The state capital., 1891-07-18
MARCELLA'S PRESENT.
A Mistake in Rings That Caused
Much Trouble.

Marcella DlrInday was approaching
and desired to give her present. 1t
grieved me to think that could not
afford a costly one / should have re
joiced to be able to offer Marcella dia-
monds, rubies or emeralds, but since
this was impossible, | did the best |
could. A ring is always an acceptable
token Of love or friendship, and having
spent an evening or SO roaming the
,Bowery, I ventured into a shop in
which the unreclaimed pledges of a
pawnbroker were displayed for sale,
and found amongst the jewelry very
nice amethyst ring Of the right size,
at the modest price of ten dollars.
Worth double, SO help me Simpson,"
said the young Hebrew behind the coun-
ter. Worth double, or I'll eat'my head. !"
1t was such a large head and SO covered
with black curls glistening with poma-
tum, that this was very impressive
offer; and / knew that it really was a
nice amethyst, and | hoped that it had
never been stolen.
Of course, Marcella would never
know where | bought it, and poverty
drives US to strange deeds
I bought the ring, took it home, pol
ished it up with an old nail-brush
and ammonia, rubbed it in wash-leath-
er, and resolved to get handsome box
for it.
! had barely time enough to do this
and express the ring in season to reach
my darling by the dawn of the ami
versary Of the day on which she first
saw the light: for she had gone with her
mother to visit an aunt in Boston, and
the aunt was not favorable to my
suit; and even if / had had holiday,
which I had not, had no invitation to
visit her. The ring must be sent, and
before six o'clock, and | hurried from
the Bowery in the direction of Broad
way, toward the establishment of a
well-known fashionable jeweler. | was
acquainted with one of the clerks; and
the boxes there must be handsome if
they would sell them. Young Doughty
was at a counter and unemployed,
and he exhibited some little boxes of
satin-lined Russian leather which were
very handsome
Give me your ring" he said, ''and
Ill fit it to one" And | gave it to him,
ana he WeUu away. w Hcn nC LstllE
back he had two boxes in his hand,
and handed one of them to me, the
other to an elegantly attired lady, who,
after receiving it, passed to a carriage
which stood before the door. A foot
man in livery opened it, a coachman to
match was upon the box. Mr.. Glitter
himself opened the door. Mr.. Glow
bowed in the background.
"Notice that lady, Parkin?" said my
friend.
<'She's handsome woman" replied.
''Very well for a married lady Of
forty said Doughty. ''But / was TAX
ing what you might call professional
view of her. She is said TO have finer
diamonds than any other woman in the
country. They say there are lots OF
duchesses and all that on the other side
that couldn't show their equals. Oh
course she don't wear EN- on the
street, but of an evening she blazes
with them. Her husband is immensely
rich, but they say he hates to hand out
ready cash, and now and then-but
there is Glitter coming this way and he
don't allow gossip. That's a pretty
amethyst u yOuL ? pliC - Inv -" 10
ha! HAP
And glad to escape, for | had not q
moment to spare, rushed out of the
store and to the express Office.
longed to look at my ring again, but
Doughty had it put up into such :
workmanlike little parcel that ! hate6
to undo it. The clerk at the express
office directed it and | rejoiced to know
it was on its way. Two days after
received a note from Marcella.
DEAR CHARLES: Your magnificent presen
took my breath away. Have you come into
fortunef / am utterly amazed The name OF
the box told me a. once that it was somethin:
very fine but never in my widest dream
thought OF anything SO lovely etc, etc.
Of course do not mean to give yOl
the whole Of Marcella's love letter. /
was SO kind of the dear girl, who has
many handsome ornaments, to MAKE
such fuss about this little amethys
ring. But it was just like her. ! car
ried the letter next my heart until
heard that she had returned home ans
went to her.
When she entered the room, smiling
and holding out her hands to me. for
rot every thing but her beauty, at frst