The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-06-08
The Cameo
Rings

She was thinking of the one who had
given it 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.
ooh, it's you, Miss Fuller!" she ex-
claimed, opening the door.
Eyes, it's l." laughed young voice,
and girl of about 20 came into the
room "And why are you sitting In
the dark?"
IT didn't realize 1t 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 peculiar ring. she said,
"and beautiful one"
Muriel's face crimsoned. Eyes, 1t
has strange setting" she replied.
i've 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 niece of Muriel's
landlady, and during the last year had
frequently visited her aunt. Muriel
had seen quite a lot of the girl, for
nearly every evening during her stay
she had come up to Muriers room.
Lois was expectaht, 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. l was very young when ]
first met Philip Browning"
Here Lois gave 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 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 1 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 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.
/ <<r-l
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 / 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
severe blow to me, for loved my
father very dearly. Now only had
Phillip left.
up to that time he had written me
long, loving letters, and 1t was cruel
shock to me the month following my
fathers death to pick up 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.
"Oh, no." answered Muriel. "there
wasn't any mistake. I only hope he
is happy-without doubt he is
and he probably never gives thought
to the girl he used to know SO long
! ago."
Lois murmured few words Of sym.
pathy and then, after a little while
she left Muriel alone.
One evening, about two weeks after.
ward, a feeling which Muriel could not
define compelled her to again look at
the cameo ring After 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-s
cousin Of mine / 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
i Philip Browning! Could it be pos
sible? Yes. it was he and no other
who took her trembling hands in his
It took her only a few minutes tc
find out that there had been a mistake
after all. 1t was Philips brother who
had married. and it was through ar
error Of the paper that Philips name
was used.
n He told her how panied he wa.
when he received the letter unopened
and how he had written after thai
several times. only to have every let
ter returned to him In the same way