in purchasing ring for my future wife.
We expected the engagement to be a
long one; but the rector OF his parish
died suddenly, and my great uncle, in
whose gilt the living was, presented me
TO 1t. The rector's death took place in
February. read myself in on Easter
Sunday; and on the first OF June we
were married. / suppose every newly
married husband and wife think them
selves the happiest people in the world /;
but ] honestly believe that we really
were so. We had not only each other,
but that we had everything else that we
could possibly desire-a larger income
tbaa we needed, work that was thor
oughly congenial to both OF us, few
real friends, number of pleasant ac-
quaintanoes, and an utter freedom from
all anxiety.
This unalloyed happiness lasted for
six months, when my wife's health
failed In mysterious manner. She be-
gan TO be subject to strange fits of Ian
Ruor, physical depression and drowsi-
ness, 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
ofthe heart was not quite so strong rs 1t
ought TO be. there was absolutely moth
ing to account for the symptoms. At
ali sevents they could only recommend
tonies. gentle open air exercise, and an
occasional stimulant. In spite of them
all, however, my wife grew worse and
worse. a. last she took TO her bed;
and she had not been II bed week