The Ely miner., 1895-09-04


Jacky's ring SO exactly that Mrs. Law.
son now took her husband into her
confidence, told him what Kitty had
said. and showed him the letters.
Its case Of circumstantial evi-
dence." he said, after they had talked
over the particulars. mo one should
ever be condemned on that I'll think
OF 1t over night. and give you my ad-
vice in the morning"
"Go yourself and talk to Matte kind
ly and in private" was the advice he
gave. ''If she is guilty you may get
some clew."
That very afternoon Mrs. Lawson
nerved herself to the task, and, know
ing Matte was alone in her own room,
went thither and knocked at the door,
Matte opened it and looked surprised
at seeing Mrs. Lawson, who came in,
closed the door and sat down.
II want to ask you few questions,
Matte" she said, kindly. "Why did
you visit Peck & Snyder's jewelry store
the day you went homer"
For answer Matte burst into tears,
and Mrs. Lawson now felt sure her
suspicious were correct.
"Oh, Mrs Lawson!" she sobbed, II
know you have thought I stole that
ring. l could read it in your face, but
indeed l never did! I went into Peck
& Snyder's and bought little jet
brooch to carry to mother for a pres.
ent. She had never had black pin
since father died, and I knew she
would like one, and that Peck & Sny-
der always had pretty assortment so
l went in there to buy it. For, though
theirs is such stylish store, they are
honest and will tell you just what
things are, and their prices for such
things are no higher than they are
elsewhere. And they always treat
their poor customers as politely as they
do their best ones"
did you get one?"
"Yes'm, bought her a very pretty
with it, though she said 1 ought not to
spend my money for her. It's the first
money ever earned, and did love to
get it for her. My mother is SO good
nothing is too good for her." Matte
said, her face flushing with pride and
tenderness.
Was this truth, or only clever act
ing?
But didn't you have a ring on your
finger that day? neaer saw you wear
one here"
from the bureau drawer, and opening
it, laid in Mrs. Lawson's hand a. we'll
worn gold ring. On the back of it, two
interlinked hearts. in the style of long
ago, made device very much the
same shape as Jacky's diamond c1us-
ter.
Grandmother gave me this" said
Matte, "the day first left home. It
was ring grandfather gave her be-
fore they were married, and she has
always worn it, but she wanted to give
me something and had nothing else to
give. She said must wear it all the
time to remember her-as if l could
ever forget her-dear heart! But am
not used to wearing ring, and Pm al
ways afraid l should break it or lose it.
I put it on to go home, so she would
see wore it. That wasn't wicked de-
ception, was it?"
| Mrs. Lawson smiled as she said: II
am sure not, though the girls simple
| utterances had almost moved her to
tears. She glanced about the room, SO
neat and orderly in it's simplicity, saw
Matie's well-worn Bible lying on the
stand at the head of the bed, and. bend
ing over, she kissed the girls cheek.
81 believe you and trust in you,
Matte" she said.
''Oh, thank your cried Matte. the
tears falling again. ut makes me
happier than l have been since the
ring was lost. l do hope it will be
| foundY'
But days and weeks went by and no
trace of it.
might as well look for a needle in
| haystack as to hunt for it further"
Judge Lawson said, and every body con-
cerned had nearly given up all hope of
ever seeing it again.
One raw April day Jacky had been
off in the maple woods to a sugaring
and came home just at sunset, damp
and cold. The lounge behind the coal
steve was always her favorite warm
ing place, so she sought it at once and
sat there resting and warming herself.
The level sunset shafts shot in at the
west window and glanced across the
sheet of zinc under the stove. AS
Jacky looked down she saw In the sun
light the faint impression of a small
circle on the zinc close to her feet.
An inspiration seized her. STOPPING
down, she pulled up the loose edge of
the zinc trife, reached her fingers
under and drew out the lost ring, as
good as ever, save for the dust it had
collected.