The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1884-08-06
THE STOLEN RING.

"I've brought homo the young lady's
bonnet, miss, please" said little Rachel.
.Oh, it's the milliners apprentice, is
II ~ said Green, the parlor.eirl. "Just
step into the hall. and wait minute.
Miss Madison's own maid will be down
directly. We're having quite state of
things up stairs" Green added, bustling
around to fasten up wooily white poo
die which had contrived to snap the
links of his golden chain. ''BIiss Madi-
SON has had diamond ring stole. And
they've sent for 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 aud down, she
won't stay in no family where the help is
suspected"
"Dear, dearl" said little Rachel, open
Ing her blue eyes as round as two mar
bles.
And as Green hurried away, in answer
to 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 man
Mons wherein dwelt the heroines of song
and story.
When she described it to the little ones
at home, after her days work was over,
lhey could scarcely credit its splendors.
There was circular hall, with rallied
gallery, extending around the second
tory, and dome of white and amber
glass overhead, and great bronze statue
Df some tabled warrior kept guard on
horseback in the middle of the marble
door.
There was deep fireplace, lined with
china tiles, where a fire of scented logs
blazed on tall firc-dogs of polished brass
deep, plush easy-chairs were drawn up
beside it. and a pair of monster Japan
vases, which reached up to Rachel's shoul-
der, were always full, whether the Febru-
ary 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 not have
dared to go up and smell of them, or to
touch their perfumed petals; but she
stood afar off and breathed in their sweet.
ness, and looked at their tints of pear
and pink like humble worshiper of the
beautiful.
''Miss Madison has new paroquet, >
she thought. II never saw that little
beauty in the gold cage before"
Adrienne. the French maid, came hur.
rying down directly-a tall bold-looking
young woman, with iaunty cap perched
In the midst of her black braids, and loops
of cherry ribbon on her white muslin
apron. She had an absent expression or
her face, and looked at little Rachel as i
her mind was preoccupied with some
thing else, and she did not see her.
''lt's the reception bonnet, miss
please, - explained Rachel, with a cour
tesy.
ooh, the bonnetl" said Adrienne
''You work people are always coming Al
the wrong time. Oh, yes, dare say it il
all right But" with sudden, smiling
assumption of interest, ''you are wet
1t rains and you will take cold TAKE
off your shawl, and come to the fire anc
dry yourself. "
''Oh, no, ma'am-thanksw said littl,
Rachel, reaching out for the shawl which
Adu2nne had offieiously removed, anc
resisting her efforts to lead her to the
nre. 1T don't rain; it only mists I
fttle."
But it does rain," sharply SPOKE
Adrienne, giving the girls faded skirt I
shake as she spoke. "Don't you see thu