The Opelousas courier., 1900-08-04

o0A ~ y 44tbA LAMP &OA . AOSO AoA"
ing him to call that same evening.
Only that morning the twain, agree
ing that what they had considered a
life engagement was all o mistake and
would better be ended, had parted,
and the doctor was at a loss to &C.
count for this recall.
"What can she want?" he NUT
tered. II thought we said oil there
was to say this morning-more, too.
maybe-and Idon't know of any more
gifts to be returned" and he smiled
grimly at the miscellaneous assort-
ment of packages on his centre table.
"Can she be trying to make it up?"
and, though knowing the thought to
be preposterous, he was conscious of
q thrill.
Miss Harrington received him in a
small room, almost a den, opening out
of the library; it was here that they
had passed their happiest hours. She
did not offer to shake hands, and he
caught himself thinking how very be-
coming that cool little bow of hers
was; he had never noticed it7before.
"Of course you were surprised at
my asking you to CALL" she began, and
then paused for him to deny it, which
he, with even thu slightest regard for
truth for truths sake. could not do.
"Do You know why I have sent for
you?" Miss Harrington asked, indig-
nation growing stronger in her voice.
Considering that only that morning
he had been convinced that her favor
or d~isfavor could never more be to him
a matter of concern. he now felt a
sorrow, almost fear, at her
evident anger; he paused a moment to
draw in with a long Whit the warmth
and coziness of this little room-they
had spent some delightful evenings
here; then, in answer to her question,
he made the brilliant remark that he
supposed she wanted to see him.
She looked at him scornfully.
"No," she declared, ST did not
wish to see you. ] am leaving the
city tomorrow morning; SO are you, in
another direction. I have something
of yours, something you had forgotten,
which / thought too valuable to send
you by mail or messenger, SO there re-
NAMED nothing but for you to come
in person and get it"
The doctor shook his head sadly.
ssTm-I'm sorry" he faltered. apol-
''but I can't imagine what
you mean."
There is some corn too great for
words-for a time at least.
Miss Harrington walked swiftly
across the room to the mantel, and re-
placed on the table a small
red plush case; opened, this showed q
diamond ring within. Step
ping back from the table, she clasped
her hands behind her, and looked at
him without q word.
He stared with ~puckered brows,
first at the ring, then at the girl.
sour engagement ring!" she an
nounced finally, when the silence had
lasted as long as she could stand.
"Oh, surely notl" he answered
'sYou gave me that this
norning-"
"And you thought so little of it, it
was to you a matter of such little i'm
portance, that you went off aud forgot
It, left it lying here on the table, she
Interrupted.
81 beg your pardon. I have a dis
Einct recollection of taking it with me. -
70 himself he was saying, II always
knew You were pretty, but not this
"You are certainly mistaken" said
The girl
IT remember distinctly placing it in
my right hand lower vest pocket"
and he clasped his hand to the spot
indicated.
"That is impossible"
Did you wei hear two children dis
putting? 81 did" ssYou didn't
~ did" 'fYou didn't" IL came to
Dir. Henderson that they we're fast
approaching that stage. He pulled
together TO crush her with one
fn< masculine stroke.
TF have too much respect, Miss Har-
rington," he said, with great dignity.
.'notonly COR your feelings, but for
ny own, to treat so lightly as you
have insinuated the seal OF our en-
yagement. Had / been so careless as
forgot it, as you charge, ] concede
that you would have q right to con-
yourself sighted, if not in
but ii you knew the true state
Of my heart you would Instantly real
re that your charge is absurd. A mo-
nent's consideration should have con-
you OF this. or II your kpowl-
Of me was not sufficient a simple
OF this ring, to descend
% material things, should have been:
But, womanlike. you rush ahead, act
tng on mere impulse, and, OF course,
He picked up the ring. q handsome
diamond solitaire, to point out to her
wherein she had been SO foolish. His
lace wore q sarcastic, whitening smile.
put as he glanced at the inner surface
IF the ring, his expression slowly
'roze, for there stared him in The face
his legend: "a. H.-M. H.
Aud what did "A. HIN. H" stand
or hnt .Arthur Henderson-Mary
Harrington?"
Seeing his surprise, his dismay, the
girl laughed grimly.
Now" she said, 81 suppose even
rour-sLall we say assnrance-will
aardly permit you to deny longer Tint
forgot your engagement ring"
10 was still staring at the ring with
apparently nothing at al to say.