The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-02

Cpou the mdutel StoOu SulaIl DTdSS
clock. Its high center spindle, with a
, sort of latticework beneath, made an
excellent ring tray. Often | slipped
my rings over the spindle. and there,
, hidden from sight, they safely awaited
| my pleasure. So l heard them now
tinkle down to their place and came
with laughing remark to brighten
Eric's sober mood. But it was unabat-
ed when Nora called me to the kitchen
After the evening meal there was no
summons in the message Of the violin.
Different stations" I repeated to my
self pettishly. what in all the world
is worth having save. only love and
happiness?" Then l remembered nv
rings. l had left them upon the clock
spindle.
Down the stairs crept silently-the
household might be sleeping. The light
OF a street lamp shining through the
window guided me across the room.
felt for the rings. Just one was there.
The emerald must be upon the floor,
or perhaps the mantelshelf, or I
pressed the electric button. Father, en-
tering unexpectedly, found me upon my
knees after a last hopeless search.
1.-THE ring. Of course" he exploded.
"You show it OF to a penniless young
vagabond, then leave it upon the man.
telshelf-a fortune within easy reach
Of stranger" Still muttering accu-
sations, father went carefully over the
polished surface of the floor. where no
smallest glinting thing might hide.
Then. as l had so many times done, he
lifted each article from the mantel-
shelp. There were but four-the can
dlesticks, the clock and mothers pic
ture. The ring had completely disap-
peared. For one long moment father
eyed me in stern condemnation.
you will make no mention of this
loss" he commanded sharply, NOR let
the adventurer know that he is sus-
pected. In that lies our only hope Of
recovery. He shall be watched He
Is the only person, excepting our two
selves, who has either entered or left
this room tonight. There is no posi-
BILE way that the ring could have es-
capped"
1t seemed all very true. But per-
haps. l reflected. Eric had taken the
ring for the night into his own safe
keeping In the morning he would
smilingly chide me for my careless
ness as he restored 1t. In the morning
Eric was gone. Nora brought note
from him as was dressing.
Dearest" 1t read, II am called away
very suddenly. VIII explsin when
see you"
A sickening sense of the TRADE this
news would bring forth from my IA
ther came over me- And If he should
learn that the man was my lover, my
promised husband! In my own heart
was no thought of Eric's guilt.
Hes covered up his tracks. pretty
we'll" father said bitterly, "but we'll
find him yet. That ring can't be dis
posed Of without a sensation"
But they did not find him. NV own
eyes. filled with sad questioning.
searched mothers smiling ones.
"Waft," they seemed to bid me
"waitw
And at last Eric came. was quite
alone in the dusk, and at first he did
not speak-just folded me close in his
arms.
ut has been so long," l murmured
brokenly, "and no word"
There was SO much to attend to-"
my lover said. "And I was hurrying
back to you. On the way stopped to
place a stOne-a fine, tall white marble
one-on mothers grave"
Frantically I endeavored to push
him from me. Father stood before us.
had never known his wrath to reach
such bounds. Inarticulately he raved,
marking his accusations with a threat.
ening fist, which. gesticulating, brush
ed from Its resting place mothers. pic
ture. stopped to pick It up. mechan.
ically adjusting the catch of the heavy
frame, then-T stood breathless.
"Father!" I gasped. Eric's staring
eyes turned toward me. The back of
the picture was held in place by two
broad strips Of brass. In the lower of
these pockets and evidently Jared
from its wedging place cleaned the
fateful emerald ring. For a moment
we all stood looking at it.
81 don't understand" muttered Eric.
Don't you" l cried, laughing
through my tears. "Well, one evening
| thought | had slipped the ring over
the clocks spindle, but it bounded, 1t
seems, turning down into the open
pocket of mothers frame, hiding there
close and tight. 1t is the betrothal
ring of our family, Eric, handed down
from parent to child. And, now, don't
you see? Mother is giving it back to
me to wear for you.''
My lover came close; father was for
gotten.
Nance" said Eric, oh, so tenderly-
Nance, you'd take me like this. pen
niless student? You'd believe In me
through all false appearances against
all the world?"