The sea coast echo., 1895-10-12
JACKY'S DIAMOND RING.
BY MATTE w. BAKER.

BY MATTE w. BAKER.
at was just like man. Mrs. Law
son said, Ito give young girl such an
unsuitable present. Diamonds for a
girl of fifteen! Brother Jack ought to
have known better" But pretty
Jacqueliue didn't think her new dia-
mond ring at all unsuitable, and called
Uncle Jack 1.-THE darlingest man in the
world" to give her such n lovely
birthday present The fact is, she
was his namesake, as nearly as she
we'll could be, she being girl and he
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 a pocket full OF
rocks" to find her lovely, grown-up
girl, for whom, he was sure, nothing
could be too good.
Jacky was so fond of her new ring
that she would have worn it all the
while, but her mother objected.
only on dress occasions" she wise,
1y said, until you are eighteen. A
schoolgirl in a flannel gown, only half
long at that, wearing a 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 trifle loose
for the finger on which she wore it, the
finger the majority of her friends ad-
vised, for, on so important matter as
that, of course, she had taken abun-
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
locked bureau drawer
Mrs. Lawson herself advised all this
care, for, though she considered the
servants honest, she did not think it
wise to 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
envious glances at Jacky's tasteful
dress and ornaments, so in contrast
with her own plain things
Jacky was invited to grand New
Years party. All the boys and girls in
her set were going in a large sleigh,
for 1t was tive-mile ride. The night
was clear and cold, so sharp that Mrs.
Lawson bundled Jacky up very warm
ly, putting her own fur mittens over
Jacky's fine woolen ones Of course
the diamond ring must be worn on that
occasion, and very brightly it flashed
on Jacky's pretty white hand, in cou.
trast with her crimson cashmere dress.
1t was after midnight when the
sleigh drew up again at Judge Law.
sons gate, and Jacly came in from the
chorus OF many good nights, tired
sleepy and cold and glad of the cheer
ful 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 herselt
through and through before going ur
to her room to bed. .....
The gayeties of the evening, the
music, the games and all the merry
chat were still ringing in her ears a.
she undressed, and not till her heaC
was laid on her pillow did she miss he,
diamond ring!
Left it in my mitten, probably" sh,
said to herself. II could not have los,
At, for | am almost sure / remem be,
feeling 1t on my finger on the wa,
home"
She was tempted to rise at once ant
go downstairs to find it, but she wa
so tired, and the halls were cold thi,
sharp night Besides, she remem beret
that this had been one of her mother,
-~~NAN eoS p anu IL JdChy returned
downstairs she would be sure TO hca,
and question her 1t would spoil hei
mothers sleep to know that the ring
was missing, even for minute, anC
sleep was her only headache cure.
"Ill find it the very first thing il
the morning, before | say word tc
anyone" Jacky resolved, and in tive
minutes she was in sound, healthy
sleep, from which she did not waker
till near nine o'clock.
My ringl" was almost her first wax.
ing thought; so anxious one that she
rose at once, dressed quickly and hur.
ried down to the dining-room.
The family had breakfasted, but she
thought little about that Her first
glance at the lounge where she had
left her wraps showed that they were
all picked up and carried away.
Who carried my things away?r she
asked Matte, who was busting the
room.
4 did. Wasn't that right?''
Oh, yesr' but she hurried into the
hall and examined her mittens. her
Haf, cloak and hood, even her over.