Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1892-01-28

Then there was story to 1t!
When l had prescribed a simple
| palliative for the racking cough and
had given Instructions for other sim.
pie treatment l went downstairs again
with the mother.
''You saw the penny and the ring.
Doctor" she said, land you wondered.
Is it not SOP"
l confessed that felt little curious
to know its history. And here is what
tho old woman told me:
That old gold ring had belonged to
Elsie's eat-grandmother. 1t had
once been thumb ring. Else looked
upon it as sort of heirloom and had
carried it with her as sort OF tails
man since childhood. One day after
she had known Mr.. Wellington for a
few months before they were engaged
to be married. the young man had
laughingly pulled from his pocket q
penny through which some foolish per-
son had bored hole. Elsie was about to
appear in new character SO Horace
In fun remarked Take this penny
and keep 1t for luck. you will never
fail In part SO long as you keep it."
Elsie entered into the spirit OF the
thing and said. Now. II / could only
get my own talisman split I would
hang the penny on to it."
That Is easily done" said Horace
as he took the ring in his hand and ad-
mired its chasing. Il will take it to
Evans in Sheffield and have it split"
Accordingly he took the ring and in
few days returned it with the penny
hanging to it. Elsie fastened ribbon
to it and wore it around her neck.
Alas! that ring and that penny were
the parallels OF the characters OF the
two persons TO whom they had be-
longed. The one pure gold. refined
and chased by master hand destined
to be broken by the owner of the baser
metal which entered the golden heart
and broke it in two and left it,
When she went to London Willing
ton followed Elsie and there, amid
the follies and excitements Of the great
Babylon he came out in his true
colors a conscienceless loveless scoun-
drel. 1t seems unnatural and untrue
that man could deliberately lay
plans, and take years to mature them.
for the ruin OF a young girls life. But
SO it wa3 with Wellington and Elsie
Underhill.
Plenty OF people there are living yet
who remember the success of the
young actress on the Princess
boards and who remember with sor-
row her sudden departure and death.
Wellington succeeded in his designs,
then left her. as 1t was afterward
known he had left others, to droop
and die or to go from bad to worse.
He cared nothing.
| Elsie's sensitive nature was too high
strung, she could not survive the dis
grace, even though it was apparent
only to herself. Her heart broke, and
in the early weeks of December. when
the narrow little Church street and
the roofs OF the neighboring cottages
were covered with snow; when the
timid robin had become 80 tame as to
fly to tho windows OF human habita-
tions for the food OF charity; when the
world was beginning to prepare its
annual festival of peace and good
will toward men," the poor little act
ress who was a delicate flower in the
midst OF life OF nettles and brambles.
withered and passed away. to be
transplanted in the garden that is kept
forever beautiful by those angels
whose duty it is to soothe and comfort
those poor waits Of humanity who are
not strong enough to overcome hui
manity's blows and Bullets.
What became OF Willingtonp
have never heard OF him since. Some
where. probably. he holds an honoret
position on earth. for he was rich. ani
wealth on earth covers innumerabl'
sins, but surely when his time come
to go to that bourn from which NJ
traveller ever returns he will be me
by the Dark Recording Angel with
page not yet blotted out on which b.
will be shown
A Penny suspended from . Pur'
Gold Ring.