The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1893-04-01
by Emma Garrison Jones.

Arthur Lislc rode down the broad ave
nue. which led from his stately old
home toward the village high road
Standing on the vine-shadcd portico,
his mother looked after him with an
anxious expression in her loving eyes.
She was Il widow, and Arthur was her
only sou.
Are you quite sure, my boy, that
you have chosen wisely" she lad said
TO him, as they parted.
why, mother, TO be sure had been
his eager answer. Louise is all that
heart can wish-refined, accomplished.
and very beautiful"
And she loves you, Arthur"
| she loves me, mother
We'll, l hope you won't be disap-
pointed, my boy" she murmurcd, rs lie
rode off. but | have my fears"
| Meanwhile Arthur cantcrcd on his
| way in high spirits. When he had per
formed about half his journey, he
dropped the rcinS upon his horses neck
and fell into Il rcycrie. Presently he
drew dainty little caskct from his
pocket. 1t contained an exquisite
ring. set with an immense fire opal.
surrounded by pearls. The ring had
been in the Isle family for ages. and
| il''h b''h l'ltS'litA atli vi
| gagement ring 10 the fair and favored
woman who had won the hearts Of
! the successive heirs of Bcechwood.
1 Arthurs father had given II 10 his
bride. and from his mothers hands
the son had received 1t ms sacred me
| mcnto, ana now he was taking j, with
him to Talbot, 10 PUT IT on ale slim
finger of the lovely girl who had Won
his heart. As he turned II over in the
afternoon sunlight, his handsome eyes
grew tender, ana his bearded lips
| trcmbled like woman's.
Very brief and very bright was
Arthur Isles love-story Only few
months before, he had attended II
country fair, which closed with
grand tournament. There We're hun
| dreds of daring young knights. who
| iisked life and limb for the honor OF
browning the queen of love and beauty:
but Arthur Isle. the boldcst rider in
| all that country. outstrippcd them all.
and won the prize This prize was Il
lovely string of pearls, and Miss Louise
| Lenoir, the prctticst girl in Talbot. was
the queen. The young master of Beech
| wood went through the Interesting
| ceremony of GROWING acr golden
trcsscs with the starry chaplct, and In
doing so. naturally enough, he lost his
heart.
| Louise was his first love, and he
loved her blindly. He WAS utterly be-
| wiiched by the delicate beauty of her
| primrose face and the azure brightness
of her shy eyes. In one month after
their first meeting they We're betrothcd
lovers
| The red fires OF sunset had burned
| out, and the stars were out in thou
sands in the misty autumn skies. when
f1,auV H.. III
cottage in which the Lcnoirs lived.
There We're lights in the windows, and
the sound of piano, accompanied by
n sweet, giriish voice, reached his ears.
1t was Louise singing. With II fond
| smile at the thought of the little sur
| prise he would give her. he fastened
his horse and uncloslng the little wick
ct, walked up the graveled walk toward
the door But there possessed by n
lovers within, he turned across the
grass plot and reached the drawing
| room window. II was open, and he
had n full view of the apartment.
Louise was at the piano, in her pretty
evening dress, with her golden hair
ripping over her white shoulders But
she was not alone. A Young man OF
an excessively foppish appearance was
bending over her, and toying with her
| curls, and Louise appeared to take his
familiarity In good part, and ever and
anon gave him n glance of bewitching
! coquetry.
Arthur Isle was terribly shocked;
he turned short about, and striding
back to the door, rang the bell and pre-
scented himself in Il rather grave and
formal manner. But Louise received
him with n shy, sweet surprise that
was irresistible: and the charm of her
nd a,tt ..
| Jealous doubts. The foppisli inuIvidual
having vanished. he had his charmer all
to himself, and they wandered out
| into the autumn moonlight hand In
| hand.
| Arthur took the little casiet from his
pocket, and produced the ring lie
put it on her finger, kissing the little
white hand as he did so, and entreatlug
l,er that the engagement should be Il
| brief one.
Pretty Louise listened, examining the
ring with n critical eye and n little
halr-sigh of dissatisfaction.
Very WE'LL she said: I've no OBJ
lection, and mamma doesn't Ike long
engagements"
Neither do t. cried Arthur, eagerly
you can be ready in a month, l Know,
daI ling? ! want you ut home before
| Christmas"
] Louise shrugged her white shoulders
and gave another little sigh.
How ] do wish we might live In
the city, Arthur" she said. 1T must
be horribly stupid mt Beechwood.'
why, my dear" cried the young
man, in amazemcnt; stupid ut Beech
wood! Not bit. We are within u
nice drive of the city, but we shall have
every comfort and amusement at
home"
oh. yes. suppose So asserted
Louise, still dissatisfied. but thinking
It prudent to bide her time. "All the
T: lbot girls are dying to see my en-
| gagement ring" she added, twirling
the opal round II warned them TO ex-
pect something grand, ! do wish you
| hal chosen diamond solitaire, Ar
th'lr instead of this. 1t would have
been so much more elegant and stylish.
Miss Denham is engaged to Mr.. Wal
tiers. and her diamond ring is g-r-a-n-d!'
Arthur Isle flushed with pain.
You see. dearest" be explained,
this old opal has been In our family SO
| 1ong-my grandmother wore 1t us an
engagement ring ever 60 far back,
F! and"