The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-07-14
CHAPTER XIX.
Continued.

INV dullneSS mas permitted me W uo
tice what marked attention Mr.. Price
pays to Miss Marsh; and that is sub
feet on which l have heard nobody
speak. Look at them now! By Jove,
he is putting a ring on her finger
Wrong again." said Mr.. Gilmer;
I'he is taking one off,"
] looked to the corner where Mr..
Price and Miss Marsh were standing
apart from the numerous small groups
into which the assemblage was broken
M. The last speaker was right. To
my utter mystification l saw Mr. Price
withdraw a ring from one Of the fin
gers of Miss Marsh's left hand, pro-
ceeding against which she seemed to
protest. But my rival succeeded in
obtaining the ring, though apparently
not without offending the lady; for
she turned from him in chilling man
ner, and. walking across the room,
Joined her sister.
What could this mean? 1t looked
like-nay. it must have been-a lovers
quarrel. And yet how strange! Surely
no lady. and least of all Constance
Marsh, would object to return to
gentleman ring which he no longer
desired her to wear; and it is equally
certain no gentleman would be so un-
gracious as 30 press lady to return
q ring which she desired to retain.
] could make nothing of it, and by
the blank looks of my uncle and his
companions / concluded they were
equally at loss.
What do you say to that, Tru-
man?" asked Mr.. Mather, after
pause.
Nothing" answered uncle Sam, so
coldly that nobody cared to pursue
the subject further.
a minute or so afterwards our little
group broke up. Mr.. Rosenberg and
Mr. O'Connor going over to Miss Ken
nedy and Miss Juarrez, while uncle
Sam sought Miss Marsh, leaving me
with Mr.. Gilmer and Mr.. Mather.
i watched my uncle very closely,
aud noticed that he questioned his
Sister-in-law. She related something
10 him; and while she was speaking
her mood seemed compounded OF vex-
aticn and amusement, for at one mo-
ment she would frown and stamp her
little foot impatiently, and at another
break out into merry laugh. Uncle
Sans face. at first serious, gradually
relaxed into a broad smile as he lis
tened, and indicated man relieved OF
some anxiety.
When he returned he asked me to
take seat by my aunt. "She would
like to speak with you" he said. land
now is u good opportunity; see, she Is
alone. Go over there and sit down
by her''-a surprising request, for l
knew that ray uncle had lot exchanged
u word with his wife Tor III least an
hour. However, was only too
pleased to obey MIN; and for the next
ten OF. fifteen minutes | enjoyed an
interesting chat with my amiaDle
young aun,: which occuparioh, agree
able as it was, was yet more agree
ably interi upted 10y Miss Marsh, who
game and sat down by her sister.
Come her, dear said aunt Ger
trade, as she made room for her SIS
ter ON the settee; where have you
been ali this long time:'
. "Oh, hiding away from that horrid
man," replied Miss Marsh in tones OF
;nmistakable annoyance. Herface WAS
flushed aud her lips slightly parted,
and she WAS tanning herself with u
sigor suggestive OF anger.
Hush! here is friend of Mr. Price,
said aunt Gertrude, looking at me.
No, not at all, | asserted; Il know
very little of him. and don't desire to
kEow more"
The sisters exchanged glances. Il
am glad of that for your sake said
Miss Marsh. He bothers me dread
fully whenever he comes here, and to-
day he has made ne downright cross.
How was that" inquired aunt Ger
trude.
He. has diamond" said Miss
Marsh-"a large, beautiful stone, l be-
fieye, but haven't properly looked at
(which he is going to have set in
a ring for me- l told him plainly that
L had all the jewelry required, and
would prefer not to accept it; but he
wouldn't heed my refusal, and asked
me twenty times 10 lend him one OF
my rings as a guide to the size of my
finger. Finding | really wouldn't do
so, he caught hold of my hand unex-
pectedly. and drew from my finger
,hat little dress ring set with seven
pearls which poor dear ma used to
wear"
On, how 1 would have gloried in 60
ing to the Rev. Mr.. Evan Price, and
after demanding and receiving back
tie ring he had taken from Miss
Harsh. administering condign thrash
ing to that relapsed humbug. But
such a course was not to be thought
of, for Mr.. Price could have thrown
me out OF the window with the utmost