The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1889-03-01
NO. g..


"Yoa need not tell me unless you wish,''
said the doctor.
II may as well tell you" she said, after
a pause. 81 was going to a pawnshop-
mamma sent me with this ring; it is an
opal, and a dear friend gave it to her be-
fore ever she saw my father. She has kept
it all this time because she liked the one
who gave it to her very much, and she did
not want to part with the ring. But, you
see, we got very poor, and was
sick, and this ring was tue last we had to
part with, except mammals wedding ring"
Saying which, Odds-and-E Ends took the
ring from its little casket and slipped it up-
On the doctors smallest finger.
What was there about the act that caused
the mans face to change to a pallid hue
and his firm hands to tremble like leaves
in the winds of October? Did he attach
any superstition to the brilliant and change
full colors of the opal, or was some old
memory oil the past, long latent, now as
serting its existence?
Margaret! Margaret he said in a
tremulous voice, stake this bank-note to
your mother, and leave me the ring
Haven't you made a mistake, sir2 This
bill has fifty on it."
mo, mistake, Margaret. The ring is
worth much more; indeed it is priceless"
and he turned away his head that the won
dering eyes of the child might not witness
his emotion.
Fifty dollarsl Oh, what will poor NAM
ma say. l must hurry now, for she will be
anxious about me. Goodnight
"Wait, Margaret, ] am going with you"
In a few minutes, little Margaret, or
Odds-and- Ends, with her perserver, was
being whirled rapidly in the Doctors car
rage to the poor dwelling she called home.
Doctor Howard, on entering the abode,
was struck with a~mazement, for used as
he was to seeing poverty in all its forms,
he had seldom witnessed SO cheerless an
apartment in winter as this, where he now,
by a train of unexpected circumstances,
found himself.
Ill; 14AiAdta, I9tt DStH dttlDcL hllltd.
I have; but this kind doctor, the same one
you heard me tell about, you know, saved
me, and be has brought me home, mamma,
and see-see-the bank-Dote-and-s
Hush, said the doctor, imperatiyely.
your mamma has tainted. Bring a glass
of water, quickrl"
The restoratives always carried with
him were applied, aud langnidly the dark
eyes opened, and the pale lips whispered a
name:
"Roland!''
'sJnIia,''
To end the story quickly and without
decentralization, | will say that fifteen years
before these two were engaged lovers, and
the opal ring was the sign outward of their
engagement.
A misunderstanding, a fit of jealous
anger, terminating words, a lovers quar-
rel and a parting from each other.
left one to marry in haste her next suitor,
while the other j~ourneyed to a distant city
to practice the profession OF his choice.
Upon the inner circle of the ring were
these words. "While life shall last. r. H."
1t was the recognition of the sentence
and the ring, as well as the great resem-
blance Of the child to her mother, that
awakened the memory of other days and
other scenes. When 1t had been too late
and Julia was married to another, he had
seen that be was in the wrong. But after
all these years how strangely were they
brought together once more.
Is there indeed "a divinity that shapes
our ends, rough hew them as we may"
The once estranged lovers sat hand in
hand and recounte6 the histories of the
past.
Julia, nov have found you, l cannot
lose you again; you must go home with me,
and now. Mrs. Badger viii make you both
comfortable. Gomez
Happy tears fell from eyes used to tears
of sorrow. Sudden joy illumes all things
as the three crossed the threshold of that
miserable room, never again to enter it as
a home.
just as they drew up before the DOCTORS
beautiful house, the city ball clock rang
out the hours of twelve.
Ring ont the old. ring in the new"
said DR.. Howard, softly.
Mrs. Badger was made acquainted with
the facts, and, lifting her hands, said
"Well, | never! However, | wish You all
a happy new year. Odds-and-Ends you're
a treasure
so she is quietly said her mother,
and she kissed her fondly.
The next morning. New Years Day,
there was a wedding in the doctors par
lor.
What a strange mystery life is, said
the doctors wife that evening.
1T is made up of odds and ends, ~
laughed the doctor, as he drew little Mar
garct to his side.
s'IIow long will you love us % she in
quired, as she turned the opal ring upon
his finger.
while life shall lsst,7 was the grave
reply.
The Population of woedstewn
is about 1890, and we would say at least
one half are troubled with some afflictien
/ af 4faA IA vaaf and f,n~c 90 tbnca q - 10 n+r