Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1884-04-30
Her Engagement Ring,

Fannie Gerard had been engaged
to be married to young DR.. Harry
Raymond, the nephew of wealthy
New York physician, whose extensive
practice was expected to soon descend
to his young relative, In tho mean
time Harry went off on long sea
voyage with an invalid friend, leaving
a betrothal ring on the little white
hand of the lovely girl who had prom
ised to be his wife when he returned
home.
The ring was handsome and unique,
with its splendid solitaire, and their
combined initials in tiny diamonds inn
bedded inside the golden hoop; and of
course Fannie valued it for its beauty
as well as for the love of which it was
the pledge. But when news came to
her that the ship in which her lover
sailed had not been heard Of for many
weeks, and that it was considered lost,
having entered southern lati-
tudes, where a terrific hurricane had
done fearful damage, then the ring be-
came sacred thing to her as the last
gift of the dead
Fate had brought other trials to the
poor girl since the loss of her lover
Her father had died, and subsequently
her mothers money, upon which they
were almost dependent, had been
swallowed up in bank failure.
1t became necessary for Fannie to
eke out the small remaining income by
turning her accomplishments to &C
count.
1t was then that the thought of
parting with her precious ring occurr-
ed to her for the first time, although
all her other jewels had gone long
since The idea came to- her with a
sharp pang that was almost an agony;
but having once come to her, it was 4
settled purpose.
II need no reminder to keep me
true to his memory" she murmured,
while heavy tears overllowed through
the long, curling lashcs, and fell, gilt
tering rivals, upon the diamond which
she raised to her lips and kissed again
and again with passionate fervor.
Having made up her mind to sacri-
flee it, Fannie put on her dropping
hat and tied a black veil tightly over
her sensitive face; then, with rapid
steps, she left the house and hasteGed
to the jewelry establishment around
the corner, at the windows of which
she had often stopped to admire the
dazzling contents.
as it your own?" asked the old
man, with searching look in his
keen gray eyes at the young girl, who
had made ber request in such low and
trembling tones.
"Oh, yes" she answered, simply, un-
conscious ofsuspicion. at Was my
engagement ring and she colored
family, then paled again with painful
thoughts.
ut is very valuable one for YOU"
said the jeweller, slipping it on the
first joint of his finger, and glancing at
Fannies neat but decidedly shabby
raiment.
"The gentleman was rich and so was
l then" she answered, quietly, check
ing her rising indignation with the
self-control which experience hal
taught her.
"The gentleman to whom l was en-
gagged tobe married went away on
long voyage, and was lost at sea-" she
said, "and then my father died and
left us poor, 50 that l have been oblig-
cd to sell my jewels. kept this till
the last. viii you please buy it,
sir ?"
The old man, a Scotchman, said:
"Umph, umph!" and polished his
spectacles, murmuring, "Puir lassie"
Then he told her he would value
her ring, gave her receipt, for which
she had not thought of asking, and
told her to come back in the morning.
About 10 minutes after Fannie
Gerard left Dugald Blaikie's store, a
young man walked up the avenue
with long, rapid strides, watching the
passers-by and the objects with half
curious, half-familiar and wholly
pleased attention.
He entered Mr. Blaikies store and
drew out his watch.
81 wish you would be good enough
TO examine this watch of mine" he
said, pleasantly. Something has gone
wrong with it all of a sudden. No
sooner do | arrive homo safe and
sound than il became refractory after
serving me faithfully through hair.
breadth 'scapes by flood and field es-
pecially by flood? l hope it is not ON
nous.
And the returned traveller laughed
as he hand3d the timepicce to the old
man.
Nothing more alarming than a
broken main-spring,' replied Mr.
Blaikie smiling. ave will have it
ready for you tomorrow, sir"
And then, as he watched the strang-
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