Connecticut western news., 1889-03-06
THE DIAMOND RING.

Like drop of dew it sparkled on Cora Vane's slender forefnger, catching the slanting reflection of the afternoon sunshine, as if every sunbeam loved to finger within the crystal-hearted jewel, as the young girl sat there, her fair head dropping like lily bell, and the lashes hanging low over her flushed checks.
 "It's SO strange that he loves me, '" thought Cora, her scarlet lips half apart, and the sweetest dream-like shadow of a smile lowering about her mouth. "He, so wealthy, so high born, so courted in aristocratic circles, where poor little l have never been admitted. should all most fancy the whole thing to be a dream, if it were not for this precious stone sparkling on my finger"
 And then Cora Vanc leaned her cheek on her hand aud driftcd off once more into the delicious revcries that come to those who have set foot within the mystic temple cf love.
 It did seem not unlike the phantasmal outlines of dream when one came to look at it from sober, everyday point of view Here she was, little, hard working, daily governess, earning amod- est livelihood by constant toil-how could it be that Aiban Carlesford, the courted favorite of fortune and fashion, should have learned to love her-should have won her to promise to be his wife. And she had told him so frankly and freely the story of her humble life, even to the brief, strange episode of Bruce Wayne's love and proposals.
 "Bruce Wayne" MT. Carlesford had repeated: 'you do not mean the Bruce Wayne who was in the Seventh Regi- ment at one time. Why, knew him we'll"
 "Yes," said Cora, blushing, Git was Captain Wayne. He said he loved me, but he was so fierce and passionate that was afraid of him. Oh, Alban, never could have felt toward him as I did to you!"
 And MT. Carlesford forgot the incl pient pang of jealousy which had al- ready entered his heart, concerning this handsome, reckless young captain, Bruce Wayne, and felt happy in the un- doubting certainty that Cora was all his own.
 Cora Vane was secretly thinking of all these things the next day, as she sat by little Bessie Maldens piano, counting time for the child's unused fingers as they strayed regularly over the ivory keys, for Cora had insisted on duly full I filling all her engagements for the quar- | ter, before she would consent to fix the marriage day, when the schoolroom door opened, and Capt. Wayne lounged idly | iu.
 'tBessie," he said to his little niece, "run and get my gold eye glasses, that's a little gem of a girl. They're in tho parlor, or under my dressing table, or ir your mammals work basket, or some where!"
 And Bessie, glad to be released from the thraldom of the pianoforte, slipped down from her seat, and trotted merrill. away.
 Bruce Wayne sat down beside tho daily governess, with darkening look of care upon his brow.
 t'Cora," te said, almost hcrcely, ". am in trouble, and there is no one tc help me-save you!"
 "Help you! IF Captain Wayne, what can you mcan9"
 ''Cora, must have hundred dollars between this and sundown, or shall bt a ruined, disgraced man. can't tel you how it has happened-you need no look at me so inquiringly. Moreover, i is but temporary need-my allowance comes in tomorrow, but you see how il is--today is the period of necessity"
 ''But," faltered Cora, turning white and red, "your brother in- law, Mir. Nal | den--"
 'sHe will not listen to word. Ht says-and I cannot blame him much that he is tired of lending to me and m, sister is just as bad!"
 "Surely, your friends--"
 He contemplated her with mockins laugh.
 'I have no friends! Yes, you may i look amazed, Cora, but it is the melan choly truth. Sometimes" he added with bitter emphasis, Git seems to me that it would be better to end the whole farce of life at once" i 'Captain Wayne, you did not mean"
 'I do, Cora. Nothing has gone rlgh with nc in this world, and I swear tc you, before high Heaven, that unless