Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1897-07-24

whom he came in hourly contact. As
the summer passed on, he absented him
self frequently for several days in the
mating at some fashionable watering
place, where he was sure to meet gay
company.
Mr.. Bramont was not at all pleased
with the conduct of his future son-in-
law, and his daughter betrayed annoy
ance at his neglect. Baroness Defoe was
at last no longer able to control her out
ragged feelings.
Dissolve the bond!' she exclaimed,
seizing Ada's hand. at is still time.
You will be unhappy, and then it will
be too late"
Ada shook her head.
"lt would be unwomanly," cried
Ada. IAN engagement is a promise nei-
ther man nor woman should break. AS
yet he has given me no cause for such
an act. If he should b,nak it, it
would"-
The girl paused, startled by the
thought that only too readily suggested
itself. "If l furnish you with proof
that he is faithless, will you break with
him then9" asked the baroness.
"How will you do it?''
"Trust me-" whispered the baroness.
Next morning the marchese departed
on one of his periodical Journeys.
While the marchese was absent Mr..
Bramont paid Erwin visit. AS he was
not aware of the latter's suit for his
daughters s hand, this visit was but the
natural outcome of the kindly feelings
he had always entertained for his sons
schoolmate and friend. He returned
from the Gerz estates highly pleased
with Erwin's ability to manage his
property.
Marchese Luciano remained away Ion
ger than was his wont. A letter came
from him, advising his fancee that
important business engagements made
it impossible to return. Mr.. Bramont's
face grew more thoughtful as letter up
on letter arrived from Luciano asking for
loans Of various large sums of money.
The father refrained from acquainting
his daughter with the purport of these
missives.
Reports from other sources were not
calculated to dissipate Mr.. Bramont's
vexation. 1t became known that the
marchese spent his time at fashionable
watering places, indulging i'll frivolities
unbecoming man who was the be-
trothed Of a sweet and innocent young
woman.
When he returned at last, he was as
amiabIe as ever. He relied upon his
power over Ada, whom he had fascinat-
ed by his dashing exterior. On the day
of his arrival at the Bramont home the
Baroness Defoe came over for a days
visit with her friend.
The marchese asked his betrothed
how she had spent her time during his
absence, and Ada told him that she had
been very much interested in a volume
Of Italian fairy tales which had acci-
dentally fallen into her hands.
"How kind of you to devote your at
tention to the literature of my native
landr' smiled the marchese.
Zone Of these stories has been es-
pecially interesting"
(Which one, my darling?"
"It is called Loves Test Was True. >"
IA romantic title! Tell me the story,
sweet"
They gathered around the girl and
the marchese.
"Once upon time there lived
prince. He was handsome and elegant
Of manner, and 1t was all easy thing for
him to captivate the heart of a young
girl. She consented to become his wife
and placed upon his finger ring to seal
the bond between them. But he did not
love her as he should, caring only to
possess her wealth. Her innocence and
simplicity wearied him even before they
were united i'll marriage. He left her
for days at q time to engage in the gay
pastimes of the world. In her distress
the young girl sought the counsel of a
good fairy when next her lover was
gone. Together they thought of plan
by which she would know whether her
lover was true to her or not.
Under every ring constantly worn
on the same finger a stripe Of white is
formed. No matter how brown and
weather stained the hand may become.
this stripe remains white and pure.
Men who are faithless to their vows re-
move their rings in the pursuit of un-
holy pleasures.
This, the fairy said to the young
girl, is an unfailing sign. When next
your lover returns to you, remove from
his hand the ring you have given him.
If the skin beneath is pure and white,
he has been true to you. If the stripe is
missing -
As Ada spoke these words she play
fully drew from the marchese's hand
the ring that bound him to her.
Luciano tried to snatch his hand from
her grasp, but Ada was quicker than
he. The telltale stripe was missing.
Pale as death, the girl arose, drawing
from her own hand the ring he had
given her and throwing it at his feet.
That night the marchese went away
for the last time, never to return. 1t
developed subsequently that he had bor-
rowed money wherever he could on his
prospect Of marrying an heiress.
A year later we find Ada again,
spending the summer at the home of
her friend, the Baroness Defoe. The
baron had been away for several days
on mission, the purpose of which only
his wife knew.
When he returned, he was accompa-
MED by Erwin Won Gerz, who had just