Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-05-30
The
Lost Ring
A Story Containing an
Easter Lesson
By REGINALD d. HAVEN

had devoted myself during the
winter to Marjorie. and Marjorie had
accepted my devotion. Indeed, her
preference for me was very plain.
remember that on one occasion at a
meeting Of our assembly, an associa-
ton formed for dancing, when, having
been absent from the city, l had not
secured partners. Marjorie deliberate
~ turned down two men on her list
and gave their places to me. Neither
Of them grumbled, for she was consid-
cred as my best girl.
When Lent came and all gayety
censed took Marjorie to theaters and
other amusements. and the only rea
son didn't propose to her was that
didn't quite see my way clear to sup
port n wife. thought would best
let the matter run on as long as
could manage to do so without mis-
understanding or danger of losing her,
for had made start In my profes-
sion and expected my clientele and
ths AtSS " Steuuiiy iuCTcube.
one Of our set. I'D Darby, invited a
dozen Of us to spend the week end, In
Guiding Easter Sunday, at his fathers
place IN the suburb Of Enfield, Mario
RE and to be of the party. Easter Is
favorte season with me, as 1t IL
with most persons, especially when
the spring opens, as 1t usually does at
Easter for after long winter, when
the days are very short and the sun
stands small and low in the south, the
opening Of spring is delicious. 1 love
1t best when certain green things, like
the crocuses. break through the last
snow left on the ground, as though
they couldn't wait for It to get out Of
the way. SO We all anticipated a Joy
full three days at Darby's.
arrived about Z o'clock-too late to
dress for dinner. Ed sent me to my
room, where tidied up a bit, and,
passing lavatory on my way down
stairs, | concluded to go in and get the
dirt or my hands. While standing by
the bowl saw on the slab a diamond
ring.
How many are there of us who have
not at some time or times done some
thing that afterward made us won.
der how In the world we could have
been so foolish7 was or believed
myself on the threshold of delightful
visit | had just made a very large
fee enough to furnish a house
had decided to propose to Marjorie,
who. ! did not doubt, would accept me
for life partner. and was trimming
over with happiness. Some girl had
left her diamond ring in the lavatory,
and l would take 1t, keep her on the
anxious seat for time, thinking II had
been stolen. then spring a surprise on
her by producing her ring.
] admit that In nine cases in ten, or,
If you like, ninety in a hundred,
such an innocent Joke would come to
no harm. But 1t Is to be remembered
that during the time Of taking the
property and producing It something
may happen to place the Joker in the
position OF u thief One wouldn't think
OF taking thousand dollar bill at a
bank for sport, and he should no more
take diamond ring in the same spirit.
| slipped my find in my vest pocket
and went down to dinner. A Jolly com
pany was assembled. and after salut
Ing and being saluted by them waited
for some girl TO suddenly start and ex-
claim. Good gracious, where's my
ring?" But the dinner proceeded with.
out any intlmation that the property
was missed. and after awhile the mat.
ter slipped my mind. During the even
Ing It occurred to me several times
that would better not wait for the
ring to be missed before producing Il.
but on each occasion something oc.
CURED to distract my attention. The
consequence was that when we sep
arated for the night and I went to nv
room found It In my vest pocket,
where ] had placed It before going
down TO dinner
Then for the first time II occurred to
me that perhaps the loser of the ring
might have gone to the lavatory for
1t. had not found II and, supposinR
some one had appropriated It, without
PS'Ns '"o tut uhu tuheu bLeDb 10
detect the thief. have never since
ceased to wonder why I did not 20 at
once to Darby's room, hand him the
ring and tell him how had found Il
| would surely have done 30, but
didn't know where his room was.
What has since surprised me IL why |
didn't rouse the whole household rath-
or than go to sleep with a piece Of |
property In my possession that was
liable to be accused Of having stolen.
Had ! known what had occurred I
would have been in terror. Miss Ash
ton. the owner Of the ring, remember
ed while at the table OF having taken
II on her finger In the lavatory while
she washed her hands, and It occurred
TO her that she had not put II on again.
Feeling for II, she found Il not in its
place on her finger; but, being one OF
those girls who are timid about doing
anything unusual, she refrained from
leaving the table to 90 for her property
I'LL after dinner. whom she did 30 and
found II gone.
After thinking the matter over she
the loss TO Darby. He, sus-
,ecting that the ring had been appro-
printed by servant and not caring to
live the thief time to get away with
he property. telephoned for a detec-