The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-09-07
JACKY'S DIAMOND RING
by MATTE W. BAKER.

at was just like a man." Mrs. Law
son said, Ito give a young girl such an
unsuitable present. Diamonds for a
girl of fifteen! Brother Jack ought to
have known better" But pretty
Jacqueline didn't think her new dia-
-1nond ring at all unsuitable, and called
Uncle Jack the darlingest man IN the
world" to give her such a lovely
birthday present. The fact is, she
was his namesake, as nearly as she
well could be, she being a girl and he
a man; and he said, by way of excus-
ing the extravaganza of the gift, that
he had never given her anything for
her name before. He had not seen her
since she was a baby, till he came back
from California with 4 pocket full of
rocks" to find her a lovely, grown-up
girl, for whom, he was sure, nothing
could be too good.
Jacky was so fond of her new ring
shat she would have worn it all the
while, but her mother objected.
Only on dress occasions" she WISE
-ly said, until you are eighteen. A
schoolgirl in 4 flannel gown, only half
long at that, wearing a ring that
never cost less han a hundred dollars
is not in accordance with the eternal
fitness of things Besides, you might
lose it."
That danger was a real II to
.Jacky's mind, since it was 4 tritle loose
for the finger on which she wore IT. the
finger the majority of her friends ad-
vised, for, on so important a matter as
that, of course, she had taken album
,dant counsel.
But dress occasions were all too sell
dom now, Jacky thought. So, for the
most part, the ring was shut into
its case of royal purple velvet, and
that was locked in Jacky's satin-lined
Jewel case, which in turn, was kept in
a locked bureau drawer.
Mrs. Lawson herself advised all this
care, for. though she considered the
servants honest, she did not think it
wise 20 put too much temptation in
their way. Mrs. Orth, the cook, had
lived with them many years, and they
knew her to be true as steel; but
Matte White, the sec ond girl, had come
to them a perfect stranger only a few
weeks before. She was so quiet and
refined that they were all favor
ably impressed with her, but there is
that old saying about summering and
wintering people before you can really
know them. She was but 4 little older
than Jacky, and Mrs. Lawson had
often noticed Mates wistful, almost
~envious chances at Jacky's tasteful
dress and ornaments, so in contrast
with her own plain things.
Jackv was invited to a grand New
Years party. All the boys and girls in
her set were going in a large sleigh,
for it was a tive-mile ride. The night
was clear and cold, SO sharp that Mrs.
Lawson bundled Jacky up very warm
,ly, putting her own fur Eittens over
-Jackv's fine wooden ones. Of course
the diamond ring must be worn on that
occasion, and very brightly it flashed
on Jacky's pretty white hand, in con.
trast with her crimson cashmere dress.
1t was after midnight when the
sleigh drew up again at Judge Law
sons gate, and Jacky came in from the
chorus Of many good nights, tired,
sleepy and cold and glad of the cheer
full coal fire in the dining-room. She
sat down on the lounge behind the big
warm stove while she took off heI
many wraps and warmed herself
through and through before going uE
10 her room to bed.
The gayeties of the evening, the
music. the games and all h merry
chat were still ringing in her ears as
she undressed, and not till her head
was laid on her pillow did she miss heI
diamond ring.
Left it in my mitten, probably" she
said to herself. Il could not have lost
it, FOR l am almost sure l remember
feeling it on my finger on the way
home"
She was tempted to rise at once and
go downstairs to find it, but she was
80 tired, and the halls were cold this
sharp night. Besides, she remembered
that this had been one of her mothers
headache days, and if Jacky returned
downstairs she would be sure to hear
and question her. It would spoil her
mothers sleep to nnow that the ring
was missing, ever for a minute, and
sleep was her only headache cure.
I'll find it the very first thing in
the morning, before 1 say a word tc
anyone" Jacky resolved, and in two
minutes she was in a sound, healthy
sleep, from which she did not waker
till near nine o'clock