The Forrest City times., 1894-06-29
A LOST RING.
The Old Story of woman's Love
 and Mans Jealousy.

"A diamond, Jack? A real diamond! Oh, how bright it is. like a spark of white fire Like a star. dropped down out of the sky! Inever saw diamond before; and to think that it is mine! Dear Jack, l couldn't possibly love you any more than did before. but I do love you, oh, so much!"
 The little bit of love-making took place under the frost-bound apple trees of the Back Orchard. where Esther Elmford was standing, with a white woolen hood wrapped tightly over her curls and a black-and-scarlet plaid shawl enfolding her, mummy fashion. She was d tall. rosy-cheelxed girl, with q complexion born of noun tain-breezes and eyes that shone with ruddy health-no ideal sylph, but rather rosy, wholesome. dimpled human girl like Wordsworth's her
 Not too sweet nor good
 For human natures daily food And as she looked at the tiny, glitter ing stone. the sparl1les under her eye
 
 But you must not wearit every day, Essie, you know" said John Jefferson.
 Why not?" Her countenance fell.
 You wanted our engagement kept a secret. you know
 ''So did Anything but the gossip of the whole combined neigh borhood!" cried Esther. with moue of distaste. Well. anyhow, can put a black velvet ribbon through it and hang it around my neck!'
 But you haven paid me for it yet"
 Paid you. you mercenary fellow!"
 ''One kiss. Essie! I don't often get chance to claim it, you know"
 She poised herself on tiptoe to accord the demanded royalty, and then ran, laughing. away toward her home.
 How generous he is!' she kept re- beating to herself. "A real diamond"
 When she got back to the kitchen of the roomv old farmhouse, where Mrs. Elmford was frying erullers in an atmosphere of fragrant blue smoke, that lady cast discontented glance at her.
 seems to me you've been long time getting that spotted calf into the barnyard, said she.
 Was 1 long. mother? But he got clear down the lane, and the orchard gate was open" eqnivocated Miss Esther.
 The Striker gals stopped here for you They was goin' up to the Maple Sugar camp with lot O fresh baked bread and pies for Tom and Leonidas, and they waited for you till they was clear out O patience, added Mrs. Elm ford, fishing another tin skinner full of crisp brown beauties out of the bubbling mass of fat and landing them in the blue stone jar. afterward to be liberally sprinkled with white sugar.
 ..Oh. mother. can go?" said Esther, eagerly. I'm sure I could overtake them in five minutes.
 live no objection" said Mrs. Elm ford. And you might take a basket of these ere crulls to your Uncle Peter. He's dreadful partial to fried cakes. and he thinks there ain't none like them I make arter Mother Elm ford S receipt.
 Esther was right. In less than the specified five minutes she had managed to overtake Alice and Jessamine Striker. with their basket of fresh pro- visions to the dwellers in Maple Sugar camp, on Giant Hill, where the SUI preme process of ''sugaring off was inst then in full blast. But in the two minutes during which she put on her fur- bordered hood and fieece-lined nit tens upstairs, she had slyly slipped the diamond ring on the first finger of her left hand.
 sI shall be wearing it." she said to herself. and no one will be any the wiser"
 The Striker girls welcomed her joy ously.
 .It's so nice to have you, sad Alice. "Jessamine declared you would not go, but"
 .sWhy shouldn't go?" said Esther