The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1911-03-10

truth while you're telling It," advised
Clayton. with laugh.
I'm willing to, for one" agreed hi
aunt. 81 want to test the verify of Mr.
| Felton's tradition. May II"
Certainly. Miss Gray" returned Eel
ton courteously, although apparently
somewhat surprised by the request
There; will place this chair over the
carpet, and you may sit there with
your feet well within its border"
"No, no. l wish to sit directly on the
carpet, just like an eastern story tell
err" cried Miss Gray. and so she dis
posed herself amid much merriment.
"Of course my story is about ring
she began. This is the one. / picked
1t up in Constantinople only yesterday
and 1t involved an adventure" She
gave the ring to Mrs. Hanford, and
that lady passed 1t around the group
with an exclamation of delight.
When 1t came to Professor Trayle
he studied 1t long time with pecul
lar smile on his kindly face.
what is the inscription" asked the
professor quietly as he dropped it in
Miss Gray's outstretched hand.
"Chaldean. So he told me-" replied
that lady. dreamily regarding the ring
Her Now for the adventure" teas
ed Clayton.
II had forgotten that must tell 1t,
said Miss Gray, slipping the ring on
her finger. well, yesterday as l was
strolling among the bazaars came to
the street of the silversmiths. l was
looking at the wares of one merchant
and trying to select a ring for my coll
lection that might be very unique
when q brown hand was thrust Into
my own and left behind 1t this tur-
quoise ring"
How romanticw breathed Mrs. Han
ford softly.
"You would have thought so IL you
could have seen the donor-a tall, very
thin man dressed In native costume.
l confess l cannot place his national
ity, for he wore the baggy trousers
and loose garments of the Turk. the
muffiing burnoose of the Arab"
Did he wear green slippers. Miss
Gray?" asked Madeline Trayle. with
sudden interruption of the narrative.
Eyes; believe he did, for when he
left me l looked after him, wondering
what 1t could all mean and thinking
there must be mistake. All I no
ticed was his great height and his fly
Ing green slippers. And that is ALL"
mo, no" exclaimed Professor Trayle.
what did your stranger say7 Are
we not to know the whole story?"
ut was nothing-only some silly
rubbish you would not care to hear"
evaded Miss Gray.
Aunt Emellne, you are sitting on
the carpet of TRUTH" reminded her
nephew. what said your CAVALIER"
II have forgotten" faltered Miss
Gray. her sweet face dropping.
"Oh, Aunt Emeliner' chided Clay
ton. then hastily. what is the mat
terri"
Miss Gray was staring at them with
frightened eyes and closely locked lips.
TO which she pointed with a hopeless
gesture. Cant you speakT roared
Clayton.
She shook her head despairingly.
Then Alexander Fenton's voice broke
the silence. When he spoke he seemed
to be quoting from some authority
which no one recognized. He who
speaketh the truth then shall his
tongue be loosened,'" he said softly.
Miss Gray seemed to hear. for n lovely
smile broke over her face. and all at
once she spoke:
II will tell the truth. He said: Wear
this for me. 1t Is a Chaldean stone
and came from the tomb of a high
priest Yhen he ran away. Now that
l have told the truth may not leave
this carpet?"
did 1t really happen7 Could you
not speakT cried Mrs. Hanford nerv-
ously.
mot word until 1 spoke the TRUTH"
averred Miss Gray solemnly.
Then please put 1t away for to-
night" exclaimed Mrs. Hanford.
ITS growing late anyway" said
FELTON, practically. "The moon has
disappeared. and 1 believe it is blow
ing up squall."
Hanford and his wife, followed by
young Clayton, moved forward, while
Professor Trayle walked quietly by
Miss Gray's side. When they were in
a quiet spot he halted. with her hand
in his arm.
"Your cavalier-did you recognize
him, Miss Gray?" he asked in a low
tone
Yes, professor" she said softly.
You poor. shy, bashful man, where
did you get those wonderful gar
ments'
81 always wear them on such occa-
sions TO better mingle with the peo-
pie. r-Emeline-how about the ring,
eh?"
Il am wearing It. Is that not
enough?" she whispered.
Back In the darkness Madeline
Trayle was standing on the carpet Of
truth talking to FELTON, about the
strange demonstration they had wit
messed.
II told you before dinner I would
ask you to add another story to those
connected with this prayer carpet" he
said tenderly. II want 1t to be the
beautiful story of our love. Can you
love me, Madeline7 win you love
me?"
Madeline stretched out her hands to
his, with signing little laugh. ~
am standing here. Alex, and I must
foil thA N.-,,t
You know the rest"