Evening journal., 1891-02-25
THE TRAVELLING RING.

The hotel is on the very summit OF the
mountain, and in front of it stands a plat
| form
You can see the sunrise as well and bet.
ter from the window Of your own room,
but there is an extra charge connected
with the use of the aforesaid platform, and
you would feel as II you were swindling
the management out Of the admission fee
II you We're to see the spectacle from any
other point Of vantage than the one pro
yided for the purpose.
But this is neither here nor there.
Miss Viva Merrick, of Chicago, hurried
~ dOnned a morning gown and fastened
down stairs at the sound Of the horn.
Ragged patches Of mist rose lazily from
a lake Of blush fog that filed the valleys;
rugged mountain tops and sharp crags
rose in bold outline, like coral reefs upon
sea Of floating dampness.
Everybody, including the young lady,
felt uncomfortable.
The greenish half light that preoedes day
would make the rosiest complexion appear
pale, dull and lifeless, and rob any face Of
its beauty; it was therefore quite unselfish
in Capt Percy Dempster, r. f., on leave
from India, to offer his greatcoat to Miss
Merrick as a protection against the icy
wind that blew sharply from the glaciers.
But he was a gentleman, and would have
done as much for any lady, young or old,
preferably, Of course, the latter, otherwise
he would have rendered his coat to the
young ladys aunt first.
Any one anxious to know just how that
day "the glowing orb cast its ruddy
glamor DER the somber, snow clad giants
Of the Swiss Alps, whose majestic etc. is
referred to Baedecker's Handbook of Swift
erland which also furnishes estimates on
the probable expense of the sight
As usual everybody felt better as soon
as the first rays Of the sun had gilded the
edges Of the long stretched clouds.
As the captain looked for his overeoat he
could not repress the ejaculation, by
lingo, what pretty picturei2 and he
dropped his single eyeglass to see better.
Frau Professor Holtzhacker began to
rhapsodize, Yes. Get ees wonterfool, won
terfool shplentit, grossartig, wirlllich gar
zu nettp because she thought he meant
the sunrise. But he didn't.
Miss Merrick's head just peeped out OF
the captains greatcoat, her cheeks all
aglow with the rosy light Of the new born
day, Her eyes shone and sparkled with
pleasure, and the crisp morning breeze
scattered a few stray locks Of golden hair
that had found their way from under the
dainty travelling cap.
Greuze or Fragonard or Jacduet could
not have wished for hetter model
II there is any man who finds fault with
the captain for taking advantage Of the
coat incident to introduce himself, then let
his neighbors watch that man.
II was not accident that placed Dempster
at the ladies' table at breakfast, but the
Herr Ober-Kellnern (head waiter). Con
sideraton-two francs
Miss Merrick' vivacity and esprit formed
a refreshing contrast TO the monastic prim-
ness Of her maiden aunt, and the young
officer found her more charming as their
acquaintance progressed.
What difference does it make whether
one goes from Luzerne to Interlaken and
thence 70 Zurich, or vice versaS Hardly
any under ordinary circumstances. But
il it is a question Of keeping in the com
pany Of a deucedly clever little lady by re
yersing proposed route it makes all the
difference in the world
And that is why the captain feigned
pleased surprise that the intended line Of
travel Of the ladies should coincide with
his own plans which it did not
But, as everybody was pleased, it did not
matter that he changed his route.
The summer passed very agreeably to
all, and left a deep impression upon the
captain
First ne dropped his single eyeglass for
good, in Difference to the common sense Of
Miss Merrick, next he abjured brandy and
soda as a concession to the aunt's temper
ance principles; then he became solitary
and taciturn when the young lady was not
around, and ultimately he contracted the
dangerous habit Of looking at the moon
long after everybody had gone to sleep.
No one could have called Miss Merrick a
lirt, but womanlike she thoroughly I'M
! derstood tho subtle art Of keeping her
adorer in hot water by being alternately
coy and cold.
Which showed that she liked him, or she
would not have leased him.
AZ Scheveningen, in Holland, the whole
affair came to a climax,
IL was during an early morning stroll
down to the beach. They sat down in a
couple Of those odd wickerwork chairs.
| For awhile they discussed the morsels Of
/ gossip that are repeated every season about
somebody or other. The scandal is always
the same, only the names OF the parties
| change,
| Suddenly both grew silent. He began to
draw figures in the sand with his cane,
and she beat a tattoo with her dainty slip
per while gazing ont upon the sea and the
outgoing fishing boats in an distracted
manner
The captain spoke FIRST. about year
ago" he said, II picked up ring in Simla,
India, which bears on its inner surface the
initials ". NJ which are your initials. "
Miss Merrick listened in mute surprise,
which changed to establishment when the
captain took a ring with two diamonds
from his pocket. He next took her right
hand, which hung by her side, with his
other hand. Hers was a very pretty hand,
and the most pleasant thing about it, to
the captain, was the tiniest suspicion of a
| responsive touch.
What he had to say as he placed the ring
| upon her finger was so interesting that she
did not interrupt him.
Some men will ask the hand when a
| girl shows them a finger.
They returned to the hotel long after
breakfast time.
Before entering the captain said: "By the
way, darling, why did you look so sur
prised when | placed the ring upon your
hnger2 ! should think that you must
have expected something of the kind all
alongn
Miss Merrick had forgotten all about the
incident in the pleasurable excitement Of
the captains proposal But now she took
the ring of her finger, examined il care
fully, and spoke; Percy, dear, don't be
offended, bat this has always been my
ring lost it five years ago, in Newport.