The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1884-11-06

weather, the policeman averred that no
one had passed by for tho last half
hour.
Not long aftor this, Miss Dearsley was
engaged to act in some ta6leauu-vivants
ut the house of Mrs. Mackenzie. In
one scene Harold Battiscombe had to
kneol at hor feet as an ardent lover,
with her left hand pressed to his lips,
whilst sho turned away in apparent
agitation. Tho agitation was not
feigned, for when sho felt her hand
once moro in his, and saw by tho ex-
preston of his face that he had neither
forgiven nor forgotten, sho trembled
SO violently that she nearly spoiled her
part
If tho ring had only been in its place
she fancied that he would have como
back to her. A sickening feeling of
despair crcpt over her, the lights
seemed to bo going out, and she fell
forward into his arms.
When she opened her eyes again,
sho found herself on tho sofa in little
boudoir, and he was knecling by her
side with scent bottle in his hand.
''BetterP" he said anxiously.
Eyes" with sigh of pleasure, for
it was joy to have him waiting on her
once again.
Then he looked at her beautiful face
with longing eyes, and whispered:
Darling, where is my ringP"
She shook her head sadly, and he at
once rose to his feet When she looked
up, his place was filled by Sir Felix.
Winter passed into summer, and still
Harold Battiscombc avoided Marion's
home as if its inmates had got the
plague. Tired of going to balls, when
her favorito partner was never there.
Marion Dearsley turned hor thoughts
to moro serious things, and being ex-
ceedingly unhappy herself, for the first
timo in her life, began to think of those
who had never known what happiness
| was.
Ono lovely day in June. when the
Park was crowded with fashionable
| throngs, and flowers in balcony and
square were striving to fill tho misty
air with their fragrance, Marion Dears-
| ley knocked at the door of u miserable
looking house in squalid street, and
asked if it were truo that littlo girl,
named Lotto Smith, WAS living thero,
and very i'll.
walk in, num-" said a haggard-
| looking woman with tired eyes; "she's
| getting past everything but groaning
and coughing, and that sho do pretty
nigh all the day"
A few minutes later, Marion was
bending over a miserable pallet-bed,
on which shrunken form was lying,
and feeding the thirsty lips with spoon
fuls of orange jelly.
The child's wistful cyos looked up
into the pretty face, which had grown
so pale and sad during the last few
months, and whispered hoarsely:
S"Mc goin' to take little tar with
me-"
"What does she sayp" looking round
ut the mother.
"Bless her hearth wiping her eyes
with tho corner of her apron; "she's a
n dyin', and she's glad to go; and she's
got summat under her pillow which
she always says she must tako with
her. A penny thing, l fancy, she must
ha' got from one of the chip en-. Show
it to tho lady, dear"
Lottie put her hand under tho old
sack of straw which did duty for n
pillow, and brought forth her treasure
with glistening eyes.
my ringr' exclaimed Marion, drop
ping the spoon in her agitation.
'Your ring, ma'amP My goodness,
Lottie, think of you stealing the lady's
ring!"
"Sho did not steal it, she found it in
the road" said Marion kindly, as she
| saw large tears rolling one after tho
other down the wasted checks.
my tickle. 'tarI' with plaintiye
moan.
''She thought it was one of the stars,
and she was goin' to take it back"
ooh, Lottie dear, the stars never
come down to us; VIC may 60 to them,
but they will never como to u.s." said
Marion sadly. "This is nothing but q
bit of gold and jewel. nothing to do
with heaven. dropped it out of the
window ono day, and l wanted so
much to get it back. VIII you lot mo
have it, and I'll send you something so
nice instead"
Eyes; me thought it was n 'tar-no
care now," the dark eyes glisteninp
through their tcars-the tears of lost
illusion.
Day after day Marion brought sun
shine and happiness to that miserable
home. Mrs. Smith was supplied with
constant nocdlework, and dainties of
every description found their way to
tho sick child. Tho falling star had
brought blessing with it. and neglect
cd health revived under tender care.
softly tinted roses camo back to Lot
tics checks, but Marion grew whittier
as the summer advanced. 1t was
against her pride to writo to Harold
Battiscombe, and tell him that tho rinn
was found, but how would he ever find
it out unless she did?
Laura Dickson camo to call, and said
that Mr.. Battiscombo was ono of tho
incest follows she had over seen. "Now
fancy what he did last winter. / mot
him with some lovely roses in his hand,
and without thinking, 1 said how I
wished had some like thom to wear
that night, us was in slight mourning
and could not wear q color. guessed
whero thoy camo from, for he said he
could not give them away-not that 1
should have taken them, my dear. But
just after dinner [ received q lovely
bunch from Covont Garden. Now
wasn't that nice of himP"
Every nice" murmurcd Marion,
feeling that hOr heart would break,
for it was on account Of tho story Sir
Epliy had fold bnr obpuf fhOoo rnooo