The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-03-22
Lucia hesitated. She did not want

slowly slipped off her glove and gave
it.
'sKate will thank you SO much, said
Tom. He took her hand moment. 'It
is kind little hand,' he said. at will
always wear the pearl Of great price
Once" he added, half laughing, "be-
fore my darling Kate's was promised
me, had hoped to call this little hand
my own" And they looked up to see
Mr.. Donald Mcdonald, towering like an
avenging deity in the doorway. He had
heard only the last phrase.
''Do not let me interrupt you," he
said, in his loftiest accent of whitening
seorn.
But Lucia was too quick for him.
"Good-by, Tom," she cried, regard
less of appearances.
''Good-by. | suppose we meet at
Mrs. Maynard's dinner Tonight" but
she was at the carriage beside her hus-
band, before the words had passed Tom 8
lips.
Aren't yoa going to help me in,
Donp" she inquired.
'.Do you wish to enter?'' asked the
Grand Llama.
''Why certainly do. I told John to
drive around and wondered why he was
so slow"
"Slow? Too quick, should say" he
answered, while John shook his whip
reins to the prancing beasts.
''Oh, now Don!" she exclaimed, "you
are angry at 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.'
II don't know any right my wife has
to receive confidence from another
man."
"Don, aren't you ashamed" said Lu-
cia, desperately. "An old friend, all
but brought up in the house with me
els that any reason that he should be
saying to you that once he expected to
call your hand his own? You married
woman, listening to himp And for all I
know, he had kissed your hand. 1t is
shameful 1t is monstrous! 1t is abom-
inabler'
"He never kissed my hand"
"Why is your glove Off"
"Oh, Don, my darling, how ridicul-
GUS you make yourself!''
ANSWER my question. Have you
been. exchanging rings with that ras-
white face. "By the Lord, if that is SO,
/ will have his life! Where are your
rings, LuciaP'
'sGracious, Don, what a flame you
can blow up from a spark! Do you ex-
pect me to wear my rings about like SO
many fettersp Rings hurt ones hand
under gloves and don't always wear
them
"You will let me see''-his eyes grow
ing blscker and blacker, as if his wrath
condensed its darkness through them
''every ring have given you, the mo-
ment we enter the house, whether you
find them fetters or not!,'
''Do you mean to say, Donald" she
exclaimed, turning on him her beauti-
full eyes, "that you are accusing me,
your faithful wife, of anything your
words implyP" Then the worm turned.
''How long do you think you can keep
my affections"
Il don't imagiue l can keep them. I
don't imagine have keptthem-" And
when, as just at that instant they reach
ed 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 che 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
were forgotten, and Mr.. Mcdonald call
ing himself a brute, hung over his wife
in despair, and Lucia had delightful
hour of recovery and devotion; and
then, against her husbands remon-
strances, proceeded to dress for Mrs.
Maynard's dinner.
''Ah, what hypocrite and actress 1
am becoming" she sighed to herself
''And what q coward! And all because
/ love him so.
But nobody would have thought the
lovely creature sweeping into Mrs. May
nard's drawing-room in her white, gold
embroidered satin, was any of the hor-
rid 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 Dunstable at the other hand and her
husband nearly opposite. 1t was mo-
ment of absolute terror to Lucia. She
knew that the sight of Tom Dunstable
would bring back all her husband 8
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 before
she put on her gloves again.
''Tom,' she whispered, not looking
at him, scarcely moving her lips, and
face placid as sunshine, ''give me that
ring at once, as you value my life. !"
The CONSERVATION and pleading in
her eve would have ruined her had not
her husband trod on Miss Ormond's
train in the general seating, and been q
moment preoccupied. In that moment
Tom, nodding an excuse to his neigh
Dor and also to Mr.. Maynard, slipped
into the hall, and was back again before
the rustic had entirely subsidized.
The prairie chicken was being served
when she saw, as if in dream, a waiter
who had just come in, STOPPING to pick
up Toms napkin, and asidelong glance
showed her Tom fumbling with tiny
parcel. In another breath it was al
right The color left her cheek; she
understood what was said around her
the prairie chicken had some flavor
She stretched her hand for bit o.
bread.
~ beg your pardon" said Tom
s'this is your roll, / Think
She crumbled the roll between them
and the ring touched the tip of her fing
er, and with the help of the crust anc
the tablecloth she worried it into its us
ual place, while answering Mr.. May
nard's question as to her preference re
garding game. And as she raised he
| hand to brush back a love-lock falling
too low over her beautiful eyes, Mr.
Donald Mcdonald saw the blood-ret
flush of the ruby gemmed ring.
1t was not till year and day afte
that he heard the story from his wife
and forgiving her for her part, promised
better fashions for his own.
They Died First.