The Monitor-register., 1896-03-20

felt hat, rushed in exoitedly upon the
pawnbroker n foggy afternoon about
eighteen months later.
Newspaper men, in search of copv
were fond of prowling about Mr.. LOOMS
establishment. If he liked a man he
would be communicative; if not not, he
held his tongue, and the bafled journalist
went away empty. Among his friends
OF the Fourth Estate, however, Carr
Maliphant was prime favorite. Most of
the studies of low life which were a
feature of the evening paper to which
Maliphant contributed had emanated
from Mr.. Looms varied "reminiscences.
"Where did I get what ring ?" asked
the pawnbrowker, eying Carr with some
curiosity.
THAT opal in the window"
(Which opal ?"
Don't drive me mad, Loom. There's
only one opal ring in the window to-day.
It's ticketed ga forfeited pledge"
"Oh thatr'
"Where did you get it ?"
tits not my habit to divulge my
clients business"
nmnSsst.know who pawned that ring
with you.n
'Tf you must, a person Of the ZANE of
Jane Smith, =
"Where did she get hold of it ?"
That's more than l can tell you.
Perhaps she stole it."
"Nothing of the Sort"
"If you know SO much about the
matter, why come asking me questions?"
"There, Loom, don't be hufy. It's a
matter of life and death to me; it is
indeed. l was engaged to a girl whom l
was to have married as soon as 1 had
made a home for her. She suddenly dis
appeared, and l have been hunting for her
ever since until I saw the ring 1 had given
her in your window just now"
Him! You're sure it's the same ring?"
There's not another like it in the
world"
Mr.. Loom shuffied across the shop to a
safe that stood in the darkest corner.
Unlocking the massive door he took out
a small packet which he carefully
unfastened, keeping his back to Mali
phant. Then he went over to the win
dow, and took out Agatha's ring.
(which is yours ?" he asked Carr, lay
ing down on the counter before him two
opal rings indeatical in shape and size.
II am sure don't know, LOOM"
replied the astonished young man.
"But 1 do, Mr.. Maliphant. This ia
your sweetheart's ring, safe enough. The
other l once meant to give to her mother
"You? Well, all l can say is, it's a
pity she didn't have you. Verley was a
brute to her,"
"Verley? Then I am right. And
now, Mr.. Maliphant, you have every
right to hear the story of these rings.
They were made several hundred years
ago, for two brothers who were engaged
to be married to two sisters. Maybe
these s~weethearts Of the olden time had
greater faith in their love than in the bad
luck which the opal is said to bring. Al
all events, they were married lovers to
the end. After they died, the rings
passed into other hands, but It soon
became a proverb that wherever one
turned up, the other was pretty sure te
follow. | can't say that I had much
faith in the legend, until your Miss"
agatha"
walked into the shop with the fellow
to my ring in her hand"
ga very pretty story, Loom. But il
remains to be seen what luck mine will
bring me-"
ST tell you what it u.s." unused the
pawnbroker. 'I'll see if I can't do you 8
good turn. You shall come here aftel
dark every evening and I'll put a seat fol
you in my parlor, where you can watch
all corners. And, maybe, if you watch
long enough, you sweetheart will come
along to look after her ring"
For a wee K Carr watched and watched
in vain. Then Agatha came at last.
The pale face was thinner, the shabby
jacket shabbier, but she was still, as Mr..
Loom said to himself, with a suspicious
lump in his throat, "every inch a lady"
still, poor child.
81 have called about a ring Of mine"
she faltered. SIS it zoo late to redeem
its It's more than the time since I left
it with you /"
"Then Pm afraid it must be forfeited"
said Mr.. Loom, sternly; "you see bust
ness is business"
sob, l can't lose it, l can't indeedr'
cried Agatha; 'it's my engagement ring.
l wouldn't let it go for all the world. /
only pawned it because we were starving,
and l always hoped to be able to pay the
interest. Won't You give me a little
longer }"
The poor darling, thought Carr in his
hiding place, how weak and i'll she
looked How he longed to rush from his
corner, and take her in his armsi
"Oh, l can't stand this" he cried
suddenly, in open defiance of Mr.. Looms
warning cough. agatha. my darling,
what has become of You all these weary
months ?"
"There, now,'' said Mr.. Loom, severely,
ssee what you've donel'
For the sight Of that dear face and the
sound of that dear voice had proved too
much for Agatha. She had tainted from
sheer happiness, She awoke to CON.
soiousness on the couch 10 Mr.. Looms
prim little parlor with Carr kneeling