The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-03-22
THE RING AND THE ROLL.

The RING AND THE BOIL.
Of all the people that make trouble
for themselves, the jealous can take the
palm; and of all the jealous, Mr. Donald
Mcdonald was able to get the most tor
ture from the least material.
When Lucia fell in love with him she
did not dream of this affliotion. She
| did not flatter herself that he remem-
bered her when out of his sight till one
! day on the piazza, party of them hav-
ing been talking gayly of their possible
futures, and all having left but herself,
he came back, and leaning up against
! pillar and pushing down a rosevine, he
! asked
What is that you are doing, Lucia?
does it require all your attention? Look
at me. Lucia And she thoughtlessly
obeyed. ''When we were all speaking
of our paths in the future, was there any
seriousness in what you said? Did you
suppose l would ever listen to any plan
of future for you in which L was not
part?n
Your looking up at him where he
lowered above her; dark and superb as
Lucifer
-. And Itell you now, Lucia, you
! are going to marry me or nobody. You
! are to be my wife, or no mans wife. -
And many of L-lcia's distresses came
from the acquiescence in which her glad
heart stood still a moment before it beat
upon her lovers, in which her hand Law
| trembling in his, while he slipped upon
its fingers q curious gemmed ring of ru-
bies and brilliants
For Lucia was really happy. She,de-
sired no indiscriminate admiration; her
husband was enough for her She had
lis adoratiOn, and she knew it, and he
was her all in all; nothing more grand,
and noble, and beautiful than he. was
possible to her conception of human
being. She loved him so that if he had
trampled her heart out of her body, she
would have thought it but fit service
she rendered him in suffering it. And
il cost her nothing to relinquish all COM
panionship but his for she wanted no
other.
Nevertheless, Lucia almost forgot her
self one day when the servant announce
ed Mr.. Dunstsble.
Tom Dumstabler' she exclaimed be-
fore she thought. II am delighted -
And she held out both hands to this old
schoolmate, and sort of cousin, her Gag
er face aglow, to hear what account he
had to give Of himself asking if he re-
mcmbered this and replying as to wheth-
er she remembered that, laughing over
| circumstances occurring before her hus-
| bands reign, and all al once starting
looking about for her husband beckon-
ing him and, when he would not stir,
taking Mr.. Dunstable over herself, and
Introducing him, with another grand
mistake, as dear old friend who was
one of the family, but not scrap OF re-
lat9on
A dear old friend, one of the family,
and not scrap of relation! Nothing
! further was needed to kindle Mr.. Nc
| Donald S altsr fires lie was flint and
steel already. Wasting her sweetness
on a curmudgeon, said Mr.. Dunstable
10 himself. And if for minute he had
mind to give Mr.. Mcdonald something
| to fret about, in another minute he
thought he would cut off his hand before
making Lucia any trouble.
$50" he said to her, when Mr.. Nc
Donald had walked off and left them as
great dog leaves couple of children
chat have disturbed him, ''you have a
| iailor-''
81 have the best of husband's!' she
exclaimed land l adore him. Be-
side
Beside, I mustn't talk to you that
way. Well. won't. | shouldn't like
him to speak so to my Kate. am go
inc to be married to Kate Despard-the
| sweetest girl! / must tell you about her
tomorrow. What hour will you be
aloneP'
Tomorrow? Lucia had begun to re-
collect herself sufficiently to know that
her husbands wrath would be bright
and shining light tomorrow if such an
interview took place.
"To-morrowP' she said. '.But have
an engagement. How long are you to
be in townP Only two daysp Let me see
i shall be at Aunt Marbury's to-mor-
row at three"
She knew the drift of her husband s
thoughts too well, and he need not have
taken the trouble to formulate pro-
pronunciamento, as he did at dinner.
"a married iirt,'' said Mr. McDon-
aid, apropos of little or nothing, franks
with the monstrous. Once convinced
of such deformity in woman's char
acter, [ would not live with her an
hour.
''By-the-way,' said Lucia, the least
bit tremulously, Tom Dunstable is go
ing TO be married" "
You are very familiar, Lucia; but
why 'by-the-way?' Is Mr.. Dunstable a
fiirt?''
'He? Oh, no! but Kate Despard is,
and he is going to marry her..
he is to be pitied then," said Mr.
Mcdonald, with asperity.
'.Yes, Tom is the most faithful fellow
in existence. He will never forget the
time Isaved him from Master Brown
lows's rage by taking the ferruling my
SELF
'.You, LuciaP And the hound let you
Well, l would thank him to forget.
want no man with "reminiscences of my
wife -
But the next day she was at her Aun
Marbury's to find Tom there before her
and to listen to his enamored account o
Kate Despard, his marriage, his hopes
his plans.
- gave Kate plain ring to wear a.
wedding ring by-and-by,' said Tom
81 want an engagement ring for he
that has never been on anybody s finge
and made like one you wore just befor
YOU were married quaintest thing
You have it on now, Lucia, perhaps?'
''Yes, indeed. Don gave it to me.
was my engagement ring, Tom."
= Then you would not care to lend