The Press., 1895-12-26
RECOVERING A RING.

Virginia asked me to take her out for Q row. So of course tucked big red cushion under each arm and straight way went down to the boathouse, for Virginia had promised herself to me in marriage, and perforce obeyed her all ways and implicitly, as is the custom in such cases.
 had been staying for some weeks with her people, who had a country house on the western shore of lake well, the name doesn't matter. We had been together 8 great deal, and I had learned to read Virginia's moods from the expression of her adorable little mouth. On this particular occasion her lips were pressed tightly together, which symptom meant in my code that storm was brewing, and so, after her ladyship had settled herself comfortably among the cushions, l, saying nothing, sculled steadily away from the shore for some minutes. And besides it was one of those gorgeous autumn afternoons that make one silent. Little will-o'- -the-wisps of sunlight were dancing with the rip ples 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 hoping 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 water to. look at the deep blue of the sky, and great golden bumblebees went buZzing over our heads in their transit across the lake in search of fresh plunder.
 Watching these things, was almost unmindful of Virginia's presence, and started when she said sharply, You're not very amusing this afternoon.
 smiled an answer, YhAEPgRpn she [ immediately cleared decks for, ,hfptsiion, and said, with tilsas l.a- 4 irony, ,a'tH only your dear --s X s'', Sgs we're here, you would sou.1 a.a..s To say. I'm sure the way you wont on with her at lunch was simply disgracefnl Not that I am jealous of her. You needn't think thatP'
 Mrs. Carruthers was fellow guest Of mine who possessed 8 great many of the alluring qualities of 8 young widow.
 "She's horrid flirtP'
 "Virgiep'
 "She is, and you know it. You can't call her prettyl"
 Well, dear, I suppose I msyn't, but l have heard lots of fellows say they thought she was a brick '
 '"Brick or no brick, she's 40 if she's a day.
 "She probably is day, but 40-no Shall we say 39?"
 This was ingenious on my part, see- ing that Virginia and both knew that Mrs. Carruthers was not yet 26.
 Virginia flushed, and looked at me with her lower lip quivering.
 George, when you are sarcastic al- most hate you.
 "Dearp' said responsibility, accen- tuating the vowel sound, to make the little word seem more caressing.
 ''I wish l had never met you. hate being engaged any way-and T~e seem to be always quarreling."
 It takes two to make quarrel, Vir- gie, and I'm sure I'm in the best of tempers.
 ''That's the aggravating part of it. You sit there smiling and I can t make you angry"
 To my shame be it said, burst out laughing. The moment after was sorry, for the tears began to gather in her eyes, and can't bear that, and more omin- ous still, she was fdgeting with her en- gagement ring. Now this really alarm ed me. As rule, our engagement was broken and recemented once 8 week. Only the afternoon before we had gone through the ceremony. If it were going to happen, once every day, there were clements of danger in the custom which it was desirable to avoid.
 But before I had time to sue for for giveness Virginia took off the little gold band and after moments hesitation flung it to the lake And then she look