Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1906-04-07

so"
then she laughed and then her pretty
lips set themselves in an unm.stakablc
line, and her eyes met mine fairly.
John" she said. Il won't let you be
SO stupid. Don't you see YOU dear
silly thing" She Iau' he'd most heart
lcSsly. Il wouldn't wear anybody eIse'S
ring with yours but his
As II that was cNtrnuation. Matters
were now twice as bad. | rose, it be
in% very nearly dinner time anyway.
looked down ut Gabrielle.
THAT is just it," said L. with for
malty. He is the exception to every
thing. am wrctchcl over this mans
| ask you not to wear his ring tonight
with mine. Leave one or the other at
home, please whichever you prefer
As stall>cd down the vernnda steps
| carried with me picture Of Ga
briclle's bcwitching, pctulant face look
ing up at me in hurt surprise.
ITS the dearest ring, John" she
tdII'u pcHlltutlS, tuc lPitl one. ouFS.
Thank you. dear
Then as | turned ready to take her in
my arms in the friendly screen of the
vines she rose and came to the steps,
her little howrry blue gown trailing.
but shall wear them both tonight,
Mr. John Balrn," she said with pretty
mischief And you shall apologize
too"
"Ncvcr," said l, with dignity. and
came almost face to face with Gabri-
elle's mother idling up from the gar
den. looking a picture in white.
What big long words he uses"
cried GabriclIe's mother Eayly.
Mrs .Iocclyn." said L. ".f Gabrielle
becomes unmanagrable will you marry
me-"
Mrs. Jocelyn has been widow for
years.
what commendablc thrift for Il
rainy day" she said smiling
For some reason the question of the
white sapphire took on significance
out of all proportion. As | drove to
Gabricllc's that evening our love, our
future, even her ndorabl"nrSs, which |
was never tired of reviewing, We're of
less moment to me thaH whether or not
she would disregard my wishes about
the ring. 1t seemed to me zone of those
straws which tell the wind which way
to blow" But | remembered with com
fort that Gabrielle had an enchanting
habit of ObStimacy up to the moment of
withdrawal In other peoples favor 80
as | sat opposite her and her mother on
the way to the Holdons' became com
fortably, even triumI hnntly. sure that
there were no white sapphires in the
carriage.
When we went down to supper at
midnight Mr.. Algernon Phelps joined
us with his unbcarable manner OF be
ing wanted where, to be sure, he was
wanted by every one but me. Was he,
| wondered SaVa%cly. inter we were
married to persist in these visits and
presents on the strength of "whcn Ca
briellc was six" Then ! watched Ga
brielle fcverShly while she drew off
the fingers of her gloves and tucked
them daintily and with pretty delibera-
tion In her long, loose glove wrists.
The left hand first. and there was my
modest band of pearls suiting her deli
cate little hand to perfection. Then the
right hand. and there blazed the white
sapphires.
looked away miserably bly-sOmcwhere.
anywhere. When | came to nnalyZe 1t
| did not care Il continental about Mr..
Algcrnon Phelps white sapphires. |
cared only that Gabrielle had not cared
to please me.
And the third one" Gabrielle was
saying. "is going to be that new
poppy figure. I've seen the favors for
that. They nre-why. John. what Is
~"
"NothIng" said mlscrably She had
not even done il to tense me purposely.
There would have been some balm OF
bitterswcet in that. My wishes had
been simply neglected and forgotten.
She did not even trouble to triumph in
having carried out her threat.
"Arcn't you having good time"
murmurcd Gabrielle anXiously.
answer | stole one glance down at that
little right hand and then buried my
glanccs furiously in my salad
"Oh" Gabrielle had fascinating
habit of starting little laugh and
then thinking better Of 1t. She did this
now and stopped to say in the softest
little voice:
You think that don't love you?"
You know it," said l, morbidly.
Il do'-Still more softly. This would
have been heaven had 1t not been for
that stupid ring.
Il love you so much" she went one.
that 1t hurts me to have Il secret from
you. But have had to-until tonight"
with Mr.. Phelps?" | wanted to
know. grimIy. He was talking with
Mrs. Jocelyn and heard nothing.
Yes" said Gabrielle. land with
some one else"
Not until | followed her glance did
my eye fall upon the glittering little
hand of Gabrielle's mother. And on
the third finger of her left hand was an
exquisite ring of white sapphires and
diamonds.
Gabrielle was watching me.
You dear" she murmured. haven't
lou guessed? Mr.. Phelps brought her
the ring today, and he gave me mine
as Il peace Offering"
"They - you - they?' | wanted to