The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-08

q
7 office soon"
Nevertheless he reseated himself. shut
3 neu the chair round. and gazed again
I into the blackness. which had now in
creased through a considerable access Of
aloud:
"Hano. what's that?-a spark? No
couldn't have been He rubbed his eyes
Il see sparks and devils or ghosts when
ever 1 thing about it-asleep or awake
I perhaps I'm asleep now. NOnsensei II m -
SO ne sat staring al the blackness Then
again he said suddenly.
Why, there 1t was. and there it is.
W nat the deuce is ltE'
Presently he seemed once more 10 have
caught sight of something, for this time
ne rose, ana walked cautiously into the
corner. He advanced one foot into il. 1t
happened just there to be clear of furni-
ture and studio lumber. He poked his
foot about. lie could feel nothing-see
nothing now. He turned and looked away
Tor moment up at the window.-Then
looked back into the corner. OF course
IL appeared darker than ever.
ing. Gone again"
Then bending quickly down. he grazed
I his temple against a projecting canvas
standing against the wall. He muttered
a word not necessary TO repeat. With
more caution now, as he dropped on one
knee. he felt out right and left with both
hands Ike blind man. Then he ran his
fingers, along the cracks. edges, and
ridges. lie stood up, he stopped down
again, still passing his hands over the
floor in all directions. It's like a Will
o'-the-wisp," he said Il see il, and don't
see At. but there is something that shines,
III swear"
After continuing his diverting recrea-
ton for several minutes, he stood up.
only to go down again instantly this time
on both knees, for ne had again seen the
momentary sparkle. Darling at the exact
spot with his fingers he touched some
small projecting substance in the eXtrem-
est corner. \ piece of glass or gravei
was it? Perhaps, but he could not raise
1t at nrst He persevcred and got his
nail under it, and then IL did yield slight
ly. and flashed as it yielded. A little
more grubbing at it, and he found il was
attached to second, and a third, similar
substance, and that the three were held
Dy-yeS, ring.
He stood up with it in his hand. and
turned round. 1t sparkled brilliantly now
as he brought il more under the high-up
window, for the light was rapidly increas-
ing the fog was lifting. In two minutes
more IL was clear enough for him to see
that In his hand he held and could iden-
THY beyond doubt, Lucy's engaged ring.
1t being Saturday. Mr.. Dartreu return
ed home by o'clock His wife happen
ed TO be in the dining room as he knocked.
ana seeing her there as he crossed the
nan, ne entered, shut the door and sat
down without removing his hat or top
coat he looked so disturbed and angry
that Lucy instantly exclaimed,
oh! Bobby, what is the maJer@' .
Gu snail hear bye-and-bye, dear" he
answered curtly. Please go and put on
u
as she began protesting, II insist on your
walking round with me at once 10 I.ut-
ridges studio. l insist on it. Do as
He said this so sternly that she was
completely overcome, and began to sob
tor moment he appeared moved and
nesltated slightly s he repeated,
DO as | tell you, Lucy. 1 will not dis
cuss the matter here. Ii is far too I'M
pleasant but l am determined to bring
you two face to face. You will see 1 have
good cause for insisting
fray, dear Robert, tell me- she began
VIII tell you nothing here" he inter
rupted. Please don't keep me waiting -
and i'm the deepest distress she left The
room to do his bidding
me dense fog of the morning had entire
! ~ cleared on, and the short winters twi-
| ilght was but slowly creeping on as
] husband and wife were on their wav 10
ne studio lie maintained a rigid silence
ne was evidently beside himself and the
! poor little woman had wisdom enough at
iast 10 cease vain importuning.
me large high window stil admitted
Sulncient light to his painting room to al
low mr. Horace Luttridge to critically
examine the result of his afternoons
| work as u stood on the easel in front of
, Nun " hilst so employed, ring at the
modeIs entrance took him, palette and
brushes in hand. to the door.
| Bless my heart he exclaimed on see
/ ing who his visitors We're This is a
/ surprise,-a most unexpected pleasure .
Dartrell, followed by his wife brushed
past MN without salutation. When the
| said F''' iiN
Il doubt Mr.. Luttridge if you will find
/ our visit a pleasure. 1t gives me none,
! promise you. To come TO the point I
once, nave the goodness to tell me- if
| you please, how it is l found this ring in
! this room this morning"
lie mad taken the jeweled hoop from
/ MS WalstcOdt pocket, and was now hold
! ing II up conspicuously in the light in
when ITS three large diamonds flashed
| brilliantly.
Great as had been the artists surprise
! from the first it had grown every mo-
! ment, and had become something more
| now, especially when he saw from Lucy
expression that the production of The
| ring was as unexpected to her as to him
SELF He looked completely bewildered
| MS color came and went, and he was
some time before he spoke. The emer-
| sehcy was so sudden and unforeseen
| that man of stronger nerve than Hor.
ace Luttridge might have displayed sons
fort he pulled himself together. and said
! with comparative calmnesS:
Excuse me, Mr.. Dartreu. but upor
| what grounds do you assume that
know how you come to find a ring in my
room? know nothing about it, Indeed
don't know that you did find it here
| Your manner is extremely Offensive. lei
| me tell you, and without further expla.
nation l decline prolonging this inter
| view"
Dartrell laughed derisively; whilst hi.
! poor wife, standing between the two mon
cast appealing Chances from one to thC
other. He put her aside, and ADDRESSING
| Luttridge, said:
oh, / will explain. sir, never fear
| Listen, therefore, both of you. You see
this is the ring which l gave rny wifi,
when we were engaged. l could swesl
to it anywhere. On the morning Of tht
day before we were married she wore
1t, as she had ever worn il since ! gatt
| II her. In the evening of that same
day / missed it from her finger ana sht
told me with some distress that she haC
lost it.
Where? ! inquired. She did not know
Mark that She would be sure 10 fint
it; but she never did find it. That agree
able task was left for me"
He laughed again, sardonically for n,
was growing cooler now, and DartrelI.
anger always was the deeper when n,
managed to control IT, More slowly thcT
he proceeded 10 narrate the exact CT.
cumstances under which he DISCOVERS.
the ring. AS he finished he added:
Perhaps II is as well I could not avail
your arrival this morning. NY time wa,
up, and so / deferred my inquiries unti
my wife could also be present"
With this he drew chair forward. and
sitting down calmly regarded the uthel
two They were silent. Dartrell, after ;
minute went on:
Il hope, Mr.. Luttridge YOU consider