The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-09-21
BY ELLA MIDDLETON TYBOu1
Copyright, 1907
]. ID. Lippincott Co.

there, with the waves mountain
high-a stiff wind, and raining,
perhaps. Can't you feel the boat
cut through the water? Can't
you"
4 Harry"
i He paused abruptly and turned
to his wife.
Il 81 beg your pardon, Juliet" he
said very gently, 81 quite forgot
your aversion to the water or l
wouldn't have let myself CO."
i AS Elizabeth often insisted,
there were nice things about Mr..
Graham after all. Meanwhile the
little boat sailed on. and presently
the Grahams departed.
81 think we, too, must CO."
Lady Edith said almost at once.
\ We were gathiring up our
wraps preparatory to going home,
and Mr.. Blake had just taken pos
session of the shawl spread upon
the rock where Elizabeth had been
sitting. when she uttered an ex-
clamation.
my ring! 1t is gone-my ruby
ring"
This ring was Elizabeth's dear
est possession. 1t was marquise.
formed of seven rubies surround
ed by diamonds. and as all Of the
stones were unusually good, 1t
was really very valuable.
i 1T can't be gone," exclaimed
Gabrielle, turning over sticks and
stones suspiciously; 'it must be
here"
1T was too loose; ! should not
have worn 1t. 1t must have roll
ed into the water, and I shall
never see 1t again.
Don't feel that way about it,"
said Lord Wilfrid. Il am quite
sure we will find it,"
But the ensuing search of the
rocks was useless, although they
were gone over inch by inch, the
men lighting matches to examine
dark crevices.
At last we gave 1t up and pre-
pared to go home. each In turn
assuring Elizabeth that when
morning came she would surely
find her ring.
I've had a good time. barring
the last half hour" said Gordon
Bennett, as he took my shawl.
Have your"
! II don't know what Elizabeth
will ever do without her ring"
was my reply.
i please don't worry" he said.
Tomorrow morning, bright and
early, I'll have another look at
the rocks. If l can't find It I'll
get diver and see what he can
Il do"
i These practical suggestions
were very cheering. and turned
to repeat them to Elizabeth. She
was saying good night to the
Campbells. To my surprise |
heard Lady Edith also suggesting
the services of diver.
They are quite wonderful. you
know she was saying, "and all
sorts of things have been reeov-
cred from the ocean,"
So by degrees our guests de-
parted and we returned to the cot
tage. Mary Anne met us. holding
the door Hospitality open and
smiling expansively.
Well" she remarked. land did
j you ave a good time? And didn't
l ave a, good support"
i We told her about Elizabeth's
loss. and she listened in silence.
Lost, is it," she said, at last
Don't you fret, Miss Elizabeth,
dear. l know them rocks. inch by
inch, and I'll ave. a look meself.
so will. Jest go to sleep and
rest easy, now
II don't like suppers on the
rocks. do your"
NO; 1 think they're beastly."
1t was the next afternoon. and
Gabrielle and were sitting on the
1 veranda. l was pretending to
read. while she was frankly doing
nothing.
i or course we had all visited the
rocks many times. separately and
collectively, but had returned
empty-handed and rather cross.
Then, too. Gordon Bennett had
not appeared with his diver, nor
had we heard further from Lord
Wilfrid on the subject, so our
faith in mankind had suffered ac-
cordingly.
Presently Gabrielle started in
the direction of the village after
the mail, and / toward the rocks
to have one more look before
dark.
/ II was useless to look again, as
| 1 we'll knew, yet / searched con-
scientiously for some time, then
sat down to rest beside the ashes
of our last nights fire.
When l thought 1t was time for
Gabrielle to be returning with the
mail started back to meet her.
No interesting letters had arrived
for either of us, and she was
! quite as glum as |. We could not
get Elizabeth's ring out of our
minds.
The cottage was brightly light
ed, and Elizabeth stood in the
door to welcome us.
where have you been?" she
exclaimed. IL thought you would
never come home"
| She seized our hands and
dragged us into the living room.
i Look" she cried. her third
finger extended.