The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-07-13
THE LOST RING.

sales had been advertised.
A large, important looking woman,
richly dressed, had managed, by liberal
use of her elbows, to get In the front row
and attract the attention Of salesgirl
who stood az II bewtlderod at the commo-
tlon afv5vsils, her,
"Here, clerkp' she called loudly. "a
dozen of black, 61a, and be quick about 1t,
too, as don't want to be crushed to death
by this vulgar crowd"
The girl addressed, slender, pretty
blond, with aristocratio features, invol-
unfairly drew herself up and opened her
lips as II to reply to this rude speech, but
remembering whore showas closed her lips |
and turned to select the gloves.
"Wil you try on pairp'
"Of course will, and do be careful you |
do not pinch my hand. You glove filters |
are so clumsy" And drawing off her glove |
the customer displayed hand bedecked |
with glitterlng rings.
II must ask you to remove your rings |
or cannot properly fit you" And the pref
ty clerk waited patiently until the rings
were ostentatiously removed and laid In
shining heap on the counter.
After several unnecessary orders the
gloves were fitted and done up and the
buyer began to put on her rings. As she
did SO she gave quick glance and cried
out loudly:
"You have stolen one of my ringsw
The proud disdainful look which had
appeared on the young girls face at the
accusation gave way to one of anxiety as
the woman loudly reiterated her charge.
"Indeod n adam, did not touch your
rings You must have dropped It'll" sho
cried. Running around in front of the
counter, sho began to search on tho floor
for the missing bauble, and many stand
ing by helped in the search, but all in vain.
"You can't fool me, !" declared the own
err in positive tones, You took that ring,
and you've got to return 1t or pay for it,
You just come along TO the office with mo
and be searched" And, sciZing the girl
by the hand, she almost dragged her to
the office.
Two gentlemen, one the proprietor, wore
in the office when the two women entered.
"Ths girl has stolen a diamond ring
from me, Mr.. Clifford" announced the
|. customer, relating the circumstance land
want her searched.
"Impossible Mrs. Hardlos. l assure
you that Miss -" began Mr.. Clifford,
| but stopped at q sign from his companion.
"May ask, madam" said the gentle
man in q cold, clenr voice, " Y you are surc
| you removed the ring and placed 1t on tho
counter9 Could it not perhaps have re-
manned in the finger of your glover"
The young clerk looked at the gentle
man when he spoke for the first time since
entering the office and turned very pale
then red again, SO that to a suspicious
mind she was the picture of guilt.
"That is impossible. Such a thing
never occurred, Mrs. Hardlos exclaimed
angrily; but, taking up the glove she had
worn, she gave an involuntary cry of sur
prise The ring had indeed stuck in the
glove finger and now sparkled maliciously
as Its owner pulled it out.
With profound apologies Mrs. Hardlos
turned to the proprietor. He quietly mo-
toned to the clerk to withdraw, but the
gentleman who was with him laid a re-
straining hand on her arm.
"Do not go, !" he said, "until you have
given this-this person an opportunity to
apologize to you, as you are the only In
jured party" he said decidedly.
GLOW dare you, sirY Who are you that
you presume to dictate to me2" Mrs. Hard
los haughtily exclaimed.
The stranger handed her his card, and 0
marked change of expression was notice
able on Mrs. Hardlos' worldly features
The name on the card was that of u man
well known rs person of great wealth
and influence, one whose acquaintance wa:
eagerly sought by the most select Beside!
this he was bachelor and considered I
great "catch."
"Yuu are quito right, Mr.. Jameson, but
will atone for my mistake. Here, m,
good girl, take this drawing out 81
note ostentatiously, land call us even"
If this was considered an apology in TIL
eyes Of Mrs. Hardlos, 1t did not pass TO
such in tho eyes of her victim. With
gesture as naughty as any of her forme
accuscr tho girl refused the offered money
and turning to the proprietor asked If sh
might DO excused.
With his permission she withdrew an
was followed by Mr.. Jameson, who hastil
babe ndiou to his friend and overlook he
at the door. He spoke to her in low tone
for a momont, then raised his hat and lief
her The new clerk remained In her plac
until her week was up then resigned he
position.
About two months nfter the unfortunat
affair Of the ring Mrs. Hardlos received a
invitation to a reception given In honor c
Mr.. Jameson and his bride.
Greatly pleased, she determined to al
tend and by every art In her power caus
Mr.. Jameson to forget her unkindness I
the poor glove clerk and make friends wit
his wife, who would be a social power.
As she was led up to the bride an
groom and looked at tho former, "a beaut
full blond, dressed with elegant simplicit
and radiant with happiness, it seemed I
her that sho had seen her before but coul
not recall where.
She was enlightened few moment
later when she mentioned the fact to her
Yes" replied the bride, you are qui
right, Mrs. Haralos We have met bufor
Ii was at Mr.. GifTord's glove counter Il
day you accused me of stealing your rim
Perhaps If you had known that was ON
there for week in payment of a FOOLS
, wager had made with some friends yC
!. might have acted differently. But l hol
. you will remomher Mrs. Hardlos that
q is always safer and more humane to
q sure Of theft before you accuse any oil
9 Of being the thief. And remember, to
! TINT a salosgirl, poor as she may be, h
feelings rs well as you have yourself.
. Then she politely turned her back upC
D tho crcstfAllen Mrs Hardlos, who quick
B. left tho room, her hopes of forming an /
timacy with the influential Mrs. James,
having met with their deathblow. e
. change.