The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1895-09-06

Ky MATTE W. BAKER.

1T 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 Ia
have known better" But pretty
Jacqueline didn't think her new dia-
mond ring at all unsuitable. and called
Uncle Jack the darlingest man in the
world" to give her such lovely
birthday present. The fact is, she
was his namesakc. as nearly as she
we'll could be, she being 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 baby. till he came back
from California with pocket full of
rocks" TO find her IA lovely. grownup
girl. for whom. he was sure, nothing
could be too good
Jacky was 50 fond Of her new ring
chat she would have worn IL all the
while. but her mother objected.
''O1.y on dress occasions" she WISE
~ said until you are eighteen. A
schoolgirl in a flannel gown, only half
long at that, wearing ring that
never cost less than hundred dollars
is not in accordance with the eternal
fitness of things Besides. you might
lose it,
That danger was a real one to
-Jacky's mind. since it was a tribe loose
for the finger on which she wore it, the
finger the majority Of her friends ad
visei. 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. JacAy 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
locked bureau drawer.
Mrs Lawson herself advised all this
care. for. though she considered the
servants honest. she did not think il
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 perfect stranger only 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 little older
than Jacky. and Mrs Lawson had
often noticed Mates wistful, almost
cnvious giances at Jacky's tasteful
dress and ornaments. so in contrast
with her own plain things.
Jacky was invited To a grand New
Years party. All the boys and girls in
her set were going in large sleigh.
for il was a five-milc ride The night
was clear and cold. SO sharp that Mrs.
Lawson bundled Jacky up very warm
ly, putting her own fur nittens over
Jacky's fine wooden ones of course
the diamond ring must he worn on that
occasion, and very brightly it flashed
on JaclSy'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 cam. IN from the
chorus Of many good nights. tigei.
sleepy and cold and glad Of the cheer
full coal fire in the diling room. She
sat down on the lounge behind the big.
warm stove while she took off her
many wraps and warmed herself
through and through before going up
to her room to bed
The gayetics Of the evening, the
music. the games and all the merry
chat were still ringing in her ears as
She undrcs>cd. and not till her head
was laid on her pillow did she miss her
diamond ring.
Left it in my mittcn. probably" she
said To herself II could not have lost
II. Cor ! am almost sure remember
feeling il on my finger on the way
home.-
She was tempted 10 rise at once and
70 downstairs to find il. but she was
~ tired. and the halls were cold this
sharp night Besides. i.l,c RENE mbcred
that this had been one OF her mothers
headache days, and IL Jacky returned
downstairs she would he sure TO hear
and question her. Ii would spoil her
mothers sleep TO know that the ring
was missing. even for a minute, and
sleep was her only headache cure.
Iii find IL the very first thing in
the morning. before I say n word to
anyone Jacky resolved. and in two
minutes she was in a sound. healthy
sleep. from which she did not wakcu
ELL hear nine o'clock.