The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1889-01-23

| ing.
But all that day, and many subsequent
days the good doctor was haunted by
the wlstful eyes of the strange child
whose way in life seemed to him 80 hard
and unnatural. He inquired of Mrs.
Badger many times to know if she had
seen or learned any more of quaint little
Odds-and- Ends; but Mrs. b. declared
she had not seen hide nor hair of her
si~ce the morning she brought the mes
sage from Mrs. Maginnis, and that hard
wcrkingwoman had lost the run of her
entirely.
1t was whole year from that time
when one evening DR.. Howard was hur-
rying along a crowded thoroughrare. He
was startled by sudden cry and con-
fusion OF voices, as a runaway horse
dragging the remnant of carriage came
leaplng and plunging along the street.
One glance showed the excessive danger
OF child who was midway upon the
crossing, and directly in the path of the
furious animal.
Another instant and DIR. Howard and
the child were both down in the mud of
the street, and the dangerous creature
was at baY. The doctor had snatched
the child from beneath the very hoofs of
the horse, and with the other hand
seized the bride of the foaming, wild
eyed animal, and the next moment, as
assistance came, fell with the rescued
one prone in the street. Recovering him
self in a second, he looked into the face
OF the burden that lay quite unconscious
OF his arm and beheld the countenance
of-Odds-and- Ends!
a Carraua hnra hin, and ,au
found wanderer quickly to his Office,
where, in a. short time, Odds.and- Ends
was restored to consciousness, and. her
delight knew no bounds when she rccog-
nized her preserver.
Where were you going when the
accident happened - asked the doctor.
Odds-and- Ends was silent.
"You need not tell me unless YOU
wish" said the doctor.
IL may as well tell you," she said
after pause. 81 was going to pawn
shop-mamma sent me with this ring; it
IS an opal, and dear friend gave it to
her before 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 mamma was sick, and this ring was
the last we had to part with, except
mammals wedding ring" Saying which,
Odds-and- Ends took the ring from its
little casket and slipped it upon the doc.
tors smallest finger.
What was there about the act that
caused the mans face to change to
pailid hue and his firm hands to tremble
like leaves in the winds of October?
Did he attach any superstition to the
brilliant and changeful colors of the
opal, or was some old memory of the
past, long latent, now asserting its ex-
istencel
Margaret! Margaretr' he said in a
tremulous voice, "take this bank-note
TO your mother, and leave me the
ling"
Haven't You made mistake, sir?
This bill has fifty 6h it."
mo mistake, Margaret. The ring is
worth much. more; indeed it is price
less, and he turned away his head that
the wondering eyes of the child might
not witness his emotion.
Fifty dollars Oh, what will poor
mamma say must hurry now, for
she will be anxious about me. Good.
night"
Wait Margaret, I am going with
you"
In few minutes, little Margaret, or
Odds-and. Ends, with her perserver, was
being whlrled rapidly in the Doctors
carriage to the poor dwelling she called
home.
Doctor Howard, on entering the abode,
was struck with anazement, for used as
ln W. n son N, -, 81
he had seldom witnessed so cheerless an
apartment In winter as this, where he
now, by train of unexpected circum-
stances, found himself.
"Oh, mamma, | have been almost
killed, | have; but this kind doctor the .
same one you head me tel about, you
know, saved me, and he has brought me |
home, mamma, and see-see-the bank /
note-and -"
"Hush," said the doctor, imperatively. .
''lour mmma has tainted. Bring a
glass Of water, quick"
The restoratives the doctor always
carried with him wero applied, and Ian
guidy the dark eyes opened, and the
pale lips whispered a name
"Roland -
"Juliaw
10 end the story quickly and without
l will say that fifteen
years before these two were engaged
lovers, and the opal ring was the sign
of their engagement.
a misunderstanding, fit of Jealous
anger, recriminating words, a lovers
quarrel aud parting from each other,
eft one to marry in haste her next suitor,
while the other journeyed to a distant
,ity to practice the profession of his
,hoice.
Upon the inner circle of the ring were
hese words: "Wh'le life shall last.
z. H."
1t was the recognition of the sentence
md the ring, as we'll as the great resem-
,lamoe Of the child to her mother, that
the memory of other days and
md other scenes. When it had been
90 late, and Julia was married to an
'ther, he had seen that he was in the
wrong But after all these years how
trangely were they brought together
'nce more.
Is there indeed "a divinity that shapes
'ur ends, rough hew them as we
nay"
The once estTanged lovers sat hand in !
land and recounted the histories of the !
)ast.
Julia, now have found you, can
'ot lose you again; you must go home
With me, and now. Mrs. Badger will
make you both comfortable. Come"