The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-11


and lets the rings-the wonderful rings
that shine upon them make full play in
the fitful light. Aren't they pretty?
only wear them sometimes. don't know
why l put them on to-day. But I'm glad
now, because you can see them. Mother
gave them to me- They are pretty, aren't
theyT She pauses, but is so taken up
with her delight in her jewelled toys that
she does not notice how he lifts his head.
that has been lowered, and makes an
effort as If to speak-an effort beyond
him for the moment.
I'm afraid" says Adare slowly, and
with his very heart dying within him at
having to say this awful thing, that
your mother had no right to give them
to you"
Her eyes now fill with surprise. There
is no anger Jet, only surprise.
"No right?'
Think what you will of me-" says he
desperately, Il must tell you the truth.
Those rings belong to the jewels that your
that Sir Lucien is looking for
"Ch, no, no. noi' cries she eagerly,
pass onately, as if with intent of staying
his next words you are wrong, quite
wrolg-my mother gave them to me.
They could not belong to the jewels that
are iost. She gave them to me the very
night before she died Would she give
them to me then-and to me-a mere
child-if they were not honestly her
own"
He Is silent. 1t is perhaps the most
dreadful moment of his life. How can
he speak ?-how reassure her? His ST
lence strikes to her very heart
you don't believew cries she, in a
low but vehement tone. Take them,
then. Take them" She pulls them from
her fingers, and dashes them with a SUI
Ierb gesture of scorn, and righteous an
ger. and conscious innocence, at his feet.
They roll round and round, but by a
most marvellous chance do not reach any
of che many crevices in the old and brok-
en- flooring
Il ct me speak :"
$40. Not one word. Go, Do you
hear? Col"
mot till you hear me-" He stands
doggedly before her. He is fighting. as
he knows, for HIS life.
II will not hear you. Why should I?
What are you to me? A month ago l
never even heard of you! care nothing
at all about you. Indeed, you are less
than nothing to me ~
us that true" says he: and then
suddenly catching her hands, Il don't be-
lieve it."
'No" she laughs aloud. Such a mis-
cradle laugh. What do you believe ?
Neither in me, nor in my father, nor my
mother. Not even in your uncle. Sir
Lucien, who has been the cause of this
last insult. Did he employ you? Did
he send you here? Are you a spy" The
smile, now dreadful as her words. is still
upon her lips, and she is facing him
bravely, defying him. with all the cour-
age of the good old race from which
| she has sprung, her small head tilted
backwards. when suddenly something hap
| pens.
The small and slender frame falls n
| trembling. She raises two shaking hands
to her eyes, and turning sharply aside.
ashamed-crushed to the very soul. that
he should see her humiliation, she bursts
into passion of tears A silence, with
nothing but that most heart-broken sob
bing.
Amber" exclaims he hoarsely. He
| goes to her and ventures to touch one
of those small hands, pressed so wildly
against the bursting lids.
| But she shrinks away from nIm "Don't
touch me. Don't. / could not bear it. -
Don't cry like that, then" says he
savagely ''It drives me mad wish
1 had never said word about those ours
ed rings. Even now, if you wish it. YOU
can keep them. No one knows of them
but you and"
us this another insult?" exclaims she
do you think 1 would have you keen
back your knowledge of those rings? DC
| you think / want to keep them? I sup
pose my manner is ungracious, but
please pick them up. and"-with a light.
ming glance at him that very nearly kills
himE"go away"
ut shall be as you will, of course. .
says he, with regard to my going. But
have nothing whatever to do with those
| rings; they are yours so far. Sir Lu.
Glen may lay claim to them, but how does
that concern me? They are his
They are nothing to me-" says the
girl coldly. LET us make an end of the
matter 1t is very distasteful to me-
She moves towards the opening in the
wall
You mean by that'-he follows heI
THAT you will not accept Sir Lucien's
invitation" He stops. looking at her
trying to read her face, his own very pale
us this to be the end-?"
She gives little curt glance, half, only
half trrning her head.
"Yoi do not understand me If / ever
hesita e about accepting it, you may be
sure Q such hesitation is now at an end,
says sic, smiling at him, but oh ! what a
cold, repellent smile. II shall go to Car
rig whenever your sister chooses to ask
me. 1 am not one bit ashamed of your
finding those rings upon my fingers. l.
with her small head thrown backwards
and the brilliant light of battle in hel
dark blue eyes-'I defy you all"
why should you speak to me like
that" says the young man, little pale
but with a firm expression round his lips
us it fair? Defy Sir Lucien, if you will
but why look upon me as an enemy.
| Would you have had me act differently
| Would you have had me-knowing those
rings were not really yours-keep 81
/ lence?"
what are you going to do with
them?" asks she. family. There is Q
shrinking from them in her sad eyes, and
yet longing-a regret for them, too
that is not to be disguised. She had
loved them, delighted in them. They had
been her dearest possession, and now hi
has stepped in and has spoiled her joy
in them.
| They are yours much mine.
| says he. What will you do with themT
"Oh, no, not mine. 1t is not that
only" She covers her face with hel
hands. Don't tell him" a last faint
sob escapes her. Don't tell Sir Lu
Glen -
II feel the greatest brute alive" says
he. DO you know | would rather dit
than make you so unhappy, and yet
Tell him. How could you suggest such
thing? Keep them until the others are