The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-03-28

you handed me nE ring it gave NE a
shock, made me realize then, as I had
not before, what we were doing. Had
not felt that it was too late, would
then and there have retraeted ami apoI-
ogized for every hasty-p
'tYou are pleading then. I am ts nm
derssand, Y she broke in, enttingiy, ssthe
severe shock rs your excuse for forget
ting the ring, that it 50 benumbed, par
alyzed your senses, that you failed to
think of it at all until showed it to
you moment sgo.r
40" he continued, ssubbornIy. s'I
am not prepared TO admit that forgot
IT. remember so well-am so abso-
l1tely certain that took It home
DR. Henderson Her voice indi-
Gated impatienee, scorn, indignation,
exasperation, aud perhaps several other
strong emotions. 'Dr. Henderson, this
would be amusing, ridiculous, were it
not - insulting. l found the ring on
the table, 50 you can not possibly have
taken il with you I think We might
a. well make an end Of this interview y i
When she commenced speaking, the
doctor had stopped But he had not
been listening; he had been thinking.
Now he went on slowly, as though
she had not interrupted him:
II took it home, straight home-I
laid it on the table while l filed aud
lighted my pipe-I had it in my hand
for almost an hour while I was snok-
ing and thinking''-he was impress
lively laying of 10 her with his finger
each link of his chain Of retrosPeetion-
II then locked it in a small safe I have
in my bedroom When l started here
this evening" face broke into a
triumphant smile-''I put it in my left |
hand lower vest pocket, and here she
is,n and, sure enough, he pulled out !
ring.
He picked up the other, and holding |
them together, carefully compared !
them They were exactly alike in ev-
cry particular, size, shape, setting, brill |
fancy, aud in both were the engraved |
letters, "A Nm. H.n
He passed them across to Miss Hsr-
rington, whcSe turn it now was to show
astonishment.
IL don't understand it, she fal-
tered.
'Nor I, said DR.. Henderson sternIy. |
you seem to have plurality Of en-
gagement rings-to keep a stock on
hand, as il were"
The girl flushed.
''Of course you know that I never
had but one engagement ring,n she /
said
She was STOPPING to defend herself, |
so the doctor went on the more severely:
Indeed, Yet here are two. l can
not undertake to say how many more
you may have with your initials IN.
H." in them, I suppose that even
your-shaIl we say assurance - will
hardly permit you to say that I was
the giver Of both. The rather unusual
circumstance of two of your fsnees
having the same initials has probably
been the cause of your mistake very
natural one under the circumstances
do not know who Is the other-shall
say lucky ?-feilow. On. a. H.
might be Ab Higginson."
"Mr. Higginson's name is Talbot, as
you very well know the girl put in.
"Hum-welI-maybe it is. 1 don't
care. Il doesn't make any difference
who the other fellow is-or are The
fact remains that you had other engage
ment rings at the same time you had
mine. WhS-you chose to add insult to
injury by trying to make out that was
the faithless one / can not imagine
Such brazea-"
"Dr Henderson, your conduct is IL
sufferable. will hear your insults no
longer
eCan you deny what have said?'
a0f course l can, and do. / know
nothing Of this other ring you have
brought It has your initials, a. H.
in it, too, remember. How an / to
know that it is not one you intended
for some other girl who happens to
have my initials? Probably you were
on your way to see her when you got
my note"
"EhE'
ssneh startled innoeencel Don't
Iet-n
Just here the library door opened and
Miss Harriugton's younger brother Gus
appeared. Gus Was a college senior,
elsss of young men not often thrown
Off their dignity, bet the belIigerent at
titude of the two occupants Of the room
visibly startled him
II heg your pardon" he faltered-
"I-er-did not know any one was in
here. I was looking for-er some
thing thought had left in here"
He drew back as though to leave the
room, and then, his gaze falling on the
plush case in his sisters hand, be stop
ped
'sWhy, that is the very thing was
looking for" he said, coming forward,
q slight flush on his fee, and taking it
from her unresisting fingers
Say, young man. asked the doc
tor, suddenly seeing light, "Is that
yours?''
Mr.. Harrington drew himself up to
his full height aud answered with dig
nify:
1T Is -
"WelI, that's all right began the
doctor, when
"why, what are you going to do with
a ring ike that. Gus?" eagerly asked
his sister.
What does man usually do with q
ring like this?p asked Mr.. Harrington
in reply. stretching himself another
inch "Tm going 70 give it to the
young lady intend to marry"
"Oh. Gus, is it Mary Harbison?"
aYes," be admitted, the senior disap-
pearing in the proud, hsppy boy.
How did you know"
'sThen, my dear sir, I" said the doctor,
with a relieved laugh, Il suppose the
a. H.-M. H in that ring stands for
Augustus Harrington = Mary Harbi-