Year: 1861

Stockton street, was suddenly awakened late
in the night, by footsteps in her bedroom, and
the next moment the light of a dark lantern
flooded her face, so near that she could almost
feel the heat and hear the suppressed breathing
of the intruder She was entirely alone. Her
husband lad gone to Sacramento two days
before, and the only person in the house beside
herself, was a servant girl, who slept in the
story beneath. She comprehended all. The
house had been entered by burglars who knew
of the absence of her husband and the person
who held the lantern was probably armed and
prepared to silence the first attempt at alarm
with the stroke Of knife or billy" Her
presence of mind did not forsake her. 1t
requires resignation and fortitude in woman
to witness, or listen to, without scream or ex-
postulation, the ransackiDg of her repositories
of laces, and the appropriation of her jewelry
and other valuablesi but the lady very ra-
tionally deemed her life of more consideration
than all the laces and diamonds in the world
auu WltuOut thinning Vi "Hdt tbC idoC"io "O-iu
help themselves to, or what leave as worthless,
she closed her eyes and awaited the result.


The light was withdrawn from her face,
and she heard the opening Of drawers, the
rustling of silks, the picking of locks, and
occasionally low whisper of surprise or
disappointment. Then there was silence for
a full minute-it seemed an hour to her-and
a soft footstep approached the bed, and the
glare of the lantern again fell upon her face
Through the closed lids of her eyes she saw the
light, but remained calm and motionless in its
scrutinizing rays, fearfal that the least move
ment might imperil her life What moment
of suspense! The light was removed from hel
face, and she felt that some one was leaning
against her bed. Still she remained motionlesS
now more through feeling of terror than
the council of policy. Nor did she stir when
the warm breath of the burglar touched her
cheek. Not until his lips pressed her forehead
did she spring up and half shrek, " Who is in
this room ?"


"Hugh - responded voice in a hoarse
whisper, while rough hand was laid on her
shoulder "Speak nothing, and fear nothing.
The next moment she heard the sound of re-
treating footsteps and the creaking of a shutter,
and then all was still again. Satisfied that
she was alone, she sprang from the bed and
touching lighted match to the burner, sank
into a chair completely Frustrated with the
danger through which she had passed. Re
covering, she closed and fastened the window
through which the burglar entered, and ther
looked around to ascertain of what she hat
been plundered


The drawers had been ransacked and almos
everything with lock to it had been opened
but strange to say, little or nothing was miss
ing a casket of jewelry was open on the
bureau, but the diamonds and the gold were
all there, and her watch hung where she hat
placed it on retiring. Beside the casket, she
discovered little roll Of paper. She picked
it up, and found that it enveloped hard sub
stance, and the hard substance. was ring
and that ring had been given to her many
years before, and had been in her possession
ever since. Half bewildered at the singular
proceeding, she was about casting the scrap ot
paper from her, when her eyes caught the
marks of pencil upon ii. She opened and
read


"Ths ring which was once mine, tells me
in whose house l am. l did not know you
were in California. You know l am an outlaw
the world knows it, and do not care tc
deny it-but fallen as am, cannot rob you
Maria Forgive me, and God bless you


HENRY"


This explained ALL She read the scroll
and dropping upon her knees, prayed for him
who had written it. And who was Henry p
Ten years ago he loved that same Maria, when
they both lived in Brooklyn and he would
have made her his wife-for she told him she
would be his-had he not taken to drinking
and gambling, and finally forged the name o.
his employer, for which he was given home
in Sing Sing. When he was worthy of her
love he gave her that ring, and she kept it il
remembrance of what he had been. This is
the story of the ring.


On the return Of her husband from Sacra-
mento, the wife related the adventure, and
showed him the note but he is not jealous
nor has he attempted to arrest the burglar
En-.