Willmar tribune., 1909-04-07
sae chung to him. oonysou, q sur

He spoke gently, AZ one Gains q
frightened child, and still retaining
her hand turned to Elizabeth.
I'm really very sorry. but we must
90 home. It has been an awfully jolly
evening. Mrs. Graham is bit un-
strung. she's not strong, you know;
I shouldn't have allowed her to stay
out so long in the night air. And Of
course I shouldn't have sung"
We murmured polite, If slightly In.
coherent, regrets and tried to look "a
though nothing surprising had hap
pened, but think we were all relieved
when the Grahams finally departed.
As we watched their retreating fig.
ures gradually grow smaller in the
distance, Gabrielle voiced the question
that trembled on my lips.
'Why shouldn't he sing?"
Nobody was ready with an appro-
pirate reply, for it really did seem as
though one endowed with so enviable
a gift should be permitted to use it at
will.
shivered little, for tho embers no
longer sent out any heat, and the
wind from the ocean had suddenly
grown damp and chill. Lady Edith
also shivered and drew her cloak
closely about her.
II think we, too, must co." she said; !;
Il am sorry the evening has ended. It
has been very delightful, and shall
always remember it."
Il should suppose Mrs. Graham
would remember it also," remarked
Gabrielle, "but I don't believe she
thought it delightful"
We were gathering up our wraps
preparatory to going home as she
spoke, and Mr.. Blake had just taken
possession of the shawl spread upon
the rock where Elizabeth had been sit,
ting when she uttered an exclamation.
my ring! 1t is gone-my ruby
ring"
This ring was Elizabeth's dearest
possession and the pride Of her heart
It was a marquise, formed of seven
rubies surrounded by diamonds, and
as all Of the stones were unusually
good it was really very valuable. We
were aghast at the catastrophe and
hastened to help her look for it.
1T can't be gone" exclaimed Gabri
ellie, turning over sticks and stones
,suspiciously; 1T must be here"
1T was too loose; l should not have
worn it. I must have rolled into the
water and I shall never see it again.
Elizabeth spoke in the hushed tone
In which one refers to those recently
removed by death.
Don't feel that way about It," said
Lord Wilfrid, reused at last; II an
quite sure we will find 1t. Let's see
you sat here with Edith, and Graham
and Mr.. Blake just below. 1t might
have caught in the fringe of the shawl
Perhaps Mr.. Blake will kindly
shake It,"
Mr.. Blake complied without result
Useless also was the ensuing search
of the rocks, although they were gone
over inch by inch, the men lighting
matches to examine dark crevice<
while we scrutinized the most i'm
probable places and tried to peer into
the rapidly rising water.
At last we gave it up and prepared
to go home, each in turn assuring Eliz
abeth that when morning came she
would surely find her ring, but never
theless. secretly convinced that it was
irrevocably gone.
I've had a good time, barring thu
last half hour" said Gordon Bennett
as he took my shawl; have you?"
Il don't know what Elizabeth will
ever do without her ring" was NJ,
evasive reply.
"Give her another. The jewels youl
ship is bringing you are far more val
uable-"
Nonsense" I interrupted. "Can'
you see that she 10 unhappy and W,
are all worried?"
please don't worry" he said: ito
morrow morning bright and early II
have another look at the rocks. In
rather good prophet and somethinf
tells me she will get it again. II
can't find it I'll get diver and Sc.
what he can do. But don't think ",
will need him, for when daylight
comes it will probably be discovere,
exactly where she dropped it. Any
way, there is no use giving up q thinf
as lost until every possible means O
finding it is exhausted. You won
worry, will you?"
These practical suggestions were
very cheering and I turned to repea
them to Elizabeth. She was sayinl
goodnight to the Campbells, who ha,
decided to return to the hotel alon,
the shore. To my surprise I hear,
Lady Edith also suggesting the serv
ices Of diver.
"They are quite wonderful, 20,
know" she was saying, "and all sort
OF things have been recovered from
the ocean"
"Yes," added Lord Wilfrid, I'VE vii
all have another look tomorrow, an,
II 1t Is not to be found by daylight
know Of an expert diver. However
I'm sure when the tide goes out it viii
be left among the rocks"
So by degrees our guests departe,
and we returned to the cottage, rath
er depressed and inclined to consi1e
the evening q failure.
Mary Anne met us, holding the doc
Hospitality open and smiling expan
sively.
WELL" she remarked, and did 20,
ave good time? And didn't I 'av
a good supper"
We told her about Elizabeth's loo
and she listened in silence. But he