The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-02-13

nook. The soft lights--the perfume Of
laughed little as she noted the work
thrown down carclessly on the table.
''IIow many things have tried TO do
to-day and what farce il has all
becno''
She moved about the room "a grace
full figure in her dull green gown. with
its touches of silver. On her left hand
was curious ring. which she paused
often to study then with sigh. sunk
into great chair before the fire and
steadily contemplated both hands with
the deepest attention. The fire-light
showed an anxious and troubled face.
'lIow could do it' If he comes.
what a false position shall lie in.
What untruths | shall have to imply.
If he were 10 find me out. should be
overwhelmed with shame. How could
he suspect? Did not take every pre-
caution? But thcn-he won't come
feel sure OF that" GA ring al the bell.
Eyes. Katy''-taking the offered card
lyon may bring him in here. What
shdN say? l must 80 through with It
now.
Good evening. Mr.. Parshall. How
good of yon 10 come out night like
this / asked you to come in here. the
drawing room seems so big and cheer
less DO take this chair near the fire.
have been fairly scorching my face
all the evening. and will gladly resign
my place 20 you
she turned. picked mp fan. and care
fully seated herself with her back 70
the light Her guest had been, appar-
emily. struck dumb: for now that there
was an opportunity. he had no word to
say. He had sunk down obcdicntly in
to the very warm corner pointed out TO
him. and was gazing fixedlv at the hand
which held the fan. Could he believe
his eyese Ii was half in shadow, yet
when she had held ont her hand in
greeting just now. the ring looked SO
familiar il had taken his breath away.
Seeing her eyes follow the direction
which his had taken. he said. boldly:
''What curious ring
.'Ycs: is il not? And the way it came
70 me was 50 odd. l must tell you bout
il. You know to-day is-oh-This morn
ing found. with the mail at my plate.
little box with this ring in il. There
was no card with il nothing To tell
from whom il came. II is such a queer
shape There must be some story con
ncctcd with il. Was il not strange?"
Very strange. A good luck Offer
ing. suppose. That Is four-lcaved
clover. is Il not?"
.YcS: but / am not supcrstitious.
Did the superscription give you no
clue You have kept il. Of coursc?"
Yes: II is about here somewhere.
Oh. you lawyers she laughed, as she
rose. now quite sclf-possssscd. ''You
would take the romance out Of every
thing. don't care 70 find out who
sent il. and have the whole thing be-
come commonplace Immediately. But
here is the paper. II YOU care 70 see t."
The young man took the paper and
studied Il with such dcliberation that
she grew uneasy. and said at last:
"Wcll. what do you discover"
She would not have been nervous
could she have only known that the
letters were dancing such jig before
his eyes he could not tell one from an
other. What should he say? What
should he do? Dared he produce his
part Of the ring and tell her the truth?
Or should he get himself away as
quickly as possible and try TO think
this thing out? But her question
reused him.
Yes. he said. slowly, not lifting mis-
eyes to hers II have discovered some
thing. win you let me take this paper
away with mc?"
mo. nor she said. and she i'm
pulsivcly seized the paper and threw il
into the fire. lie looked at her with
such pure establishment that she began
70 breathe more freely again. II don't
want this spoiled by being turned into
case. shall not wear the ring after
tonight will merely keep IL as a
souvenir Of ~. Valentine"
'Shc suspects who II i from" he
thought 70 himself. II must find out. =
No hut IL would IL = enfisfnct ION a,