The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-02-21

sideration merited. She seemed preoccu
pied. Her gaze was ixed-fxed with a
glare on the young girls hand. finally
she spoke, and her voice might have EN-
bellished any one of the fates.
"Where did you get my sons ringY" she
asked
"Please ma'am, he left it with me
that is, l borrowed it, just to look at, you
know" stammered the discounted Win
ME as she incontinently retreated into her
corner. How her cheeks burned, and how
her heart thumped, even as it had during
that terrible racel She felt as If every eye
rested on her with suspicion. Oh, what
should she doP Surely they-surely he
would understand that she had not known
that her intense grip he'd removed and re-
strained the ring. She would explain, but
how would she dare face him after her dis
dain? All, there lay the sting No one for
an instant would doubt her story, but
would he not despise her natureY Then
was life forever after an impenetrable
glooml If this brown, subdued, demure
young man was the hero of her dreams,
who had diverted every impulse of her soul
during the past month"; then he was no
longer brown and subdued and demure,
but altogether glorious and worshipful
been not TO perceive it'll Granted that she
was near sighted, a blind person of any dis
cernment must have recognized Mt once
his grand personality. Had she, then, sin
ned beyond forgiveness No. Surely one
so noble would ignore her flippancy, even
as the lion scorns the yelping of n iackal.
But was such forgiveness what she craved?
All, fluttering heart, even to myself thou
dost not confess thy desires
There were pleasant sounds of laugh
ter, and the men entered Winnie watched
Ambrose Neames with eyes of adulation
How gentle, how gallant he was-so con
siderate toward his mother so courteous
toward his entertainers All, modesty was
the only panoply befitting knight with
out fear or shamel A great gratitude
swelled within the girl and overmastered
every other emotion. He had risked his
life to save her, stranger, from worse
than death. No conventional scruple should
restrain the expression of her appreciation.
With gesture which seemed imperious,
because it was impatient, she called him
to her side.
"Shall we sound that chord, Miss Dris-
COLI" he began gayly. COR do you think
that so dull a slave can have no thought
save of slavery"
vi, uoh V~Pidy dOh U! w lhliO plcdu-
ed. Forgive me. didn't recognize you.
Oh, you were SO good" And before he
could comprehend or stay the emotion she
bent and kissed his hand.
Ambrose Neames flushed and famed
with passion. No one surely could deem
him brown, subdued and demure young
man, and least of all could Winnie. He
seemed a god manifesting his divinity.
"Iwould rather have died than have had
you do that" he cried. ~ am the one to
worship-to worship you forever. Can't
you feel-don't you know that from the
instant l saw you have loved your"
Winnie sighed-oh, so tenderlyl
Ambrose" she murmured, Ambrose
what dear nsme!"
At this juncture there was a sharp, dis
cordant interruption.
"My son." rasped Mrs. Neames' voice,
"that young miss there has your grand
fathers ring, which you said you had
lost!''
Eyes," whispered the girl, 81 have your
ring. and-and I'll keep it if you like. -
Neao York Times.