The daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 190?-1908, 1908-11-14

I
he clouds will have exhaus cd their
powers to weep. and cannot help but
let the light of heaven through.
Mrs. Montgomery Sprangin was
JUS emerging into the sunlight OF life
after the dark days of first widow
hood She was attractive and had lost
none Of her heaven born Joyous ma
ture, despite the submergence. Fur
thermore, she was pretty enough TO
win admiration for herself alone. re.
gardless OF what the Spranglin estate
might stand for.
To the credit Of Mr.. Jonas Beverly
he 1t said, he knew nothing of the
estate. ard loved Mrs. Spranglin with
out question.
They we're going out to a musical
at the home of a friend She had not
yet drawn on her gloves, and at a turn
Of - stairway she threw back her
lef arm to gather her skirts. and
struck her hand forcibly on the stair
rail
OH" she gasped ''how hurt my
handl"
lie caught the fingers, kissed them,
and they passed out, laughing. Seated
In TIE carriage. she put on her gloves
as she chatted, and the offending hand
was thoucht of TO more.
Two hours later, as they stood be-
fore the low fire in her own drawing
room discussing the evenings enter
tainment. as men and women do, she
suddenly held out her hand. exclaim-
Ing in dismay: See! the stone from
my ring is gone!"
He took her gloves, examined the
fingers. helped her shake out the folds
of her gown searched the carpet
about their feet, and then said:
Il know! You loosened the stone
when you struck your hand against
the railing, and il is in the hall"
The hall was inspected and minute
ly gone over, inch by inch. to no avail
And yet It must have fallen just
here" he said. disconsolately. Seeing
Mrs. Spranglin on the verge OF tears.
he seized his hat. saying: "Tll fpd
the cab. Perhaps it's there"
On the morrow, Mr. Beverly was
of no success. but the reassuring con-
viction that the loss occurred I'm the
hall and that sooner or later the stone
would be restored.
II seemed that no one had come
through the hall during their absence,
although there was mud on the carpet,
and the front door was left unlatched.
Other members OF the family were
in the house, but all had been occu-
pied that particular evening In their
rooms and were sure no one had en-
tered.
Does II matter so very much?"
asked Mr.. Beverly, toying with the
dismantled ring as he held her hand
a moment. Il know 1t was q hand
some stone ="
1T was my engagement ring" she
said with lowered eyes and sadly.
He hesitated a moment and then
cried. impulsively: May | not re-
place It? Will you not value another
as you did this?"
She drew her hand hastily away
and answered with frightened eyes:
There is i'll luck in such a loss.
can never accept another until this
is found. oh. IL isn't the value of
the diamond; of course the ring could
be reset. but there's something so hor-
rible about losing ones engagement.
ring. No, no, IL must be found or |
shall never be quite happy. and surely
| shall never allow It to be replaced"
isn't II stranger" said he. This is
the second time | have registered
vow to find a missing diamond-a lost
wedding ring! Some years ago my
mother had the ring my father gave
her at the altar stolen. have spent
every endeavor and many dollars trac
ing that ne-unsuccessfully. shall
not rest until find yours"
He was gone. and Mrs. Spranglin
was left to reflect on the circum-
stance. and dimly imagine another
ring on the third finger of her left
hand.
She did not see Mr.. Beverly for sew.
eral days. Then there came a little
note. type written and evidently die
tated-perhaps by telephone, because
it was unsigned except by the letters
-. b." in type.
81 do not dare TO see you. am
nursing poor boy with fever. May
be malignant"
Now wonderful thing happened to
Mrs. Spranglin. The old misery OF the
missing ring fell away as a senseless
garment Here was an unconscious
antidote-a human sorrow and a wom-
anly sympathy. She forgot all else
save the poor suffering boy and the
brave man who was doing what per.
haps no one else would do. There
was work in the world for her. There
was need. Superstition plays no
part In the real things of life.
Her first efforts at locating Mr..
Beverly were frustrated, but by and
by she found him In tumbledown
shGnty on the river front. The boy
was better-was Nut of danger-the
mother said, am Mr.. Beverly was