Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1890-12-03

spesK, when Robert exclaimed In
passionate, sudden way
"Great God! I-I-e1cuse me, sir,
but All, do pardon me, but l have
been very Ill, and long from home,
sir. Your ring-your ring Is so Like
so very ike my"
Robert sat down, He leaned his
head on his cane, and the world swan
at his feet. The dull, throbbing,
beating, aching OF heart and head
seemed driving him mad.
"The ring? All, yes-'tis a costly
| jewel, sir. l buy il in New York of
my sister. She Is TO marry and want
much money; so I wear the ring.
Slowly Robert asked
"And-where did she get SO precious
stone, pray"
"You see, my sister," said the Jew,
will marry man from Washington.
He have one store on Pennsylvania
avenue; he buy this ring of a very
beautiful young lady, who married an
old man and is gone away to live
somewhere abroad"
That night Robert looked from the
car window ct the mountains and the
valleys, the sdobes and old palace
Doctors and nurses waved good-bys,
while the gToups Of dark-faced friends
remained on his vision, like a photo
graph Of some Oriental picture.
The Jew was his companion. He
had promised to keep the ring sacredly
until Robert could see his friends at
home and arrange for money TO buy
the stone, paying double the price.
And from the sDow-capped mountains
to the wide valleys Of fertile country
across the thousand miles Of rolling
prairies TO the familiar homes Of cities
and towns, TO the beautiful capital, he,
heart-sick and sore, came to meet ia
miliar faces, after long wandering and
peril.
Ten days had passed. The tide Of
! Washington people had set northward.
Roberts friends were by the lake,
Yachting, sketching, or gone on a trip.
"Grant.? Yes, Senator Grant had
gone abroad with his Italian friend,
and Miss Esther had mysteriously
disappeared from home"
81 say, Bob" the boys remarked,
"she grew more stately and proud
every day. nobody was good enough
10 look at her after you left"
"But, Bob, did you hear about that
odd ring she used 10 wear? The whole
country was upside down about it.
She had detectives from Maine TO Cuba
hunting-but It never was found"
"Whom did the family suspect?"
asked Robert quietly.
Well, socIetv people said that Marini
the Italian, hired it stolen TO spite
Esther, and OF course nothing could be
proven. Esther was i'll at the time,
and nurses, servants and doctors were
examined and abused. The Grants are
all sold out and broken up. You'll
have 10 get another girl, Robert,
now"
While Robert In Mexico was tossing
In delirium, the merry voices Of the
Riding Club In Washington rang out
at Esther's door one early morning.
They clattered up the asphalt road to
the house, screaming
"Cone, Esther! Here we are
Going TO have another hunt! Come
quickly"
ooh, DEAR" said one, Esther Is
absolutely turning TO stone nowadays,
getting deaf as post! l don't even
see Bess saddled!"
A Young Russian sprang from his
horse and said,-
"Let me go In and inquire. You
know we saw Miss Grant at the re-
ception late last night"
"Oh. Ill go myself" said Mollie,
her most intimate friend. "she prom.
ised TO be all ready"
Up the velvetv halls she ran, fling
ing open the door Of Esther's pretty
chamber-to see q white, untouched
bed q silken gown over the couch,
slippers by the dresser.
Nora, where Is your mistre.s"
"She wished to sleep late, shs said,
miss"
The sun .hons In the big East win
dow across the pale rich rugs, and q
vase Of wilted roses worn the night
before.
"But, Nora-where Is her father
where has Mis-. Esther gomez"
"Oh, miss" replied the wtld-eyed
girl. "41r. Grant Is In New York,
getting things for Mis-. Esthers wed
ding, and"
But before Nora could finish her
sentence Mollie was down stairs, her
story told and the merry party clatter-
ng toward their own homes
Washington society was wild with
excitement Not the most intimate
friends had clew 70 this sudden news.
he Honorable Mr.. Grant found his
house empty; the servants, supersti-
dous and nervous since the ring rob-
berry, now refused 70 stay.
"Miss Esther's talisman was lost,
and evil eyes were following ths
whole house."
AT last the big house under the ,had-
ow Of the Capitol dome was closed /;
the troubled master gone TO Europe
with the discounted MariIi after fruit
less search by the best detectives TO be
found in su the country.
Late IN August he died of Roman
fever, and was buried in the pretty
little cemetery just outside the great
strange city, among strangers.
"Walbrdge, that picture Of your.
has made your everlasting fortune,
Why, one Of those artists from Paris
asked me where you got your model
for the splendid figure you had"
"Model"
Notoue word did John Payne, friend,
comrAde, and artist, get out Of Robert
after that. He frowued over the blue
snoke Of his cigar, put on his hat aud
went outi
"Whst E devil OF g fellow that Is %
said Payne. "An New York gono
mad over his first great picture, while
hs refuses 10 talk about Il! Can;
seem 10 bear praise, even! would
like TO know tho story Of that girl
And thst riug!"