The Indianapolis journal., 1884-07-26
TAKE BACK THIS RING.
Harper,s Weekly.

spacious aparCment, tne sewing room OIL hlS Sis
ter Frederika
Through this arrangement there happened
chain of circumstances which would have been
extremely obnoxious to Mrs Grundy, whose
foresight, indeed, had not been consulted in the
plan.
The young men who visited Albert on the
most intimate terms, and who without except
ton, if not lovers were certainly admirers OF
Miss Frederika, found it very delightful to
saunter through the passage from the masculine
boudoir of the brother into the sanctum of the
sister whenever the open door allowed.
Edward Lowell whose engagement to Miss
Frederika Carnes has been formally announced,
was the only one who seldom entered the tell
tale precinct where already delicate embroid-
cries, finest of fine linen and exquisite Mechlin
and Valenciennes anticipated the exigencies Of
an approaching day
In this welllighted apartment of sewing all
the cases sent from Paris with the seasons sur
prising costumes were deposited and opened; in
this apartment two seamstresses were forever
bending over the needle, one plying it industri-
ously by hand, the other Eek machinan evolv-
ing the elaborate stitchery The first was an
old maid of antediluvian prestige, who, although
her piercing black eyes were fixed on stitches,
never lost sight of an outside glance or motion;
and who deaf as an adder, insisting that eyey.
order should be bawled into her left ear, heard
with her right every syllable whispered orspoken.
The other was young creature who worked upon
the sewing gsmachine, delicate girl eighteen
years of age. graceful in figure, with face
gentle yet piquant soft brown hair coiled care
1essly around a brow fresh white as pearl, soft
| brown eyes, and lips. Frederika Carnes was
really fond of her little sewing She In
quired into the history of the young girl, and
learned that she supported by her labor an in
firm and widowed mother, and, moreover, that,
in the approaching spring, she was to be married
to young man with whom she was IN love truly,
an undertaken by trade.
| One evening in the February twilight-the
working hour was past, and the old maid seam
stress had gone home-two young men entered
the room Josie Harte bending over the click
| ing machine. was desperately in earnest finish
| ing some important work. She did not glance
| up at the entrance. Joseph Bell threw himself
| full length upon sofa. He was possessed with
idea that he was personally irresistible to the
pretty sewng-grl He laughed in his sleeve at
1.-THE absurdity Of Harrison's supposing he had
/ any winning chance there Spenser Harrison
drew an arm mchair close to Josie's side.
Josie went on working. But through the
steady low noise of the work she heard-she
/ could not but hear, and indeed she had often
/ heard the same strain before Harrsons pro-
testations of admiration; nay, more his protesta-
tions of love.
Il am engaged to be married. said Josie
Harte, lifting her eyes once. and only once, as
| she changed the work beneath her needle.
1 ITO some coarse, laborous man. I'll be
bound said Harrison, who will make you
| stitch and drudge to your l1fes end. Josie, you
i were not made for this. Every turn of your
graceful head, every gesture Of that dear little
| hand, protests against it You shall not sacri-
/ fee yourself, josie
Josie Harte arose and left the room In a
closet of the adjoining corridor her shawl and
i bonnet hung. In a moment she had put them
i on. Quickly she was at the front door-quickly
| in the street But scarcely had she gone the dis
tance of block when footsteps sped behind her.
Spenser Harrison, with his passionate eyes
ablaze, and his lips pale beneath his black mus
tache, had followed and approached her. Again
he was at her side.
4 "Josie, you provoking little WITCH you are fly
| ing, know, but you cannot fly away from me-
Love is the winged god, ma petite. Is it nothing
nothing to you Miss Harte. that you are making
| my life miserable9 nothing to you that | adore
you, that love you, that ! truly oh! you
must know itr
ALeave me, said Josie. '"This moment leave
me"
Never said Harrison ''neyer until"
Through the deepening dusk, and with pace
i quickened like their own some one came tc
Josie. gentleman, waiting but second fol
permission drew her arm within his own. II
movement of the girl, and the expression of the
man that followed her. Approaching the situa
ton in moment, he determined to save heI
from annoyance if possible.
His good intention was not misplaced When
Josie Harte reached the dingy door Of her hum
BILE home, she said to Edward Lowell, with sin
cere fervor. II shall never forget your kindness.
"Our last drive in the Park, said Frederika,
turning her dark eyes. sufficiently eloquent OF
affection to satisfy the most exaeting lover upon
Edward LeOYll
.The last this season, /" he suggested.
They we're driving in a landau, with Albert
Carnes and Spenser Harrison sitting opposite.
Crowding up Fifth avenue their talk was inter
rupted; it was not until they had entered the
park, and had somewhat escaped the throng
that Albert Carnes said to his sister
Freddie show Edward that ring. I'd like tc
have him say now if he has no respect for Afri
can diamonds. Two thirty carat stones, Spense,
he added, turning to Harrison, ''of the first wa
ter and perfect match. For my part, prefer
other qualities being equal-these brilliant off
color stones When Pm engaged to be married
| my engagement ring shall. be an African soil
taire. like the sunny tinge Of the southern
| adamant.n
Frederika drew off her soft gray glove, ant
| Edward Lowell, ever sensitive to the least dis
II play of her refined charms, glanced warmly a
the little lily white hand. She took from til,
forefnger of the hand now engagementpledged
diamond ring. The eyes of Spenser Harrison
and Of Albert Carnes were fixed upon the jewel
l EDWARD LoVell glanced at IL vaguely. he hat
already, however, taken it into his hand
Very, beautiful he said. These Cape dia
: monds have fire, to say the least One could
He paused He had seemed, as he spoke in tn
act Of returning the ring. Suddenly it had es
capped from his fingers. He looked for it. /
was gone
Give me my ring, then. Ned, if it is SO fiery.
said gentle Frederika. 4 like to keep TO my
self all that burns
ssWhere is itlr asked Lowell, bewildered.
''You have dropped it Y Albert exclaimed, NOV
ing SO as to look on the floor of the carriage
sGive back the ring Lowell said Harrison
Where is it9r reiterated Lowell The damon,
ring had vanished
.'Oh somewhere in the carriage, said Fred
erika, somewhat petulantly, drawing on he
glove I'VE shall find 1t when we reach home.
But the diamond ring was not found. The ex
pressive face Of Albert Carnes wore grav