Year: 1874

Tor three, were charming The doc.
tor was good talker, and cultivated and
refined in his manners. She had
been obliged to bear much
: wretched gossip for the last week or two
| 1t was quite proper she should stay to
tea. 1t would be rather amusing to see
just how it seemed to be engaged. She
might as well have a good time, for ii
would soon be over. She would return
the ring as soon as the housekeeper re-
tired. The housekeeper did nothing of
the kind. AS soon as tea was over she
took her knitting and sat down by the
open window in the parlor, where she
could see everything that happened both
} in the house and in the garden.
The doctor acted his part to perfec-
ton. He was not too attentive, to at
tract attention from the housekeeper,
watchful of his guests happiness


At $50 p. M. Sally returned to her
own room, looking wonderfully serene
and happy. Cousin Mary Depford was
silent and watchful. Presently she saw
something, and said


90 Sallyr


"Well, dear?"


Where's the ring?"


90 my love! quite forgot all about
it; did, indeed. I'll take it right back
Tomorrow"


AS for the doctor, he sat up half the
night pacing his room alone and in the
dark At midnight he was called out to
see some distant patient. He was glad
to go. The cool ride through the solemn
dark gave him chance to think.


The next day Sally boldly started for
the doctors to return the ring He was
not at home. Of course she could not
leave it with the housekeeper. Besides,
why should she take the trouble to carry
it to him? 1t was not her place. He
should ask for it.


Cousin Mary fairly ragged. For the
first time Sally was really unhappy over
the matter, and in little passion she
pulled off the ring and threw it in a
drawer


"Ill return it by mail, Mary! Now
leave me in peaceT


There was no peace. Without q
thought she walked up alone to the
Postoffice through the village street to
get the evening mail. 1t did seem as if
the whole town were waiting for their
letters. 1t was too warm for gloves, and
the absent ring.


Such lifting of eyebrows and whis-
pering! Flushed and angry with her
self, she darted out of the letter Office
only to almost run into the doctors
arms.


She hid her hand in the folds of her
dress, and with a forced smile bade him
good evening. He spoke pleasantly,
smiled, and passed on. In a moment
Sally heard his footsteps behind her as
she walked rapidly home. She would
not turn nor speak to him on the public
road-and that would only make matters
ten times worse. What was she to do?
1t was dreadful! How she wished she
had never touched the ring!


To her surprise he overlook her, and
quietly and firmly put her arm in his.
For moment she experienced a sense
of unutterable relief and satisfaction.
She leaned upon him for support, and
was gratified as he seemed to draw her
closer. How good in him to come to her
rescue!


"The curtain has not been rung down
yet, Miss Depford."


The curtain! Obi he was only carrying
out the Joke! With forced laugh she
took the hint, and in moment was as
merry and chatty as ever. Once the doc
tor looked at her in questioning way,
and once he was silent for whole min
ute.


They walked on arm-in-arm up the
village street, and at the sight half the
town was dumb with astonishment, and
the other half whispered the dreadful
news about the missing ring.


Little did they care. They walked on
and on, and almost before Sally was
aware of it they arrived at the doctors
gate The doctor opened the wicket,
and with smile held it wide for her to
enter.


She paused. Was it right? Was she
not carrying the joke altogether too far :?
The blood mounted to her temples, and
she was silent.


"Will you not come in, Miss Depford,
and make us little CALI"


"No-I-thank you Not-now."


She put out her hand to sustain her
SELF and laid her ungloved fingers on the
top of the gate-post. She felt ready to
faint with modification, shame and dis
appointment. This was the end. 1t was
only joke-a pretense-and-


"Miss Depford," said the doctor, in a
, low voice, "where is my ring?
She snatched her hand away, and, hid
ing it in her dress, turned away to hide
her face.


"Pardon me, pardon me, Doctor; I am
much to blame. / didn't mean any harm,
and hated-hated -"
:. Hated whom?"


"That-Sam Barrett; and | was so glad
to escape from him that | am afraid I've
done very wrong-very wrong indeed"
"How so?"


"In carrying out this dreadful, dread
full Joke. as YOU call it. | am we'll pun
q ished for my folly I took the ring off
because | must-return it to you"


"But-Sally-I do not wish you to re-
turn it,"


/ She turned around amazed. What did
he mean? One glance was sufficient.
, "Come n-please-my love-"
, She took his arm again without a
word, and they walked slowly up the
; graveled path toward the old mansion.
) The housekeeper came out and bade them
welcome in grand and impressive
manner. The evening shadows fell on
the lawn. The crickets began to chirp
/ in the grass. The air seemed laden with
, the perfume of summer flowers. The
ancient ivy seemed to even vaguely hint
, of autumn as it hung in motionless fes-
t toons from the walls. There was sober
j air about the place, far different frem
i her girlhood's home. The doctor offered
her an armchair on the wide piazza.
q How courtly and dignifed his man
: ners. His hair was gray-with honor
3 able toll. He leaned over her and whis-
t pered:


1t is an old-fashioned place, and !
ana such an ancient, solitary
] Hush! it's home-our homen
{ The housekeeper turned proudly away
. from such childish nonsense, and fur