The Richmond climax. (Richmond, Ky.) 1897-1914, 1912-05-29
The Cameo
Rings

small box in her hand, unmindful Of
the shadows which were beginning to
steal into the room. If one could have
peeped inside the box one would have
seen a cameo ring of a peculiar style.
She was thinking of the one who had
given 1t to her eleven years ago.
Just then a light tap at her door
aroused her from her reverie, and she
sprang to her feet. The box fell from
her hand and rolled under the table.
"Oh, it's you. Miss Fuller!" she ex-
claimed, opening The door.
Eyes, it's l." laughed a young voice,
and a girl of about 20 came into the
room. ~And why are you sitting in
the dark"
st didn't realize II was so late" ex-
planned MurieI. as she turned on the
light. She stopped to pick up the
box, but it had opened and the ring
had fallen out
That's a peculiar ring" she said,
"and beautiful one"
MurieTs face crimsoned. yes. it
has a strange setting" she replied
1--WE had it a long time. A very dear
friend gave it to me-"
would you mind telling me about
it?" said the girl. softly, and she
slipped her arms about the others
neck
Lois Fuller was a niece Of Muriels
landlady. and during the last year had
frequently visited her aunt. Muriel
had seen quite lot Of the girl, for
nearly every evening during her stay
she had come up to MuriePs room.
Lois was expectant, and at last the
other broke the silence. I've never
told any one before" she said. but
perhaps it may do me good to confide
in you. was very young when
first met Philip Browning"
Here Lois gave a little start, but
/ Muriel did not notice it. "He was an
artist and came to our village the
summer was II. He was a constant
visitor at our home during his stay in
town, and as he was far superior to
any young man had ever seen, it was
not long before I grew to admire him.
Before he returned to the city in
| the autumn he told me that he loved
me. There was no happier girl in
| the world than I when he put this
ring on my finger. He said that II
was an heirloom and showed me an
other ring which was exactly like it.
only little smaller.
"This he wore on his watch chain.
His parents had died when he was a
child. and the rings had been left for
him. This one was his mothers be-
trothal ring. and his father used to
wear the other ring. as he himself was
doing. on his watch chain
'The days after this were very
bright until Philip was obliged to re-
turn home. At first / was lonely, but
tried to comfort myself with the
thought that we would not be sep
arated very long. for the following
June we were to be married. l grew
quite happy again as ] made my
plans for our new home, but in a few
weeks my happiness turned into sor-
row. My father was suddenly taken
i'll with pneumonia and in less than a
fortnight I was left alone. This was
a severe blow to me. for loved my
father very dearly. Now I only had
Phillip left
up to that time he had written me
long, loving letters, and it was cruel
shock to me the month following my
fathers death to pick up a paper and
read Of his marriage"
When Muriel had finished, Lois was
looking very thoughtful. "Are you
sure that there wasn't some mis-
take?" she said.
ooh, no." answered Muriel, "there
wasn't any mistake. 1 only hope he
is happy-without doubt he is
and he probably never gives a thought
to the girl he used to know so long
ago"
Lois murmured a few words Of sym
pathy and then, after a little while
she left Muriel alone.
One evening. about two weeks after
/ ward, feeling which Muriel could moi
define compelled her to again look al
, the cameo ring. After a little while
she slipped it on her finger. At this
juncture Lois came up to her room
her eyes sparkling and her cheek;
, flushed with excitement.
r "Auntie has gone out" she said
"and 1 have a caller downstairs
cousin Of mine. I want you to NEE
him. You'll come down. won't yon?"
AS they entered the living room
made bright and coy by a CLOWNS
I open fire, Muriel started as a tall
! familiar figure stepped toward them
Philip Browningi Could 1t be pos
sible? Yes, it was he and no othe
: who took her trembling hands in his.
= 1t took her only a few minutes t
find out that there had been mistake
after all. It was Philips brother VIII
Q had married, and it was through al
< error Of the paper that Philips nam
a was used.
He told her how panied. he wa
$ when he received the letter unopened
d and how he had written after tina
$ several times. only to have every lei
8 ter returned to him in the same way
e At last he had been forced TO believ
i that she cared for him no longer. ]
> was then that he had gone abroad
and he had returned home only tw
months ago.
Il owe my good fortune in fndin
you to Lois" he said, and he locke
II around gratefully, but his cousin ha
, slipped from the room.
u Among the Browning's possession
q there is nothing they prize more tina