The Penn's Grove record., 1884-07-26
THE STOLEN RING.

"I'ye brought home the young lady's
bonnet, miss, please" said little Rachel.
ooh, it's the milliner's apprentice, IS
it," said Green, the parlor-girl. Just
step into the hall, and wait a minute.
Miss Madison's own maid will be down
directly. We're having quite a state Of
things up stairs, Green added, bustling
around to fasten up a woolly white poo
die which had contrived to snap the
links Of his golden chain. Miss MadI-
son has had a diamond ring stole. And
they've sent for a detective gentleman,
and Miss Madison's uncle from Wall
street. And missus has had Mysteries,
and the doctor is there giving her drops;
and the cook says, up and down, she
won't stay in no family where the help
is suspectedln
Dear, dearl" said little Rachel, open
ing her blue eyes us round as two mar
bles.
Aud as Green hurried away, i'll an
swer to d shrill summons from above,
she looked timidly around her.
She was always pleased to be sent to
the Madison house, 1t was her ideal Of
Aladdin's palace--of the beautiful
mansions wherein dwelt the heroines of
song and story.
When she described it to the little
ones at home, after her days work was
over, they could scarcely credit its
splendors.
There was a circular hall, with a
rallied gallery, extending around the
second story, and a dome of white and
amber glass overhead, and a great
bronze statue of some tabled warri or
kept guard on horseback in the middle
of the marble floor.
There was a deep Fireplace, lined
with china tiles, where q fire OF scented
logs blazed on tall ire-dogs Of polished
brass; deep, plush easy-chairs were
drawn up beside it, and a pair Of mon
ster Japan vases, which reached up to
Rachel's shoulder, were always full,
whether the February SHOWS ~carpeted
the outside world, or the March winds
shook the easements, of delicious, half
blown roses, with long stems, and
satiny, shiny leaves.
For the life of her she would nOs
have dared to go up and smell Of them,
or to touch their perfumed petals; but
she stood afar off and breathed in their
sweetness, and looked at their tints of
pearl and pink like a humble worshipper
of the beautiful.
Miss Madison has a new paroquet,"
she thought. 81 never saw that little
beauty in the gold cage before"
Adrienne, the French maid, came
hurrying down directly-a tall, bold
looking young woman, with a jaunty
cap percned in the midst of her black
braids, and loops of cherry ribbon on
her white muslin apron. She had an
absent expression upon her face, and
looked at little Rachel as if her mind
was preoccupied with something else,
and she did not see her.
"It's the reception bonnet, miss,
please, " explained Rachel, with o
tesy.
''Oh, the bonnetl" said Adrienne.
You w~ork-people are always coming at
the wrong time. Oh, yes, / dare say it
is all rlghtl But" with a sudden,
smiling assumption Of interest, ''you
are wet. 1t rains and you will take
cold. Take off your shawl and come to
the fire and dry Yourself"
''Oh, no, ma'am-thanks," said little
Rachel, reaching out for the shawl
which Adrienneha had o~fIiciously removed,
and resisting her efforts TO lead her to
the fire. SIT don't ram; it only mlsts
a little"
But it does rain," sharply spoke
Adrienne, giving the girls faded skirt
a shake as she spoke. Don't you see
the drops? Well" with a shrlll laugh,
'tif you don't choose to dry yourself the
fault is your own"
81 was to return as soon as possible,
ma'am," said little Rachel, rather en-
barrassed 10y all this extra attention.
'If Miss Madison was suited"
Adnenne caught up the bandbox,
which Rachel had held all the time, and
whirling around on her heel, ran up
stairs into the reception-apartment,
where Miss Madison herself stood, sur
rounded by a group Of people.
Miss Madison was a tall, blonde-com-
plexioned young lady, with clear, hazel
eyes, a well-rounded chin, and the air
of one who definitely comprehended
her rights ana meant to assert them.
Her mother, an %irresoiute, elderly lady,
looked feebly from her daughter to the