Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-12-22
THE STORY OF A RING.
WHAT TURNED A Rich YOUNG HAN ADAMS
SOCIETY,

A young man, whose face recog-
nized as that of a wealthy family up
town, rolled up the avenue in dog
cart the other afternoon, with devil
may-care air about him. 4 gentleman
said, "Poor fellow, he Is going to the
dogs fast, and do you know that his
spirit was broken by curious circum-
stance. He was devoted in his atten-
tions to Miss -, now Mrs. -, a
very charming young woman in society
here several years ago, but she was
piqued by something that he did, and
as result she broke off her engage
ment with him, which had become
well known. and soon put on the ring
offered her by another admirer. The
discarded lover in the best of taste
wore his disappointment lightly, and
in order that there might be no break
in his relations with the family, which
would cause a scandal, he began to
devote himself as assiduously to a
younger sister. He went to recep.
ton one evening with the sister, and
his former fiance with her lover was
there. The latter was called away
during the evening by telegram, and
he asked the escort of his betrothed's
sister, if he would not see both home.
He responded pleasantly: Yes, but it
il hardly fair TO revive memories of
other days in that way. However, |
will be gallant As the three enter
ed the carriage to go home the dis
carded lover began pleasantly to jest
with the lady about her new engage
ment. Oh he said, / believe you
will break it. You are famous, you
know, for that But / am now en-
gagged for good, she said. See, have
a ring, and you did not give me one
No., he replied, our affair was not
quite so serious. But | dare say you
are too superstitious to take the ring
off and let me see it, Certainly not,
she said, drawing beautiful ring from
her finger. The young man examined
il and tried to make out an Italian in
scription that was inside. A moment
later the carriage jolted 50 as to divert
the thoughts of all for a minute or
two, and then the lady interrupted the
flow of conversation by saying, Where
is my ringf The gentleman said I
put it in your lap A search was
made and il could not be found. The
girls both shook out their dresses and
o patient inspection was made Of every
Granny in the carriage, but in vain.
The lady lost her temper. and began
to accuse her escort of keeping her
ring. He protested upon his honor
that he had returned the ring to her
BY laying il upon her lap. She denied
that he had put Il back there, and her
sister said that the last she saw Of il
was when the gentleman was examin-
ing it. When the carriage arrived at
the home of the young woman they got
out carefully and examined the side
walk closely after they passed across
ii to see If they dropped the ring. They
asked their escort to step In and see
their father. The old gentleman
scolded right and left--the daughter
for trifiing with her engagement ring,
and the gentleman for presumiDg to
pay attention TO the daughter after
their own engagement was broken.
The young man then asserted that he
believed that the loss Of the ring was
adopted as pretext TO break the
friendship. The young lady insisted
that he had taken the ring and kept
it. He offered 10 allow the father to
search him, but he was requested 70
end his interview and his relations
with the family at once. He soon
found that he was branded In society
as o thief, and a. he was formally cut
BY some of those he had considered
his best friends, be ceased at once to
90 into society. Soon afterward he
became possessed by inheritance Of a
fortune, and being utterly dishearten-
ed he turned into a melancholy spend
thrift and began to run the road that
leads to the dogs"
"But was he guiltyY
"AlIow me to finish. The engage
ment ring was replaced BY the one
who gave IL with new one. and the
marriage was duly celebrated. Some
months ago the bride was ripping up
her old party dress, which was Of white
tulle, with founces and flutings, and,
IS she drew : thread that helps Q
founce, the ring, that her quoDdam
lover and sisters friend was suspected
Of having stolen. rolled upon the floor.
Explanations came too late, aud young
- has become 30 set in bis new
pursuit that the smiles of society have
now, after bis bitter experience IN un-
-. Il = - %