Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1881-10-20

| Miss Harold WAltXeu once WIFI Iltl-
bert, in token of her gratitude for ii
very pleasant day, she said. Then she
sat apart, near Lily, and watched the
brilliant scene.
They started home by moonlight.
But ere long the sky darkened, and
wild western wind began to wall along
the lonely road. The horses seemed a
little restlve over this sudden change
Herbert alighted to soothe them and to
rearrange the harness.
Lilly r. whispered Eva, "my neural
gia is coming on again, on this side OF
my face and this wind makes it worse.
Change places with. me, will you,
dear ?"
1t was done.
The clouds lowered more and more,
but the horses trotted swiftly on. And
beside Herbert, Lily was not at all
afraid.
Suddenly, in the darkness, she felt II
hand on hers. Herbert leaned toward
her, whispered Darling !" in the old,
fond tones, and left a small package III
her hand.
Breathless, and almost bewildered,
with the sudden change from gloom to
perfect JOY, Lily sat silent, till they
drew up again near the hotel.
Every one rose at once Every one
seemed to try to spring out of the
carriage at once.
In the confusion, Lily knew that she
was helped out by stranger by
Herbert.
But what did that matter while that
whisper rang in her ears, and while she
held that precious package in her hand?
She left them, telling their adventures
to an inquisitive circle i'll the drawing
room, and followed fast on Eva Harrold's S
steps, as she hurried to her room for
the night.
The door once closed upon the world,
Lily opened the package.
1t contained small velvet casket.
The casket held beautiful emerald
ring; and with the ring was this letter !;
"I cannot tell you here all that is IN
my heart for you. May | speak with
you tomorrow afternoon, i'll the dear
old parlor? Wear this ring, tomorrow,
as token, if you consent"
''The dear old parlor I" Yes, that was
where they two had spent so many
happy hours-just at frst-before Miss
Harold came.
Wear the ring? Aye, that she would !
With a sob of thankful, pious JOY, the
poor child slipped it on her finger, said
| her prayers, with Herbert's name III
them, and sank TRANQUILITY to sleep.
The early morning stage brought a
new guest handsome, languid South
erner, who seemed to think it a great
exertion even to live.
Beside him sat Miss Eva Harold
bright, radiant, sparkling, as no one had
ever seen her look before.
| Before noon the truth came ont. The
Southerner was the future husband of
Miss Harold and the next day the
party would leave for Baltimore, to eel
ebrate the wedding
Lily wore the emerald ring i'll vain
By nightfall, she heard them testing
over the sudden flight of Herbert Hale
He had left the hotel without attempting
to see her-without even waiting for an
answer to the question he had asked.
Lily lived through it, but the shock
rendered her harder, colder, more sus-
picious than before.
Six years passed by. She, too, was
an heiress, but she was alone in the
world. Miss Harold was the wife of
the Southern gentleman and Herbert
Hale was still a bachelor, when he and
Lily happened to meet once more, at
that same hotel, in the course of their
Summers tour.
They stood, one evening, talking
coldly and quietly of those other days,
when the moonlight fell full upon Lily's
hand, and upon the emerald ring, which
she had forgotten to lay aside that day.
Herbert turned pale as he looked at
it.
"You two changed places in the car
riage that night, he said, speaking be-
fore he thought.
Then Lily saw, felt, and understood
it all.
"What fool 1 have been! What
must you have thought of me-" she
cried, in an agony of self-contempt,
wrenching the ring from her hand and
throwing it passionately on the floor.
Herbert picked it up.
"It was given rightly, even if [ gave
it by mistake, . he said. Lilly, / never
really loved her! But you-oh, my
darling, We two are alone in the world
Let me put this ring on again until ]
give you another"
In time she must Lave been per
suaded. For the "keeper" of Mrs
Herbert Hale's wedding-ring is al
emerald to-day.
TEN years ago blast furnace which
would make 400 tons of metal per Weet