The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1912-06-20
The Cameo
Rings

Just then 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.
ooh. it's you, Miss Fuller!" she ex-
claimed, opening the door.
yes, it's T." laughed a young voice
and a girl of about 20 came into the
room. And why are you sitting in
the dark?"
81 didn't realize it was so late" ex-
planned Muriel, 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"
Muriel's face crimsoned. eyes, 1t
has a strange setting" she replied.
1--WE had it 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 Muriel's
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 Murieis 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 confde
~, 7
first met Philip Browning"
Here Lois gave a little start, but
Muriel did not notice It, Gle was an
artist and came to our village the
summer I was IT, He was 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 l 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 7 when he put this
ring on my finger He said that 1t
was an heirloom and showed me an
other ring which was exactly like 1t,
only little smaller
This he wore on his watch chain.
His parents had died when he was
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 I was lonely. but
7 tried to comfort myself with the
thought that we would not be sep
arated very long, for the following
June We were 10 be married I grew
quite happy again as l made my
plans for our new home, bat in a few
weeks my happiness turned into sor
row My father was suddenly taken
III with pneumonia and in less than a
fortnight was left alone This was
a severe blow to me- for I loved my
father very dearly Now I only had
Phillip left.
Cup 10 that time he had written me
long, loving letters and it was a 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. I 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 1nurmured few words of SYM
pathy and then, after a little while,
she left Muriel alone
/ One evening, about two weeks after.
ward. feeling which Murel could not
/ define compelled her to again look at
/ 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 cheeks
flushed with excitement
/ "Auntie has gone out" she said,
"and l have a caller downstairs-a
cousin Of mine l want you to meet
him. You'll come down, won't yon?"
AS they entered the living room,
made bright and coy by a glowing
open fire, Muriel started as a tall,
familiar figure stepped toward them.
Philip Browning, Could it be pos
sible? Yes, it was he and no other
who took her trembling hands in his.
/ 1t took her only a few minutes to
find out that there had been a mistake
after all. It was Philips brother who
had married, and it was through an
error of the paper that Philips name
was used
He told her how panied he was
, when he received the letter unopened,
and how he had written after that
! several times, only to have every let
Ter returned to him in the same way.
At last he had been forced to believe
that she cared for him no longer It
was then that he had gone abroad,
and he had returned home only two
months ago.
Il owe my good fortune in finding
you to Lois" he said, and he looked
around gratefully, but his cousin had
slipped from the room.
Among the Browning's possessions
there is nothing they prize more than
| the cameo rings,