Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1882-04-28

body's finger. and made just like one
you worejust before you married-the
quaintest thing You have it on now,
perhaps"
Eyes, indeed, have. Don gave it
to me. 1t was my engagement ring,
Tom
Then you probably would not care
to lend it for the goldsmith to seer
asked Tom.
Lucia hesitated. She did not want
the rig her betrothed gave her desc
Grated by passing from hand to hand.
TO tell the truth, she had little rather
neither Kate Despard nor another had
q ring just like it. And then Don
would be certain to misconstrue. But
Don need not know. She hated 10 dis
oblige Tom. II would be away only a
night. She slowly slipped off her glove,
and gave it.
Kate will thank you SO much, said
Tom. He took her hand moment.
1t is kind little hand, he said, 'it
will always wear the pearl Of great
price. Once he added, half laughing,
before my darling Hates was PROM
Used to me, had hoped to call this lit
tie hand my own" And they looked
up to see Mr.. Donald McDodald tower
ing like an avenging deity in the door
way. He had heard only Tho last
phrase.
'Pray do not let me interrupt you, :"
lac said, in his Hottest accents OF wither-
ing scorn.
But Lucia was too quick for him.
"Good-by Tom, she cried, regardless
Of appearances.
"Good-by. | suppose we meet at
Mrs. Maynard's dinner tonight ?" but
she was ut the carriage, beside her hus-
band, before the words had passed
Toms lips.
Aren't you going TO help me in
Don 2" she asked.
do you wish to enter" asked the
grand Llama.
"Why, certainly ! do. | told John
to drive round, and wondered he was
SO slow"
"Slow? Too quick, | should say"
he answered, while John shook his
white reins to the prancing beasts.
oh, now, Don, she exclaimed, "you
are angry Mt poor Toms palaver."
81 don't know any right poor Tom
has TO be talking palaver to my wife"
He was telling of his happiness,
with Kate Despard"
81 don't know any right my wife
has to receive confd ences from anoth-
or man."
"Don, aren't you ashamed" cried
Lucia, desperately. AN old friend,
all but brought up in the house with
me"
rs that any reason he should be
saying to you that once he expected
to call your hand his own? You a
married woman, listening to him
And for all l know he had kissed your
hand. Ii is shameful 1t is INDUSTRIOUS
1t Is abominable |"
He never kissed my hand.
why is your glove eif y
ooh, Don, my darling, how ridicu-
lous you make yourselfl'
Answer my question. Have you
been exchanging rings with that ras-
cal r. he cried, his eyes blazing III his
white face. "By the Lord, if that is so,
| will have his life Where are your
rings, Lucia?'
Gracious, Don, what flame you
can blow up from spark Do yo.
expect me to wear my rings about
like so many fetters2 Rings hurt ones
hands under gloves and don't always
wear them"
"You will let me See his eyes
blacker and hlacker, as if his
n. "A u
them every ring | have given you,
the moment we enter the house,
you ind them letters or not !"
And the brilliant and ruby gemmel
i'll Tom Dunstable's pocket 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 be only the more Infatuated
do you mean to say, Donald" she
exclaimed, turning on him her beauti-
mi eyes, that you are accusing me,
your faithful wife, of anything your
words implv? Then the worm turned.
How long do you think you can retain
my affections
Il don't imagine l can keep them,
don't imagine l 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, with confusion and
cries in the house, rings and reproaches
we're forgotten, and Mr.. Mcdonald,
calling himself brute, hung over his
wife in despair, and Lucia had de-
ightful hour of recovery and devotion;
and then, against her husbands re-
proceeded to dress for
Mrs. Msynard's dinner
"Ah, what hypocrite and actress
am becoming" she sighed to herself.
| love him SO"
But nobody would have thoHght the
lovely creature sweeping into Mrs. May
nard's drawing-room in her white gold
satin, was any of the
horrid things she called herself. They
were the last arrivals, and when Lucia
went out on Mr.. Maynard's arm she
found herself in little spasm of
fright, with Tom PUNISHABLE al the
other hand and her husband nearly
Ii was moment Of sbso-
lutte terror TO Lucia. She knew that
the sight Of Tom Dunstahle would bring
back all her husbands mood. She
saw the black cloud shut down over his
face instantly, and she felt that her
least motion would be watched with
lynx-like narrowness.
But she must get that ring, and be-
fore she put on her gloves again.
e Tom," she whispered, not looking at
him, scarcely moving her lips, and her
face placid as sunshine, give re that
ring at once, as you value my life"
"Great heavens r murmurred Tom;
= it is at the goldsmith's'
The CONSERVATION and pleading in
her eyes would have ruined her had