The Wilmington daily Republican., 1895-09-10
a ROMANCE.


despised instrument, the street hand or
gan. There may be other instances In
which this instrument has figured as the
cause Of much happiness, but do mob my
self know, nor can believe, that 1t ever
produced any such amount Of happiness
on any other occasion.
About five years ago was taking my
summer vacation alta resort not far from
Newport. The fact was, we were engaged,
Margaret and !, and we had reached that
stage In the courtship that we criticised
each other somewhat freely. On certain
evening on which dance was to be given
at the Casino, I brought TO her q banch of
flowers, the very best obtainabIe at that
time. 1t was quite difficult to get flowers
at this resort, 1t being some distance from
the city, and the difficulty was heightened
by the great dcmand for flowers on an oc-
casion such as the dance In question.
Probably, too, was guilty of forgetful-
ness in not putting in my order for the
flowers several days beforehand.
At sll events, the flowers that did OBJ
tain were not SO very pretty, and Mar
garet's face indicated to me, when I pre-
sented them to her, that she was not at all
satisfied. In fact, there was Q distinct
smiling air about her which irritated me
greatly. remarked something to the ef-
feot that some girls were like republics, In
that they were ungrateful. She said some
thing to the effect that some men seemed
to think more of billiards and tennis and
mint juleps than they did Of their future
wives. Our remarks grew quite pointed
and sharp, and, during the lull which fol
lowed some Of them, the air played by the
hotel orchestra distinctly impressed Itself
ON my memory.
Although this air was one which was
supposed to be expressive Of but q tempo
rary parting, it really meant for Margaret
and me long and weary absence from
each other, was unable to dissociate the
painful feelings which this air brought up
to me whenever aftcrward heard It, for
at this meeting, which had opened with o
gift of flowers on my part, we gave back
to each other the promises we had made.
received back the ring had given Marga-
ret and the various letters that had passed
between us we solemnly agreed to destroy.
Tho presents were to be returned or re-
tained as each thought fit.
However, there was ono gold ring OF
unique design which had given Margaret
some time before, and which was never to
be returned to me under any condition
except in case she was in need of assistance.
At the time 1t was given to her she had
agreed to ever keep 1t, oven If we quarrel
cd and parted. The next day returned
to my occupation in the city and did not
sec Margaret again.
About five years elapsed between the
happening of the event above chronicled
and those that are now to be narrated. I
was passing down the street in a quaint
New England village, which in the winter
time seemed to be entirely dead like tho
country round 1t, and which was only
awakened into life by the warm breath of
spring and tho gayeties of the summer
crowds who visited 1t. One Of those street
piano organs which had grown to be so
common In the cities, but wero looked up
on as novelty in the country towns, was
playing some familiar airs, to which was
paying no particular attention until
heard the air which turned out to be the
funeral dirge of my only love affair.
stopped on the walk some distance away
and unwillingly listened.
The air ceased and the closed shutter of
a house, directly in front of which was
tho organ, was opened, and hand, which
still had time to see was that of wom-
an, threw a coin or two to the player.
The coin fell fiat near the player, but
another object bounded of some distance
toward me. I stopped to pick 1t up and
found 1t was q ring, which had evidently
come off the lady's hand who had thrown
the coin. A second glance at the ring, to
my intense surprise, showed me that it
was the ring had given Margaret five
years beforel There were the initials inside
of it and the curious quaint carving on
the outside. Full of strange thoughts,
hopes, contonding emotions, / involunta-
rily turned to the house 10 return the ring
to the person TO whom 1t belonged. Just
as 1 reached tho door of the house 1t was
opened by Margaret, who had come to get
her ring again. A frightened look and a
hasty pressure of her hand to her heart
showed me how much she was surprised
and affected. l said nothing, for indeed
the emotions of both showed plainly more
than any words could use passed into
the house, closed the door, put the ring on
her finger and then asked, did you mean
to send itp' A faint" Yes' was all could
hear. In moment pressed her to my
breast and hungry with avidtty sought to
satisfy the affection Of heart which had
been for SO many years yearning for a re-
turn. Later on, we were married and are
willing to admit that we are happy, as
happy as can be. We attribute the cause of
this reconciliation of ours to the providen-
tial presence of tho hand organ, and tho
phrase IA romance of hand organ is one
of the prettiest that our hearts, If not our
lips, can frame.-Exchange.