Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1890-01-16

I
| Tony's Sunday one. The ladies were
beautifully dressed, and some of them
wore little jackets like the mems coats.
One of these ladies was so pretty that
Tony and Ap lost their hearts to her,
and all the young men in the party
seemed to be already in the same condi-
| ton of mind.
| This young lady was eager TO make
| collection of the fossils, and had put on
| thick boots, and before beginning to
pick over the shale she pulled off her
| gloves. If there was any hand in the
world whittier than hers. at least Tony
| and Ap had never seen it, and on one OF
| her lovely fingers was something they
could not keep their eyes away from-a'
ring with a stone in it-a stone of satin
whiteness, over whose surface played the
most lovely colors. like those in the
rainbow coal, only much more soft and
radiant, and seeming rather to float
around it than to be really in the stone.
The young lady who wore this ring
was very energetic and venturesome.
She dug among the shale with her pref
ty pink fngernails, stood on tiptOe to
!
went back as far as the third row of pill
lars.
Tony saw her starting off in that di-
rection and followed her, for she looked
as if she meant to walk straight through
the mine. One of the young men fol-
lowed. too, looking as if he meant to go
wherever she did.
When she saw him she jumped behind
a pillar and pretended to hide, and then
the young man ran around the other
side of the pillar, and Tony heard a
sound of tussling and laughter, and out
ran the young lady trying to get her
hand away from her companion.
At length she did get it free, and they
both walked back to the opening tOgeth-
or, outside of which. in the broad sun
light. the rest of their party, with APP to
help, were still fossil-hunting. Tony
stayed behind, for his eye had just light
ed on some fine specimens of rainbow
coal. which he thought he would gather
for the pretty lady, and so engrosscd did
he become that, when at length he
looked up. all the tourists had gone, and
Ap stood alone in one of the great door
ways calling to him.
As he stopped to pick up one last
piece Of coal, ne saw little glittering
object at some distance before him. He
picked it up. and in moment saw that
it was the ring with the rainbow stone!
The young man must have pulled it
off the pretty lady's hand when she was
trying to get away from him.
Tony's first thought was: what a
treasure" and he ran eagerly to show it
to his sister, but before he reached her
the thought quickly came, 81 must re-
turn it, and third thought quickly
followed: "How can it be returned?"
When APP saw the ring she gave lit
tie scream, and understood at once that
the lady had dropped it.
run, Tony. rum she exclaimed;
They've started down already"
Tony ran a short distance, but soon
came back, saying the carriage had got
too far ahead; he could never overtake it.
perhaps the lady will miss the ring,
and come back for it," said he.
NO." said APP, ''she won't, for she put
her gloves on before she got in the
wagon, and she'll never see that the
ring isn't on her hand till she gets
home"
Tony was thinking hard.
There's only one way he said. at
length. Il can get through the opening
before they reach the breaker, and I'm
goin' to do it
80, Tony, don't. don't, cried Ap, hold
ing on to him. "What1l mother say and
father? You know they've said you
mustn't never do such thing; you
might get lost or kilt"
sap" said Tony, I'm gOin' to do it
that's all there is. You just run up and
tell mother what took me. That pretty
lady's got to have her ring"
You'll carry lantern, won't you?'
pleaded APP.
mo. there amt no time for a Lantern
I'm off," Tony's voice came already
from behind the third pillar. Ap stool
watching him with a dismal feeling o
anxiety, then turned and scampered a
|, fast as she could over the rocks ant
water, and up the hill, to tell mother.
Tony had started on run, but soOl
!, came to stop. The ground began t,
slope away frightfully, and the darkness
? was like a black curtain hung clos
before his face. Turning, he could still
: catch a glimmer from the far-awa,
openings that looked no more than Gttl
spots of brightness. Another step, an,
their twinkling light could not reacl
him.
He held the ring tightly clasped in hi
hand: but remembering the necessity o
J having both hands free to feel his way
he bethought him of his pockets. Alas
: Tony's pockets were like the bottomles
pit, and were vain things for safety. )
I he put the ring in his mouth, and starte
J bravelv forward on his dangerous wa
in the darkness.
Bravely, indeed, but rashly, consider
:, ing that he could not see a thing, 70
haste being the one idea in his mind, h
l. did not wait TO be cautious. and stun
3 bling along with arms outstretched cam
. plump against the sharp corner OF
. pillar. gave his nose fearful blow, an
almost swallowed the ring.
This would never do. He must g
., slowly and surely. But in what dire
u ton should he move next? He felt sal
! while touching the pillar. but to let g
= and venture forth was like jumping o
. high cliff, or casting ones self into tn
= sea. When would he ever touch anothe
- and what pitfalls might lie between?
- The air was chilling and smelt su
: phury,.and water could be heard tricl
y ling and dropping with hollow, drear
~ sound. But he must not linger; so wit
= one hand still on the pillar, he put
- E..,A fnr-,-n-d Il did not come dow