Middletown transcript., 1903-06-13

with business matters
my abstracted gaze fell on some
thing bright and sparkling lyins
half hidden in the slush of melt
ing snow. Picking it up | per
ceived it to be a valuable ring
representing a snake coiled JUS
ready to strike, while its glitter
ing diamond eyes made it appear
alive.
On reaching home despatch
ed a notice to The Times Office
describing the trinket, and re
questing the owner to call at my
house and reclaim the property
on the following day.
On closer examination OF my
find on reaching my room | felt
convinced that a man would claim
most likely a gambler or
swell pugilst, for it was evident
to me that no sensible man with
the least claim to good taste in
jewelry would own such a diabol-
ical ring. If I had been some
fifteen or twenty years younger
which eff" would have placed
me at that, stage rurally known
as between "hay and grass" l
might have slept with it on my
finger, and thus have tried de-
spite reason and common sense
to fathom what Fate had in store
for me in the shape of the "bet-
ter half" who had not yet showed
up. I confess I thought of it,
but shook my head deprecat-
ingly. Such youthful nonsense
wouldn't do for a staid business
man if he was single.
On repairing to my office next
morning I dropped the ring into
drawer among letters and other
papers. I had hardly seated
myself at my desk when the
Office boy looking in, said
A lady to see you, sir. She is
in great haste, and begs that you
will see her at once.
Show her in, said I.
The next instant she stood in
the open door, and as I gazed at
the fair young face, I experienced
for the first time in my life a
curiously blended and indescrib-
able emotion; an unwontedly
quick yet half stified beating of
my heart, and it came to me as
flash that I was in love. The
knowledge confused me, and the
confusion made me awkward, and
altogether ] felt that though |
had never been more anxious to
appear at my best, I was show
ing to great disadvantage.
I called in answer to your no.
tice of yesterday evening, she
began, in a voice the musical har-
mony of which seemed to reach
my heart and stir each vibrant
cord to it's utmost tension.
Yes, I said mechanically, while
I wondered if the too evident ad-
miration in my eyes was the cause
of her seeming SO i'll at ease, and
if this too were the cause of the
lovely color in her beautifully
rounded cheeks. She paused as
if finding it hard to proceed, and
l, regaining some presence of
mind, withdrew my gaze. 1t
was hard for me to do tnis, for I
was thinking that in a few mo-
ments I might lose sight of her,
possibly never to see her again.
I am very glad you have found
the ring, she presently said, with
evident embarrassment. 1t is an
heirloom, with which my mother
would not part for many times its
intrinsic value We have been
very much distressed over it's
loss.
I Immediately began searching
for the ring among the papers in
my desk, while she watched me
with evident signs of impatience.
A gentleman to see you, sir,
said the boy again at the door.
I told him you were engaged, but
he says he must see you at once.
I was about to reply, but the
words were arrested on my lips
by a sudden change in the young
lady's face. She sat opposite to
me, and facing the door, and was
gazing through it at someone in
the outer Office. Her face had
suddenly grown very pale, while
in her large eyes was an expires
sion of terror mingled with dis
gust or loathing. Her breath
came in short painting gasps. I
took a step towards her, vaguely
apprehensive of fainting fit, but
was arrested by a masculine
voice behind me, which, ap-
preaching hurriedly. said:
I beg ten thousand pardons;
hut really if I deter to ceremony