Eagle River Democrat. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1893-1896, 1896-05-18

ctAOIIB SOTt VI pace, 81 l0I Cao DOS1i1VOo
| was concerned; but it's windows dis
played a wondrous medley ofvaluables
and rubbish, which, to an observant
eye, spoke eloquentlv ofreckless jack
tars, who in their stay ashore, used
, to the last penny, had been forced
part with their watches-sound
!! old articles, no make bel;eve-thelr
r-rings-though that must be a hard
push-and other belongings OF their
class. Strange old-fashioned, solid
metal tobacco shoppers two pipes and
tobacco pouches from Turkey or
India, wonderful antediluvinn jewel
ry, from every known quarter OF the
globe; and, again, some OF more mod
ern make, though, perhaps, OF less
value, and much of it telling, Ifear, OF
the faithlessness of certain MoIlys and
Susans, whom honest Jacks ill-ad-
vised generosity had failed to hold
leal and true in his absence, to HIM
self or his gifts.
Arms and warlike acc outrements,
too, there were daggers, upon whose
iewelled hits and damascened blades
we might, with no great stretch OF
fancy, detect strange, dubious stains,
unlike all others: traitorous little
wand like sticks, from which, at a
touch, started the lance-like blade;
pistols, in the curve of whose emboss-
ed stock you seemed to trace the
syllabe-death. These and many
more were there, all heaped in a reck-
less profusion, as [ say, eloquent to
those who might choose to read. But
his was 81 listless glance, which just SO
took all in, and was again passing on,
when suddenly he started, and, with
an exclamation, stopped, and. drew
close to the WINDOW, upon a certain
pane of which, and on one particular
article behind it, his eyes were fixed
not with mere curiosity, nor admi-
ration, nor inquiry, but with amaze
ment, trouble, nay, anger in their gaze.
A moment more and he was within
the shop, and hastily, more bygesture
than words, had indicated to the man
behind the counter what he desired.
Like a good man Of business, he up
on duty, attracted by the glimpse Of
this new customer to purchase, had
Quilted another, whose GRAND, if
profitable, would, he well knew, suffer
nothing by waiting awhile; and, &C
cordingly, the lower end OF the counter
screened off from that where the
newcomer stood--Was quickly left.
with the invisible customer, to the eX-
ercise OF patience.
1t was a small box containing g.
ring, which the man set before the
stranger, in accordance with the lat
ter S request.
He lifted 1t eagerly, gazed upon it
from side,to side, then peered within
the massive circlet, apparently in
search of some motto, or craven sign,
by which he might further identify it;
all the while the shopkeeper was rum
ming on in praise OF the stones, the
setting, the gold, but the stranger
never heard him, as with a trembling
hand, and with eyes that seemed un-
able, even now, to assure his reason,
he continued his investigation OF the
trlnket.
ut is" he gasped at length, sit isl!
Where did youge it?' he asked, turn
ing to the man, but still looking at
the ring.
Meanwhile, the man was officiously
lighting lamp at the strangers ell
bow, to assist him in his investiga-
ton; the latter turned towards it,
and the ring shone and glittered in it's
light The shopman had opened his
lips to reply to the question, when an
exclamation proceeded from the other
side the partition screening off the adj
jacent corner.
"Why, it's Nelly's ringp cried the
voice Of woman; "dear, poor Nellyp
"Who is that?" cried the stranger,
excitedly; "who speaks Of her?' he re
peated, endeavoring to obtain a sight
Of the speaker.
Immediately after, the small door in
the partition opened, and the woman
whom he had encountered at the en-
trance of the pawnbroker's stepped
out.
'Who are your" exclaimed the
stranger; sdo you know this ring?-
did you know her you spoke OFF"
"Know her!" repeated the woman,
in a trembling voice; ooh! indeed Ibid;
and for the ring. could never mistake
it. Poor Nelly!-oh, my good, good
friendl" and the woman fell to sob
bling, as she looked at the ring in the
hand Of the stranger; "ahl it seems
but yesterday that she was telling me
all about it. Poor Nelly! it almost
broke her heart when it was stolen"
"Stolen!" echoed the stranger.
'"Then she did not"
TO BE CONTINUED.