The Princeton union., 1894-03-15

pied,'' saiti Mrs. Carew when she ush
cred him in, "see what a lovely view
there is from the window" and she
drew aside the fresh muslin curtairs,
and left him there alone.
! What was it, that horrible creeping
dread as if a dead body lay somewhere
within reach? Here, where his lovely, |
gentle Ada had dreamed away the
pleasant hours, he seemed to feel the |
OverShaCoWing of doom.
| ."Poon! Nonsense! I'm hOmes;ck, and
have fit of the b]ues;" he. said, and
turning re$olutely he devoted the few
minutes OF anti-prandial grace to the
trif1lng duties of the toilet. -s-
At dinner conversation was brisk
enough, MI. Carew giving an eXplana-
ton of certain business points, while
his wife studied Mr. Burton from il
friendly interest and secretly approved
Of him. :>ut suddenly she started,
looking closely at his right hand, which
was extended in a gesture by which
he was emphasizing some remark. Her
face assumed Il look of surprise and
displeasure She half rose from her
chair, and catching her husbands gaze,
directed it. to the disturbing object.
He, too, started, and a questioning
glance passed between them.
cHillard Burton saw part Of this by
play, but did not, for ,Ome reason,
connect it with himself, But the
weight upon his spirits returned, and
now his host was silent. Only per-.
functory remarks incidental to the oc-
casion We're made during the rest Of
the meal.
When they left the table they march
ed in solemn silence to the parlor,
where Mr. Carew carefully closed the
folding doors. Then he approached his
guest:
Mr. Burton, if you have no objec-
tons, L would like. to see the ring you
are wearing Oh your right hand
Something in the words or the tone
or the look accompanying them caused
the blood in Hilliard Burton's veins
to thrill with supreme pang of pain.
He drew himself up and stood con-
fronting his host with proud bearing,
but did not offer to show the ring or
remove it from his finger.
MAY I ASK continued Mr.. Carew,
'where you obtained that ring?'
mo, sir,' came the answer in words
that cut the air like a sword, 'for I
certainly shall not inform YOU
,, ''Oh, Mr.. Burton" pleaded Mrs. Ca
rev iii tones of genuine distress, "you
. can surely explain how you came by a
: rare and valuable ring which is an
: heirloom in the family of NJ. Carew.
t It has always been kept IN a secret de-
pository in the guest-chamber. I have
: not seen it for months because 1 sell
: dom wear it, but 1 knew it was there,
l for, besides, ourselves and Ada"
> She stopped suddenly, for Hilliard
e had raised his hand almost menacing-
!, ly.
D eve will leave her name out of the
: discussion. 1 shall not tell anything
D whatever concerning my ownership of
this ring, which I claim as mine, and
+ it can only be removed from my finger
by force. That is my ansWtr."
l. 1t was not only the SenSatio of hush
q vile, but of all the country when Hill
- lard Burton was arrested for the theft
$ of a ring from the CareWs, and after
r. a trial, which was necessarily one
It sided, no defense being made, was sent
to the peniteEtiary for year. 1t was
l. easy enough for the Carews to prove
e their property; the secret depository
was Investigated by the jury, and there
l. was only one weak place-the lapse OF
s. time between their known possession
t, Of the ring and it's appearance On Hill
h lard Burton's finger. 1t might have
y pdooCNL Cl1AouSAA AAuAy AtIuCo uul LIZ
v those months in which they supposed
it to be safe in the secret depository
IL but since Mr.. Burton would not speak
I the supposition that it was there unit
D. the day of his visit became convincing
evidence. And there was no denying
IS the fact that it was found in his pos
e, session, and taken from his finger by
is the sheriff, a deputy and constable
,u and no explanation whatever wa:
r. vouchsafed by the prisoner.
The value Of the ring was cOnsid
IN cradle without it's prestige of age ant
n. associations; two diamonds, Old Min,
to stones, and a fawless emerald, and tn
of judge made a speech about it's none.
lis value tempting cupidity. Hilliard Bur
ton, in the prisoners dock, looked a
hs him as if he could have gladly knoclze,
of him down. 1t was the only time afte
irl his arrest that he looked and acted lik
a a living man.
ed Ada Cation did not go to her lover, a
ld the Carews expected she would but h
H. was responsible for this by sending he
tn q telegram forbidding her to come or t
IT. communicate with him in any way
rd When he was sentenced he wrote her
at line bidding her to keep up her courag 6
i'm that they would be married the me
ds
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