The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-08-31
RECOVERING A RING.

~ straghtway went down to
the boathouse, for Virginia
had promised herself to me in marriage,
and | perforce obeyed her always and
implicitly, as is the custom in such
| cases.
| had been staying for some weeks with
her people, who had country house Oh
the western shore of lake-well, the name
doesn't matter. We had been together a
great deal, and | had learned to read
Nirginia's moods from the expression. of
her adorable little mouth. On this par
ticular occasion her lips were pressed
tightly together, which symptom meant in
my code that a storm was brewing, and SO
after her ladyship had settled herself COM
fortably among the cushions, |, saying
nothing, sculled steadily away from the
shore for some minutes. And besides it
was one of those gorgeous autumn after
Moons that make one silent Little will o.
the-wisps of sunlight were dancing with
the ripples on the surface of the lake. The
trees on the shore, like coquettes who are
conscious of having lost the full bloom of
their beauty, had dressed themselves in
gaudy suits Of scarlet and orange, as if hop
ing by brilliancy of color to hide the
tragedy of decay that makes autumn so
infinitely pathetic. Ever and anon an
adventurous trout would spring out of the
| +1 lpply at tl,aI Of tha ,l-
and great golden bumblebees went buzz
zing over our heads in their transit across
the lake in search of fresh plumber.
Watching these things, ! was almost
unmindful of Nirginias presence, and
started when she said sharply, "You're not
very amusing this afternoon
| smiled an answer, whereupon she
Immediately cleared decks for action, and
said, with fine air of irony, 'If only
your dear Mrs Carruthers were here, you
would soon find plenty to say. I'm sure
the way you went on with her at lunch
was simply disgraceful. Not that | am
jealous OF her. You needn't think thatn'
NllS. NullulutlS was a IClIoN SuCSl VI
mine who possessed great many of the
alluring qualities of young widow.
''She's horrid ilirtn'
"Virgie"
''She is and you know it. You cant
call Der prettyn
"Well, dear, suppose | mayn't but |
have heard lots of fellows say they thought
she was brick"
"Brick or no brick, she's 10 if she's a
day
''she probably is day, but 4o-no.
Shall we say 1872
This was ingenious on my part, seeing
that Virginia and | both knew that Mrs
Cawuthers was not yet 26.
Virginia flushed and looked at me with
her lower lip quiverng.
George when you are sarcastic | almost
hate you"
"Dear' said reproachfully, accentuat-
ing the vowel sound, to make the little
word seem more caressing.
~ wish had never met you. l hate be-
ing engaged anyway-and we seem to be
always quarreling.'
at takes two to make a quarrel Nirgie,
and Pm sure Pm in the best of tempers. )"
chats the aggravating part of it. You
sit there smiling and | can't make you
angry
To my shame be it said, | burst out
laughing. The moment after | was sorry
and | can't bear that, and more omnous
still, she was tidgeting with her engage
ment ring. Now this really alarmed me.
AS a rule, our engagement was broken and
re-cemented once week. Only the after
noon before we had gone through the
ceremony. II it were going to happen once
every day, there were elements of danger
in the custom which it was desirable to
avoid.
But before | had time to sue for forgive
ness Virginia took off the little gold band
and after moments hesitation flung it to
the lake. And then she looked straight at
me, with brave show CT defiance al
though the telltale mouth let me know that
she was frightened at what she had done.
| was more hurt than words can say, and
with few swift strokes turned the boat s
head homeward. But couldn't bear to
leave the ring behind, and determined to
dive for it. shipped my oars and took
off my coat. Virginia pretended to take
no notice. Them watching her closely,
began to unite my shoe laces. Still she
pretended not to see. Then | took off my
belt and shoes and placed the contents of my
trousers pockets in a neat little heap in the
bottom of the boat.
Nirginia's eyes met mine, and she said
TREMENDOUSLY, "What are you going to do,
George?'
"Dive for the ring, Virginia."
Can you SWIM"
"No."
couldn't resist this fib. 1t would have
spoiled it all if | had told her that |, at
Eaton, had held the school championship
for three years in succession.
George, dear, cant you let the men
dredge for it,"