The state capital., 1891-07-18
| 9. ,vos i II staggered down tlieNSfeps

N
through the open window heard the
waitress inform cook that it was plain
my heart was broken by Miss Marcel
la cruelty. What should | do now?
Whittier fly? | went as far as the
corner, and ran into the arms of man
who was stalking along with bowed
head and general air of desperation.
Involuntarily we clutched each other.
THANK God it is Parkin!" said he.
''Doughty!' said I, but added no
thanksgiving.
'I've been looking for you for days
about that ring" said he.
''All right" said |. "But you remem-
ber you gave it to me?'
81 did, said Doughty. But want
you to save me from dismissal by say
ing you picked it up yourself"
81 did not" said |.
Il have chance for promotion and
capital salary; lose it if you won't
say that" said Doughty. Think of
my wife; it can't matter to you; old
Glitter has your ring safe; you'll
get it,
Hang the ring!" said I. "Think of
my feelings! / wonder I'm not dead!
You see, I gave it to her and she is in
Europe, and"
make laugh of it," said Doughty.
s'Give her the other. My God. Don't
ruin me-"
Doughty" said I, II don't want to
hurt you, though | suffer through your
mistake. But - well, I'll go to the
heads Of the firm at once and do my
best for both of us, but / won't risk
being ruined for any man"
''Why, good Lord! You are in no
danger!' said Doughty. "Come, they
are still in the office. Gomez
He dragged me by the elbow; he
raped at the glass door. Within I
could see the counters all covered in
CHASTITY fashion by great cloths, mar
BILE statue of an angel looking down
upon the yelled splendor, and a light
burnt in the partners private room,
Mr.. Glitter opened the door himself.
'It is /, SIR" said Doughty, family.
'I've found Mr.. Parlxin. He will, /
know, do me justice, sir.
| Mr.. Glitter looked at him coldly.
''In that case ali will be WELL" he
said. ''Mr Parkin, walk in. We have
your amethyst ring safe, and a lovely
stone it is An old-fashioned stone, it
may say so, not in the market to-day.
We apologize to you; we understand
you intended to send it away as a pres
ent; we regret your modification.
you are very kind" said /. II re-
gret to say that it will be some time be-
fore I can return the ring | carried
away. 1t is now in England.
LET it stay there" said Mr.. Glitter
"And now, to explain how we came to
have it in one of our boxes-you'll be
discreet. Mrs.-well, we'll mention
no names, lady renowned for her jew
els, has a husband who is parsimonious.
At times she needs ready money, then
she brings one of her rings to us. We
lend her money on it, and give her a
ring of no value whatever to keep in
the box, in case her husband inquiries
wants to see it, etc. In time she pays
us, we restore the diamond. The sub
stitute was exchanged for your anne
thyst, and if it was Mr.. Doughty
| doing"
81 carried it off, myself" said L
''And what, pray, was the price of the
substitute? The-the-"
"Plate and PASTE" said Mr.. Glitter
"Half dollar to the trade. Theatrical
people buy them to play queens in
sometimes. We have full sets. Mrs.
came back with the amethyst few
days ago, and we gave her another
sham; but if she had been person Of
another class, your ring would have
been lost. We can't have careless clerk:
here
All my aplomb had returned to me.
''Mr Doughty was not careless"
said. 1.-THE mistake was entirely mine.
l saw Doughty brush away tear
and, as took my leave, | heard hin
say to Glitter:
"Thank you, sir"
But the diamond, the great, glowing
gorgeous diamond, is still in the family
Oh! it is family now. My wife know
the truth, but her aunt never will; ant
when Marcella wears it on state occa
sions, the old lady is wont to draw at
tention to it's splendor; and no one ha
ever yet doubted that it was genuine
and very fine stone, indeed. Mary <
Dallas, in n. Y. Ledger.