The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-03-02

representation Of Pocahontas and
| Captain Smith.
When the room was relighted
Belle said to Bertha and Mr.. Lee.
please step back and be careful.
! have let the ring fall
How careless!' exclaimed Ber-
tha.
No, BERTHA said Belle; 'yon
brushed 1t. from my hand when
you passed in front of ne. OF
course it is on the floor but !
fear some one will crush it,
Every one stepped aside, and
the floor was carefully searched ;
but the ring remained in its hid,
ing.pIace.
1t is very singular,' said Bertha,
with unpleasant emphasis. 1 do
not recoIlcct having brushed
against you, Belle
4 do,' answered her cousin with
decision.
We'll, the ring is missing, and
it is too valuable to be given up
without an effort to recover it.
mean no reflection on any one
in particular when [ propose that
we each and all submit to be
searched
Belle cast a startled glance at
Bertha, aud exclaimed with great
agitations 'Oh, no! Never! Ii
would be disgraceful!' =
'Disgraceful to whom p aske d
Bertha, significantly.
Il agree with Miss Belle said
Mr.. Lee, looking pale and very
thin about the nostriIs, 'and op
pose it positively as, one who
should have somewhat to Say in
the matter, being owner Of the
ring.
And t. said Arthur, agree with
Bertha, and insist upon adopting her
suggestion. I being the representa-
tive of the house. | am sure that
none Of our guests will feel they are
reflected upon when We all submit to
the same ordeal.
oh, Arthur ! | cannot will not !!
said Belle, her face afane aud heI
eyes brimning with tears.
You can: and you shall ! said Ar.
thur imperiously; but the agitation of
his sister became so painful that Mr..
Lee again iuterposed: Arthur, ii
this is allowed to proceed, you must
not count me your guest longer than
it will take to pack my trunk. An
accident has occurred to which any Of
US was liable who held the ring ; and
the ring is probably NOW lying in
safety within few feet of u.s.
Very likely said Bertha, in sug
gestive soto v0ce
Doubtless it will turn up tomor-
row under the piano or between the
back and front of the sofa,' said one
of the girls, or in some place where
any of US might find 1t if We only knew
where to look
'Ah that's really bright! : ex'
claimed Bertha, satirically; :and
think if the rest of US set our wits tc
work as vigorously We might accom-
plish something. I, for one, am anx
ious to remove $3.50 unpleasant ar
association with Uncle James'-a-
Uncle James family aud if search
ing me will contribute to that end,
am sure | shall not feel humiliated
I canuot imagine why Belle should
take such view of it.
I insist upon it, said Arthur, NOR
tilted and ezcited-'I insist upon i
that Belle shall prove-that Bell
shall be the first to allow herself
Whereat Belle uttered cry of dis
may and ran to her chamber, WherC
she threw herself sobbing on the bed
, The tableaux were failure. Their
was no laughing behind the scenes
and little appreciation in the au
dience for Belle was the darling 0
the village, and her present painful
position was almost equally distress
ing to her guests. They missed he
bright, Sympathetic ways they mlssc'
! her ready assistance; and each on
, resented what the rest were supposet
to think. Arthur made final efor
, to induce his sister to 60 down agail
to the parlor; though he added, tha
would prove nothing unless she pre-
/ duced the ring, for any one coul
have concealed it il hundred way
, during the length Of time she ha
, been absent. Belle was weeping 81
5 leptly.