The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1883-03-09
THE RING AND THE ROLL.

OF all the people tina, make troubl,
for themselves. the jealous can take til,
palm; and Of all the jealous. Mr.. Donalt
Mcdonald was able TO get the most tor
ture from the least material.
When Lucia fell in love with him sh,
did not dream of this aflliction. Sh,
did not fiatter herself that he remcm
bcred her when ont of his sight till on,
day on the piazza, n party of them hav
ing been talking gayly Of their possibl,
futures. and all having left but herself
he came back, and leaning up against
pillar and pushing down u roseVine. h,
asked, -
what is that you are doing, Lucia
does it require all your attention? Lool
AT me. Lucia" And she thouehtlessl,
obeyed. when we were all speaking
Of our paths in the future, was there an,
seriousness in what YOU said? Did yo,
suppose would ever listen to any plar
of a future for YOU in which l was no
Il par,9'
"You!' looking up at him where h,
lowered above her; dark and superb a.
Lucifer.
Il. And tell you now. Lucia, yo.
are going 10 marry me or nobody. You
are TO be my wife. or no mans wife -
And many of IIlcia's distrcsses cam,
from the ac9uicscence in which her glat
heart stood still moment before il bca
upon her lovers, in which her hand Ia,
trembling in his, while he slipped upoI
lis fingers a curious gemmed ring of RI,
bies and brilliants.
For Lucia was really happy. She Ne
sired no indiscriminate admiration: he,
husband was enough for her. She In,
his alteration, and she knew il. and h,
was her all in all; nothing more grand
and noble. and beautiful than he VA.
possible To her conception of human
being. She loved him so that if he hat
trampled her heart out of her body, sh,
would have thought it but fit servic,
she rendered him in suffering it. An,
il cost her nothing 10 rciinquish all com
partnership but his for she wanted n,
other.
Nevertheless. Lucia almost forgot her
sell one day when the servant announc
ed Mr. PUNISHABLE.
fore she thought. Il am delighted. -
And she held oui both hands 10 this ol,
schOolmaic. and -oIt of cousin. her cag
err fac. aylow. Ia hear what account hi
had Ia "'iv;' of himself asi.in. ii hc ~
this and replying a. - whcll,
or she remembered that. laughing Owe
occurring before her hus-
bands reign. and all nj once starting
looking about for her husband. beckOn-
inc him and, when he would not stir,
taking Mr.. Dunstable over herself, and
him. with another grand
mistake. rs dear old friend who was
one OF the family. but not scrap OF re-.
lation
A dear old friend, one of the family,
and not a scrap of relation! Nothing
further was needed to kindle Mr.. Nc.
altar fires. He was flint and
steel already. Wasting her sweetness
on curmudgcon," said Mr.. Dunstable
TO himself. And il for minute he had
n mind To give Mr.. Mcdonald something
to fret about. in another minute he
thought he would cut of his hand before
Lucia any trouble.
$50 he said To- her, when Mr.. Nc
Donald had walked on and left them as
q great dog leaves u couple Of children
that have disturbed him. '.you have 9
jailor--'
II have the best Of husbands" sht
exclaimed. "And l adore him. Be
side
Beside. l mustn't talk to you thai
al Il oh ~ L.
him to speak 40 To nv Kate. am GO
ing to he married to Kate Despard-tht
sweetest girl. must tell you about hel
tomorrow. What hour will you bt
alone?'
Tomorrow? Lucia had begun to re
collect herself sufficiently to know tina
her husbands wrath would be- brigh
and shining light tomorrow if such Al
interview took place.
"To-morrow she said. "But hav,
an engagement How long are you t.
be in iown9 Only two days? Let me SCI
Il shall be at Aunt Marbury's to-mOr
row At three"
She knew the drift OF her husband
thoughts TOO well, and he need not hay,
taken the trouble To formulate pro
pronnnciamcmto. rs he did nj dinner.
"A married iiirt," said Mr.. Mellon
aid. apropos of little or nothing. frank
of such q delorlnily in II womans char
actcr. would not live with her Al
hour.
"By-the-way." said Lucia, the lcas
bit TREMENDOUSLY, TON Dunstable is 20
ing to be married.
"You are very familiar, Lucia; bu
why 'by-the-way9 Is Mr.. Dnnstable
hirts"
He? Oh. no! but Kate Despard is
and he is going 10 marry her"
..Hc is 10 he piticd then, said Nj,
Mcdonald with asperity.
Yes. Tom is the most faithful fello'
in existence. lie will never forget th
time saved him from Master Brown
lows's rage by taking the ferruling m,
self.
You. Lucia? And the hound let 20,
Well. would thank him To forget.
want no man with "reminiscences of m
WIFE
But the next day she was at her Aul
Marbury's TO find Tom there before he
and Ia listen 10 his enamorcd account I
Kate Dcspard. his marriage, his hope
his plans
ii gave Kate a plain ring to wear ;
wedding ring by-and-by." said Ton
81 want an engagement ring for III
that has never been on anybody siinS'
and made like one you wore just befol
Won were married-the quaintest thin;
You have it on now. Lucia, perhaps:
"YcS. indeed. Don gave it to me.
was my engagement ring, Tom.
"Then Won would not care TO lend
for the goldsmith to scc?" asked Tor
Lucia hesitated. She did not wa
the ring her betrothcd gave dcsecratt
by passing from hand to hand. To Il
the truth, she had little rather Meth
Kate Despard nor another had rii
Just like it. And then Don would
certain to miscOnstruc. But Don net
not know. She hated to disoblige ToI
| II would be away only night. 81
slowly slipped off her glove and ga
il.
kate will thank you SO much. 50
Tom. lie took her hand a moment. It
is kind little hand" he said. ut W
always wear the pearl of great price.
Once" he added, half laughing. ii
fore my darling Kate's was promis
me, had hoped to call this little hal
my own" And they looked up to
NE. Donald McDopald towering Like