Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1895-08-16
RECOVERING A RING.

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 al
ways and implicitly, as is the custom in
such cases.
/ had been staying for some weeks
with her people, who had country
we'll, the name doesn' matter We had
been together a great deal, and 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, I, 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 We're dancing with the rip
pies 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.
Eyer 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, I was almost
unmindfnl of Virginia S 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, eff
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 thatr'
Mrs Carruthers was a fellow guest of
mine who possessed a great many of
the alluring qualities of a young widow.
"She's horrid 1irt!'
"Virgier'
"She is, and you know 1t. You can t
call her pretty!'
"Well, dear, suppose mayn't, but
have heard lots Of fellows say they
thought she was brick.
"Brick Or no brick, she's 40 if she S
day."
"She probably is day, but 4o-no.
Shall we say 39?"
This was ingenious on my part, see
ing that Virginia and I both knew that
Mrs. Carruthers was not yet 26.
Virginia flushed, and looked at me
with her lower lip quiyering
George, when you are sarcastic al
most hate you
"Dear!' said I reproachfully, accen-
tuating the vowel sound, to make the
little word seem more caressing.
IT wish / had never met you, I hate
being engaged anyway-and we seem to
be always quarreling.''
1t takes two to make a quarrel, Vir-
gle, 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 It make
you angry"
To my shame be it said, I burst out
laughing. The moment after was sorry,
for the tears began to gather in her eyes,
and I can't bear that, and more omin-
GUS still, she was fidgeting with her en-
gagement ring Now this really alarm
ed me. AS rule, our engagement was
broken and recemented once a week
Only the afternoon before we had gone
through the ceremony. If it were going
to happen once every day, there We're
elements 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 a moments hesitation
flung it to the lake. And then she look
ed straight at me, with a brave show of
defiance, although the telltale mouth
let me know that she was frightened at
what she had done. I was more hurt
than words can say, and with a few
swift strokes turned the boats head
homeward. But l 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. Then, watching her closely,
l began to unite my shoe laces. Still
she pretended not to see. Then I 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.
Virginia's eyes met mine, and she
said TREMENDOUSLY, "What are you going
to do, George?''
"Diye for the ring, Virginia. -
"Can you swim?''
"No. :"
I couldn't resist this fib. 1t would
have spoiled it all if I had told her that
l, at Elton, had held the school cham
pionship for three years in succession.
George, dear, can't we let the men
dredge for it:''
"How should we ever remember the
exact spot where it went down? No,
this with aslight touch Of melodrama
81 must take the risk. And, Virgie,
if should not-not come up, don't you
know-tell them that I fell overheard. -
Virginia gave vent to scream. Not
one OF those staccato notes that the
mention of mouse will generally bring
from women, but a genuine scream of
fear.
George, please-please don't! am
SO sorry was jealous and cross and
wicked.''
And the tears began to show them
selves again, SO, without moro ado,
went to the bow and took header. l
found that the water was only about ten
feet deep, but the ring was not to be
seen. On coming up for breath, found
poor Virginia brandishing an oar over
the side of the boat, with view to saw
ing my life if possible. L seized it with
much show Of distress and waited un-
til got my breath. Virginia implored
me to come back into the boat, but I
was obdurate. After the third dive I re-
turned to the surface, triumphantly