Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1882-09-14
THE LOST RING.

The summer was in its glow ana prime.
The hilltops were wreathed in amber mist
the river murmured softly through its willow
fringed shores the woods, all rihed OF their
leafy honors, like cathedral aisles, carpeted
with gold and russell and crimson layers, and
the nuts had never been so plentiful up IN
WreX's woods.
SQUIRRELS, schoolboys, picnic parties and
tramps all had their pick and choice Of the
nuts, and yet with every midnight frost and
sunrise gale, tie ground was strewn afresh
with them, and any adventurous stick, thrown
up into the branches, would bring down
shower of new treasures.
s'But why don't they bring these nuts to
market p' cried Laura Heritage. "Why don't
we have them in London :"
'Ain't enough of 'em MISS" said Job,
sturdy, young farm laborer. "Besides, they
amt what you'd call fancy nut"
Just then Mr.. Austin, the handsome young
curate of Comfortable, came up, and held out
his hand to Miss Heritage, with smile.
81 am glad to see you here ~ he said.
"And lam so glad to be here J" said Laura,
enthusiastically.
ssHow do you like country life ?" he asked.
'sOh, so much n'cried Laura "Maple Farm
is delightful, and Mr.. and Mrs Jennings are
like two antiquities out of a curiosity-shop.
And mamma would give untold gold for the
china that they use-eXtravagant creatures
on the table every day 1 could have cried
outright last night, when Phoebe dropped
cup and broke it. And we have open wood
fires on huge hearths, and the logs are so deli
ciously fragrant as they burn, and
'sAnd little Phoebe p said Mr.. Austin, smi-
ling-''does she strike you as curiosity,
also 20
Laura laughed.
''The niece ?" said she. "Do you know
have scarcely looked at her? | like pretty
people and pretty things, and that child is such
a figure" !"
She spoke carelessly, quite unaware-and
very possibly she would not have cared had
she known it-that Phoebe Jennings was nthe
sunken glade just below, where the yellow
sunshine quivered, and a noisy little rlyulet
leaped over noisy stones on it's way to the river.
Phoebe was big eyed and solemn, with face
and hands almost as brown as the nuts, and
hair that waved and crinkled all over her head.
Mr.. Austin had always had pleasant word
and smile from her Miss Heritage was the
realistic of her ideas of an angel-and now
they are laughing about her
Phoebe stood minute with her great eyes
brimming over, her lower lip tightly elapsed
by pearl-White teeth.
''Job," said she, at last, ''my bucket is full.
1 think III 60 home.'
"What, Already 20 cried Job.
"Yes,'' said Phoebe. "Maybe Aunt Jen-
nings wants me. I'd better CO."
Mrs. Jennings, cutting piece of gold clear
honey in the comb, out of a glass box, was as
tonished at the breathless apparition OF her
little niece flying headlong down the steep
grade of the apple orchard:
"Bless me. child - said Mrs. Jennings.
Didn't 1 tell you you could stay till sum
DOWN."
"I-I didn't want to,'' said Phoebe.
And she rushed upstairs 10 her room, and
cried until she could cry no longer.
Miss Heritage ''liked pretty people and pref
ty things" and she (PheDe) was 'such
hgure!" e, H.,
She had not known it before. She had
thought her calico dress, with the black stars
upon it, was beautiful and she had innocent
ly rejoiced in the brown ribbon bow Tor her
neck, that had been her uncle's own present.
And then Phoebe looked in the little six-inch
glass and realized how brown, how unkempt,
and gpsy-lke she was-how dissimilar was
her dress from Miss Hertage's soft lace and
floating ribbon-loops. And Mr.. Austin, III
whose Bible-class she was
II wish was dead !" sobbed poor Phoebe.
ssNo, aunt, please!' to Mrs. Jennings kindly
call. 81 don't want any tea"
mo tea ~ said Mrs. Jennings, in amaze
ment. 'Child, does your head ache ?"
eyes, said Phoebe, who had never known
what it was to suffer an ache or pain in her
life. eyes! Please-pease let me alone J"
Two days later Miss Heritage came down to
breakfast with perturbed air.
"My pearl ring" said she, lis gone"