The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-02
THE LOST RING.
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crystal setting, but when a bird flew
away with &c that meant the loss Of his
happiness TO Jim Smedley. and It's dis
coyery was as the beginning OF a new
life, Alice Lane, too, is just as glad,
and she doesn't try to hide her joy.
Only the bird that carried off the ring
might be- sorry. but he is dead, and HIS
last chlrps on the subject are not re-
corded Alice Lane says that when
she is Mrs Smcdlcy she viii wear the
bird on her hat for a constant reminder
of how pride came near making her
miss happiness.
Jim Smcdlcy is a farmer who lives
on the river road a mile or so above the
old watcrworks Smcdlcy Is young I'm
years and fortune and rich only I'm his
lbvc for Alice Lane She is the daugh-
ter of another farmer both old and
rich as farmers 90. Smedley seemed in
love with the whole family. About the
LIST Of last May he won the girl. The
elder Lane was willing.
Less than two weeks after they had
become engaged Mr.. Lanes sister, who
lives mt BroWnsboro. fell III and sent
down for her niece 10 nurse her. The
night before she left the lovers sat out
In the moonlight He had given her
diamond ring, and i'm return she drew
from her finger an old brass one with a
crystal setting and slipped It on his.
Its my lucky ring" she said "As
long as you keep It you may be sure Of
me- If you lose IT. won't marry you
until you bring it back to me again"
ut will be my lucky ring too he
told her.
The next morning Miss Lane went to
Brownsboro.
Two days after that Jim Smcdley sat
playing with a gay blackbrd that he
had caught It was a soldier bird,
with the red markings on It's wings
Just beginning 10 show Smcdlcy took
the crystal ring from his finger and
slipped it over the birds head to see
how the gold color and glass would
contrast with the red marked wings.
Then as nc handled IL carclcssly the
little bird hoped from his hands and
few 10 bush ten feet away. Smedley
arose lazny and went to get him. The
bird few TO the branch of a little tree
20 feet of The man ran after him
with n long stick and tried 90 knock
the hyaway down The soldier bird
hoped out of reach and then took a
wayering, wabbing flight to another
tree.
Wild with anxiety, smedley followed.
Again he was unsuccessful Then the
man ran quickly to the house FOR his
gun When he returned. the soldier
bird had disappeared with his happi.
ness.
A week after Alice Lane came home.
Jim Smcdley met her and almost her
first question after the greeting was,
where is my lucky ring"
lie told her how he had lost IT, and
she laughed at him. She said that If he
allowed a week old bird to take her
ring from him she was quite sure that
any other man could take her away.
She said the engagement was off IN.
til be brought back the ring.
Then of a necessity Jim Smedlcy be-
came q hunter. His farm and crops
were neglected. his home ran to disor-
der Every morning before daybreak
the man, his double barreled shotgun
over his shoulder trudged out to Kill
soldier birds. The fellow who looked
for needle In a haystack had an easy
time beside Smedley. Soon there was
a noticeable falling off in the number
Of soldier birds He would shoot one,
run to il eagerly, feel gently at It's neck
and then throw the dead body aside
with a snort Of disgust
Early yesterday morning Smedlcy
started for his regular days hunt. He
thought he would try the marshes
down near the old watcrworks. II was
barely daylight when he reached there.
The blackblrds and the field larks were
Just beginning TO wake up and tell each
other all about it.
Smedlcy saw a little heck of red in
the grass. lie went toward 1t. Some
thing black and red sprang up sudden
~, and Smedley saw a soldier bird go
ing straight away from him. The bird
seemed top heavy and Jew a little low.
A thought flashed through the mans
mind that made his hands tremble
For the first time in weeks he missed.
The bird turned to the left, and Smed-
ley saw something bright CLEAN in the
sunlight His muscles stiffened into
steel At the shot the bird fell straight
downward into the middle of pond.
Dropping his gun, Smedley went
straight for him. The water and mud
came up to his armpits, but he waded
right in. lie seized the soldier bird,
felt at its neck and then splashed joy
fully back to shore.
Alice Lane was cutting the bacon for
breakfast when she heard the noise of
some one running and the earnest
barking Of 4 dog. She looked out of
tho window to see man rushing to-
ward the house.
1t was Jim Smedley bringing in his
bird. He entered the kitchen all ra-
diant, wet and out Of breath. Then he |
walked up to the girl and threw dead |
soldier bird on the table before her.
alice" he said. 1--WE brought you
vOur ring -IOuisville COurier-JOurnal |
A Deferred Purchase.
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