Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-11-19

the truth, she had o little rather neither
Kate Despard nor another had ring
lust like it. And then Don would be
certain to misconstrue. But Don need
not know. She hated TO disoblige Tom.
1t would be away only night. Sh
slipped off her glove and gave it.
"Kate will thank you 80 much," said
Tom. He took her hand moment.
"It is kind little hand" he said. "It
will always wear the pearl Of great
price. Once" he added, half laughing,
"before my darling Kate's was promised
me, had hoped to call this hand my
own" And they looked up, to see Mr..
Donald Mcdonald towering like an
avenging deity in the doorway. He had
heard only the last phrase.
"Do not let me interrupt you," he
said, in his loftiest accent Of whitening
scorn.
But Lucis was too quick for him.
"Good.bye, Tom," she cried, regard
less of appearances.
Goodbye. suppose we meet at
Mrs. Msynard's dinner tonight"
But she was at the carriage, beside
her husband, before the words had
passed Toms lips.
"Aren't you going to help me in,
Don% she asked.
"Do you wish to enter2" asked the
Grand LLAMA.
Why, certainly I do. I told John
to drive round, and wondered he was SO
slow"
"Slowl Too quick, I should say"
he answered, while John shook his
white reins to the prancing beasts.
"Oh, now, Don," she exclaimed; i;
"you are angry at poor Toms pa
laver."
"I don't know any right your poor
Tom has to be talking palaver to my
wife,"
"He was telling Of his happiness
with Kate Despard."
"I don't know any right my wife
has to receive condolences from another
/ man."
"Don, aren't you ashamed" cried
Lucia, desperately. "An old friend,
all but brought up in the house with
ne"
els that any reason he should be
saying to you that once he expected to
call your hand his own? You, married
woman, listening to him And for all
7 know he has kissed your hand. 1t is
shameful it is monstrous It is abom-
inablel"
"He never kissed my hand"
"Why is your glove OFF,"
ooh, Don, my darling, how ridiculous
you make yourself!"
"Answer my question. Have you
been exchanging rings with that rascal ?"
he cried, his eyes blazing in his white
face. "By the Lord, if that is so, I
will have his life? Where are your
rings, Lucia p
"Gracious, Don, what fame you
can blow up from spark Do you ex-
pect me to wear my rings about like 80
many fettersp Rings hurt ones hands
under gloves, and don't always wear
them"
"You will let me see e"-his eyes
growing blacker and blacker, as if his
wrath condensed its darkness through
them" every ring I have given you,
the moment we enter the house, whether
you find them fetters or notl"
And the brilliant and ruby gemmel in
Tom Dunstable's pocketl What on
earth was she to do? Why had she not
told him the whole story at first? Now,
under threats, it was too late. He
would not believe her. He would be
only the more infuriated.
"Do you mean to say, Donald" she
exclaimed, turning on him her beautiful
eyes, "that you are accusing me, your
faithful wife, of anything your words
imply ?" Then the worm turned. "How
long do you think you can keep my af-
fections-"
81 don't imagine can keep them. ]
don't imagine have kept them" And
when, as just at that instant they
reached their own door, band of music
set the horses to dancing, the carriage
wheels ran up the stepping-stone, and
a crash ensued, out Of which she was
lifted in dead faint, Lucia counted it
one of the good fortunes of her life.
OF course, with the servants running
this way and that, and with confusion
and cries in the house, rings and re-
proaches were forgotten, and MIR. Donald
Mcdonald, calling himself brute,
hung over his wife in despair, AMI Lucia
had delightful hour of recovery and
devotion; and then, against her hus-
bands remonstrances, proceeded to
dress for Mrs. MaynGri's dinner.
"Ah, what hypocrite and actress I
am becoming |" she sighed TO herself.
"And what coward And all because
I love him so."