St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-05-02
HER WEDDING RING.
Her husband was dead.


He had died a gambler, but he would
never win or lose again, and never more
would Margaret keep her lonely watch
for his dear sake. Strangers hands had
laid him to rest In the quiet graveyard;
and now, with fearless agony, Margaret
iknelt beside her sleeping child.
They had nothing left; and without
food her child must die.
Suddenly a burning flush mounted to
her brow, and, starting to her feet, she
drew the wedding ring from her wasted
finger, and, kissing it passionately, hur-
ried from the room, as if fearful that
her resolution might give way.
A little later, with few francs
elapsed in her burning hand, she hast
ened, not to the poor room she called
her home, but to the gaming saloon
where her husband had died not many
days before.
SIS it not true" she kept repeating to
nerSelf, that new player always
wins? Then l shall win land, mutter-
ing the same words again and again. she
passed unchallenged through the wide
into a large saloon where men and
gambling at the tables.
Margaret Staked two or three francs
with feveriSh haste.
The American officer, Capt. Corwyn.
who had witnessed her husbands death,
now stood intently regarding her. He
moved restlessly, as if impelled against
his will to interfere.
Unknown to herself and all around,
fever had taken hold of the weakened
frame and lent fictitious strength and
fictitious courage to the despairing girl,
and with daring recklesSneSs she
Staked and won, until small pile of
gold lay before her daZed eyes. Then
the tension of the nerves gave way, and
with low cry she fell forward in dead
faint.
Springing to her side without mo-
ment's delay, Capt. Corwyn, who had
been anxiously watching all that oc-
CURED, lifted the poor girl in his arms
and carried her out of the sitting at
mOSphere of the saloon, followed by a
young medical student to whom he had
been talking.
Finding their efforts to restore her to
consciousness unavailing, COrwyn said
hurriedly to his companion:
Bring her down to my carriage-it is
waiting. My sister will do what we cam
not" Then, once outside, he called to
the cOachman, ''TO the Hotel DIeu, and
drive quickly"
Again a girl was leaning from an open
easement. She wore gown of soft gray
material that fell in clinging folds
around her slight form, and her hair,
cut quite short, covered her small head
in silken curls. The scene upon which
she was gazing was peaceful enough. 1t
was the rose garden of fine old manor
house in bend Of the Hudson, and a
child was playing among the flowers.
Two years have passed since Margaret
Leslie was brought there, and Capt.
Corwyn's widowed sister is her friend.
at first the captain came often, but sud
denly he had departed. On this day he
was returning to his sisters home after
two years. Margaret had not guessed
that he had gone because he loved her
too well.
Now her heart was beating wildly as
she tried vainly to assume calmness
she could not feel, soft rose tint deep
ened on her cheeks and the love light
stole into her tender eyes.
just then some one entered the rose
garden, and the child, his little hands
full of flowers, looked round wonder
ingly, and then ran boldly up to the in
truder.
''Are you my own papa come back
from the frontier?" he asked; and the
words reached Margaret, but she could
not see to whom they were addressed.
The answer, however, filed her soul
with dismay, for the intruder, catching
the child in his arms, was evidently APP
preaching, and mans voice said men
daeiously:
Eyes, my darling; 1 am your own
papa come back from the frontIerl"
And then, with few whispered words,
they passed along the lawn to where
Margaret was.
She had dropped on her knees and
did not see them.
The child's footsteps drifted away
from the door, but a strong hand graSped
the handle. A frank imperiouS voice
uttered her name.
Margaret, have pledged myself! I
could not help it, the temptation was so
great. VIII you save me?"
"How can | save you?" faltered Mar
garet, trembling.
by helping me redeem my pledge. l
cannot face Harry without my wife"
"Your wife," cried Margaret. How
long have you found you needed one?''
''Since the day l carried you out of
Monte Carlo" he said. "My darling,
l have loved you ever since"
And little Harry found that tender
father had in eed come to him from the
frontier