The Ordway new era., 1912-08-09
The Cameo
Rings


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.
"Yes, it's l." laughed n young voice.
and n girl Of about 90 came into the
room. "And why are you sitting in
the dark"
81 didn't realize 1t was so late" ex-
planned Muriel. as she turned on the
light. She stopped to pick up the
had fallen out.
"Thnt's a peculiar ring" she said.
"and beautiful one"
Muriel's face crimsoned. Eyes. 1t
has q strange setting" she replied.
"I've had 1t long time. A very dear
friend gave 1t 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
Iandlady. 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 Muriefs room.
Lois was expectant. and at last the
other broke the silence. 1--WE never
told any one BEFORE" she said. "but
perhaps 1t may do me good to confide
in you. I was very young when
irst met Philip Browning"
Here Lois gave a little start. but
Muriel did not notice 1t. ''He was an
artist and came to our village the
summer was II. He was constant
visitor at our home during his stay in
.own. and as he was far superior tc
any young man had ever seen. It was
lot long before ! grew to admire him
Before he returned to the city In
he autumn he told me that he loved
ne. There was no happier girl in
he world than 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 a little smaller.
"This he wore on his watch chain
His parents had died when he was
,hild. and the rings had been left fol
him. This one was his mothers be
srothal ring. and his father used tt
wear the other ring. as he himself was
ioing, on his watch chain.
1.-THE days after this were very
bright until Philip was obliged to re
turn home. At first I was lonely. but
[ tried to comfort myself with the
thought that we would not be sep
arated very long. for the followins
June we were to be married. l grew
quite happy again as made my
plans for our new home. but in few
weeks my happiness turned into sor
row. My father was suddenly taker
Ill with pneumonia and in less than
fortnight was left alone. This was
a severe blow to me. for loved m!
father very dearly. Now I only hat
Phillip left
"Up to that time he had written me
long. loving letters, and 1t was crue
shock to me the month following my
fathers death to pick up a paper ant
read of his marriage"
When Muriel had finished, Lois was
looking very thoughtful. Are yor
sure that there wasn't some mis-
take?" she said.
"Oh. no." answered Muriel. "thert
wasn't any mistake. 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 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 not
define compelled her to again look al
the cameo ring. After little while
she slipped it on her finger. At this
iuncture Lois came up to her room
her eyes sparkling and her cheeks
1ushed with excitement.
"Auntie has gone out" she said
cousin Of mine. I want you to meet
him. You'll come down. won't yon?"
AS they entered the living room
made bright and cozy by a glowing
open fire. Muriel started as 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.
It took her only few minutes to
find out that there had been a mistake
after all. 1t was. Philips brother who
had married, and 1t 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. 1t
was then that he had gone abroad,
| and he had returned home only twn