Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-03-26
THE RING IN The CARD BASKET.
BY ALICE W. COX.

It was bitter cold, thoroughly unin-
viting night, and yet the young folks in
Mrs. Vanderpoors cozy little parlor
were managing to have wonderfully
enjoyable time.
g Ida" said Grace, " who do you
think will be here tonight ?"
: / don't know" said Ida, "but l
really wish the girls and young men
would not find it so very entertaining
here-iust for one night at least"
''Oh, that wo1't do, Ida You have
been wanting an introduction to the
Wiltons tor some weeks, and Mr.. Sa-
ker is going to bring them here tonight!
1t is solely to please you, for am al
ready acquainted with them"
g There must be something very at
tractive for -"
. To be sure there is p quickly broke
In Grace, who thought Ida q great mu-
stefan, Sc How in the world would our
friends enjoy themselves if it were not
for your music ?"
: And your singing" added Ida.
4" Hank there is some one now; wait
a minute till I go to the door,"
. Grace, stop I can't, won't meet
the Wiltous tonight.
With these words Ida fairly flew to
her room, and there, in the seclusion of
the apartment, thought of the past,
only g few years back-but there-she
heard Grace's voice calling her. No,
she would not go! Grace must come to
her. In very few moments Grace did
come. She told her it was only Mr..
Hastings who had called, and as he had
brought something for her, she must go
down and receive it.
Walter Hastings was tall young man
with very fair complexion and hair to
match, ever anxious to please the young
ladies. Having heard Miss Staunton
express desire for certain song, he
had Immediately purchased it, and had
now come TO present 1t.
Ida was soon persuaded to see Mr..
Hastings, and, having readiusted her
hair and neck ribbons, was ready to be
borne to the parlor by her cousin
Grac.
Grace always had her way, and Ida
expected nothing else than she should
have to suffer the modification of being
introduced to jerome Wilton. with
blushing cheeks after ali.
MIR. Hastings at once presented Ida
with her wished-for song, and asked her
to play and sing it for HIM, adding:
''You know how very fond l am of your
music. Miss Ida!'
So Ida played and sang, and while
she was doing so did not notice her
cousin Grace stea quietly out Of the
parlor.
But she heard the sound of converse
ton IN the hall. They had come. She
could not mistake that voice! How
many times it had whispered honeyed
words In her earl
She could not quit the parlOr and
leave Mr.. Hastings, so she waited,
still hoping she might get an oppor-
tunity to disappear without being no.
ticed. But no, Fate was against her,
and soon the visitors we're Ushered In by
Grace. After all it was just as Ida
had pected-Grace had her way as
usual.
Miss Wilton's first name was Belle.
She was the happy possessor of beau
tiful face peeping outfrom an abundance
of lovely curls that hung carelessly
around her shoulders.
Her brother was tall and handsome,
How strangely he acted toward Ida
They seemed to have met before, to
be old friends, and yet why did such
GOODNESS appear to exist between them?
Why did Ida's rosy cheek turn so
pale? While Grace was helping Belle
to remove her wraps Ida stole quietly
away. No one would miss her, she
thought.
But they did miss her. Some one
asked for music. But where was Ida?
Nobody could play like she.
In q little while Ida returned having
somewhat recovered her composure.
They were all singing-all save MIR.
apparently deeply interested in the
singing, but his thoughts were with
Grace, whose rich alto was the only
voice he heard.
Ida made her way to the sofa and sat
down beside him.
''Mr. Hastings, she said, thave you
ever met Jerome Wilton before?"
"Once, Miss Ida. I believe he has
not lived here long"
Ida scarcely heard the answer. Her eyes
had dreamy look, and her thoughts
were far away.
But the singing ceased, and she was
awakened from her reYery by some one,
who was no other than Jerome Wilton,
himself, asking her to play.
She arose, went mechanically to the
piano, and played she knew not what,
but when she had finished, some one
whispered IN her ear: 81 thought you
had forgotten that long ago!"
81 shall never forget it as long as I
Hve!" murmered Ida, unconseiously; but
when she looked up and saw to whom
she was speaking, she would haverushed