Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-09-10

| request for some remembrance rine
or anything. AS he had it in his pow eli
| to take rings and everything else,
slipped off turquoise and gave it &c
him. He placed it on his third finger
above diamond, and, as the diamond
flashed, l saw tiny cross cut on its
surface. ! was not searched; and with
a courtly bow my knight Of the roa
and his companions vanished as sud
| denly as they had come.
One month later | was almost worn
out with the entertainments furnished
by my sister in her efforts to make
my visit pleasant There was to be
one more dance, probably Che last, as
We were to start homeWa the first OF
the following week. Paul had been
visiting relatives and had just return
ed In time to take part.
AS the wagons drove up at the door
or the inn. where the dance was to be
held heard young lady, a friend OF
my sisters, call out:
why, where has Mr.. Meredith
gone" But l thought nothing OF it
then.
The dancing had been going on for
only a short time when this young
iady came up to me and with tones
suggestive of pique said:
Mr.. Meredith wishes to be intro
duced to you
Mr.. Meredith then asked me to
dance with him, and not only once but
many times we danced together-he
was an admirable dancer. Yet | could
hardly hear what he said, so perplexed
was |, wondering where | could have
heard his voice before But at length.
as he extended his hand. glanced
down and saw small cross cut on the
diamond of his ring.
My dears. almost tainted outright
But to the end he acted the part of a
gentleman. He led me to a window
and stood talking while he shielded
my agitation from the room now filled
with whirling couples.
Nothihs was said for several min
"tcS' In my foolish heart | was try
ing TO think of some romantic reason
that would account for his mode of
lie. His face, from which the beard
and moustache were gone. looked like
that OF some boyish Sir Galahad. not
IKE that of criminal. His kindly
brown eyes shown on me with a world
OF laughter in them.
Well?' he said, smilingly. AT the
same moment caught sight of Paul in
the doorway talking to a man whom
ala not know and with earnest gest-
ures pointing to my partner. Paul.
too, had recognized him.
Though my heart was beating so
hard that | could, l motioned to Mr..
Meredith to finish the dance and when
we reached the side nearest the op-
posi'e door l stopped.
Bend down your head whisper
ed family.
Some one has recognized you. I
saw them. You must 60. My voice
trembled, am sure.
Must, he said slowly, still smil-
ing. Then he frowned. But the smile
back instantly as he glanced at
me. as | stool pale and trembling.
Poor little girl" he said. so divided
between sense of duty and pity for
poor wretch like me. Come-a bar
gain, child. One more dance all around
the room and back here, and will go.
You ought to go now l faltered.
Not until we finish the dance he
said firmly.
He supported me almost entirely as
we whirled around the room. or I he
lieve that should have slipped on the
floor
Now! Go" l whispered, in per-
feet terror
'Good-by he said earnestly. I'll
never shall! forget you. Think of me
as kindly as you can
He had vanished in the darkness,
and none too soon. A few minutes |
later the sheriff and two OF his men
appeared fully armed: but Mr.. Mere |
dith was nowhere to be found-nor did |
any one discover how he escaped"
Gradma sighed softly.
Il have always been glad to know
he escaped" she added.
is that all?"
Eyes. except that after the notice of |
my marriage had been inserted in the |
papers. l received an express package
diamond ring. with a |
cross cut in its surface"
The girls We're silent for few
moments and then began with ex-
of delight at the story ro-
nance beyond anything they had ex-
rected. Thea said saucy Irene, with |
A twinkle in her eyes:
Grandmother. darling. III wager |
anything that you never told grand
father all this story"
The pink blush spread over grand
mothers face, but the dear old soul !
would not lie. even to point moral.
NO, my dear girls" she said. slow