The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-06-28

1 TOOK II nome. SIlalEIt nome. L lall
II on the table while | filled and lighted
my pipe. | had it in my hand for almost
an hour while | was smoking and think
ing lie was impressively laying off to
her with his finger each link of his chain
| Of rctrospection. II then locked il in
small safe | have in my bedroom. When
! started here this evening"-his face
| broke into a triumphant smile-"I put it
in my left hand lower vest pocket, and
here it is" And, sure enough he pulled
out ring.
He picked up the other and, holding
them together. carefully compared them.
They We're exactly alike in every particu-
lar, size, shape, setting, brilliancy, and in
both were engraved letters, a. H.
NJ. H."
He passed them across to Miss Har-
! rington, whose turn it now was to show
astonishment.
II don't understand it," she faltcred
! Nor l." said DR. Henderson sternly
You seem to have plurality of engage
ment rings to keep a stock on hand, as it
We're"
! The girl flushed
"Of course you know that | never hac
but one engagement ring" she said
She was STOPPING to defend herself, 50
the doctor went on the more severely.
Indeed, Yet here are two. | cannot
undertake to say how many more you
may have with your initials II. NJ in
them. ! suppose that even your-shall
we say asSurance-will hardly permit
| you to say that | was the giver of both
The rather unusual circumstance of two
of your frances having the same initials
/ has probably been the cause of your mis-
take-a very natural one under the cir
; cumstances. | do not know who the 9th
er-shall | say lucky-felow- Oh, a
ii. might be Alb Iligginson,"
Mr.. Higginson's name is Talbot, as
! you very well know" the girl put in.
Hum ell-maybe it is. | don't care.
1t doesn't make any difference who the
other fellow is-or are. The fact remains
that you had other engagement rings at
the same time you had mine. Why you
chose to add insult to injury by trying TO
make out that | was the faithess one
cannot imagine. Such brazcn''-
DIR Henderson, your conduct is insult
/ ferabc will hear your insults no lon
i ger"
''Can you deny what have said?"
'Of course | can and do. know moth
ing of this other ring you have brought
1t has your initials, a. H.. in it, too, re-
member. How am | to know that it is
not one you intended for some other girl
who happens to have my initials? Prob
ably you were on your way to see her
when you got my note"
just here the library door opened, and
Miss Harrington's younger brother Gus
al II,
class of young men not often thrown off
their dignity, but the bclligcrcnt attitude
of the two occupants of the room visibly
startled him.
Il beg your pardon" he faltcred. Il
er-did not know any one was in here. !
was looking cr-something | thought
| had LETT in here
He drew back as though to leave the
room, and then. his gaze falling on the
! plush ease in his sisters hand, he stop
ped.
why, that's the very thing was look
| ing for" he said coming forward, a
! slight flush on his face, and taking it
from her unrcsistins hand.
Say, young man." asked the Doctor
suddenly seeing light, lis that ring
! yourS?'
Mr.. Harrington drew himself up to his
full height and answered with dignity:
1T is"
"Wcll, that's all right" began the doe.
tor, when
why, what are you going to do with a
! ring like that, GuS!' eagerly asked his
sister
"What does man usually do with Il
ring like ths| asked Mr., Harrington in
| reply, stretching himself another inch
Il am going to give it to the young lady
| intend to marry"
"Oh, Gus, is it Mary Iarbison?"
Yes" he admitted. the dignified senior
disappearing i'll the happy, proud boy
GLOW did you know"
| Then, my dear SIR" said the doctor
| with a relieved laugh, 81 suppose the a
H.-M. A. in that ring stands for 'Au-
gustus Misunderstanding Harbison""
And supposed. of course, that it was
for Mary Harrington" laughed the young
! lady of that name.
'Iumph!" shifted her brother con
| temptuousy. 'Thiuk you are the only
! girl in the United States named Nary
! And then, feeling that he was not being
! treated with proper dignity, he stalkcd
! from the room.
! When Gus shut the door, somewhat
! loudly, DR.. Henderson and Miss IIar
| rington were standing at opposite sides of
! the table, but before he could have taken
two steps this was altered. The doctor
marched boldly round to her side.
"Nonc but the brave deserve the fair. -
he muttered. And this looks co me like
an opportunity TO undo my fool work of
this morning. III make Il try for it, any
! how. Mary" he said aloud, taking her
hand in his, II have acted very foolishy
| today; you have been FOOLISH we have
been very foolish. Hasn't it lasted Long
! enough? love you-ah, until this day |
did not realize how much l loved you, |
don't believe | could bear many such
days rs this has been. dear. Aud you
love me- know you do. Come'-and he
iifted her hands and claSped them around
his neck-'let me put this ring back on
your finger where it belongs before ii
causes more trouble"
"But-how can you, with my hands up
there ut the back of your neck?" she
! asked
"Well"-and he paused a moment to
look down into n pair of beautiful eyes,
TO conSider-"weil, that is a problem.
Just let your hands stay where they are
for the present, and we will attend to the
ring later on
"All right" she said.
And so it was.-Portland Transcript.
Agricultural Brevities.
Weed time is with us. Keep the cul
| tivotOr poinp