The Virginia star., 1882-12-16
TWO HOMES.

There was trouble on a certain morn
ing in two homes at opposite ends OF
the city.
| The homes were very different, and
so was the nature of the trouble; never
theless, the latter was felt with con-
siderable keenness.by the RESPECTIVE in
habitants of both.
The first OF these dwellings was on
the south side of Merton Square, a
goodly mansion, the abode of wealth
and luxury.
The lady to whom all this belonged
sat disconsolate in the midst of her
rich surroundings.
Books and embroidery were on the
dainty little fower-decked table at her
side, but they were untouched; and
restless, troubled expression was on her
face while she nervously olasped and
unclasped the ieweled hands lying idle
in her lap.
The door opened, and footman an
nounced visitor.
"Oh," she exclaimed, rising to greet
her, 'you got my note"
"How kind of you to come !"
81 am in such distress"
'sTefrfa what?' asked the friend.
"You3remember't il itl, :
Merrihe#?" Laura
"Of course
But 40 one has seen her for years. {"
countr5biace taR9gt a9ggtt herself up in her
died .h4 she not?' -shand
/ 'Yes3 NE is still a prey to grief"
"BeIgla e they y.. nnsssglssge s her husband
sssssinuable jewel that had been in his
family from time out of mind. and haA
| come to him for his mother.
'It was diamond, single stone Of
great size and the purest water"
F'Of course she valued it immensely,
as indeed she would have any gift of a
man to whom sho was so devoted"
"Since his death this ring has been
simply estimable in her eyes - the
earnest of happiness ruined so soon.
'Latterly, she has fancied that the
stone was becoming loose in the setting,
and spoke of sending the ring to me to
have it examined by a jeweler, but
could never make up her mind to part
with it, even for a few days.
cat last, however, the stone came out
of the setting"
"She sent it Immediately to me, and"
here the speaker broke down-'I
have lost it !"
"You have lost the stone?"
"How very unfortunate p
"No wonder you are SO wretched."'
"Tell me how it happened"
The lady told her story, pouring the
details of her misadventure into sympa-
thetic ears,
The means that had been adopted for
the recovery of the lost treasure were
discussed by the two ladies, and fresh
measures suggested.
At last the visitor departed, leaving
the owner of these gorgeous drawing
rooms with an anxious and heavy heart
under her "silk attire"
The other home was in a different
quarter of the city.
It consisted of one room in house
let out as tenements.
the house was habited by extremely
poor families, and situated in a dirty
and dark back street.
Lying outside the bed, partly dressed.
was man-the wreck of a fine, stall
wart, broad-shouldered young fellow.
He was day-laborer. and had lately
left the hospital after long and heavy
tit of illness.
Two small children were pIayino
quietly in a corner; and the wife. her
apron thrown over her head, was sitting
beside the fireless CRATE, rocking her
self backwards and forwards. sobbino
bitterly.
If could get work, wouldn't fret
said the young woman.
we might struggle on, and keep the
lie In us till such time as you were on
your feet again.
But I can't"
ITS poor case to be able and will |
ing to work. and not get 1t to do"
"rhe1 las. job of needlework Miss