Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-11-27

Z
Tongues wa8eed incessantly. Clara
found herself Stunned by all Even
her few friends grew politely cool AMI
distant. Edna Montague alone firmly
believed in her, and upheld her cause;
but Edna, being stco-ed," and having
no intimate relations with the Semin-
airy girls. did. not possess much in
fluence among them.
As for the other stco-eds," Victoria
Radcliffe voiced the general opinion
when she said:
1T may be all right. of course, but,
after all, we really know nothing about
Clara Hill; and nobody ever saw her
with a ring. 1t is best to be careful
until we are sure.
1t was hard month for Clara Hill
No one guessed how bitterly she sui
fered under her calm, unmoved de-
meanor.
II can't endure it any longer" she
said one night to Edna, who had drop
ped in for a short call. Il shall so
home when the term ends, and not
come back. 1t will break my mother S
heart"
'sIt is an outrage" said Edna, warm
ly. Berry, st. John ought to be asham-
ed of the way she is acting. Don't
give in, Clara; don't give her the sat
isfaction.'
81 can't help it, Miss Montague. You
don't know what | have endured. You
are the only one in the whole college
that believes in me. Every one else
thinks / am a thief; that / tried to
steal Beryl t. Johns ring. Just think
of it-a thief l am Stunned and
avoided as if l were leper."
Down in Beryl st. Johns pretty room
at that very moment, a merry group
were chattering. 1t was the night OF
Lena Crawford's musical recital, and
Beryl was dressing to attend.
Il believe I'll wear my cream muslin
again, although l did wear it to Ida's '
she said, as she rustled into it. It's
the prettiest dress have. VIII yoa
please pull out that lace ruffle at the
back, Madge?"
Certainly How it is twisted. Oh.
all right now Why, here is something
tangled up in the lace! What can-on,
Beryl!"
And Madge, with a dramatic expires
sion, held out in her hand a shining
band of gold, in which single ruby
glittered like crimson star.
1t is on record tat Beryl turned
pale. The girls stared in silence
Blanche Adamson was the first to re-
cover her tongue.
ooh, Beryl! And that was Clara
Hills ring after ALL"
Beryl picked up the ring mechanical
ly.
This is my ring Of course, and, yes,
it has only seven claws. 1t must have
got caught in the lace somehow, and
dress since Ida's recital
What are you going to do about it?'
asked Blanche.
Il shall go straight down to Clara
and beg her pardon" said Beryl, reso-
lutely. "You must come, too, girls,
because you were all with me when l
insulted her. Do you know, l feel
decidedly small"
Edna had gone, and Clara was alone
when the knock came at her door.
Her face darkened as she opened it
and saw Beryl st. John, in all her
bright young beauty, standing in the
dim corridor
"Oh, Clara, have found my ring.
and am so sorry and ashamed. You
don't know how sorry and ashamed!
Can you ever forgive me?'
Clara had grown very pale during
Beryls incoherent speech. When it
ended, she sat down on her bed and
burst into tears. Beryl sat softly
down beside her and put her arms
about her. Blanche Adamson, with a
sudden access of thoughtfulness, drew
the others out and closed the door.
1t was past rectal time when Beryl
and Clara came out.
Il must hurry off to the recital
now" said Beryl, "but tomorrow
morning you and I must go down to
Miss Young, and / will tell her: Thank
you for forgiving me. Clara. l don't
deserve that you should. but | can
make this UP to you; all the girls will
be your friends after this; you won't
be left out in the cold any longer"
Hence it was that Edna Montague,
coming in next morning after having
spent the night with college chum,
was amazed beyond measure to see
Beryl St. John and Clara Hill coming
I'D from Miss Young's sanctum, with
their arms about each other and tear
stains on their cheeks.
OF course. Edna was waylaid to
hear the story. Tears and kisses were
not in a "co-ed's" line. She shook
hands with each of the girls heartily.