Year: 1878

fore me, and my heart was wrung by the re-
membrance The next instant portion of
the fowl was placed before me. In the mean
time, the lady beside me finding l had sud-
denly became taciturn and distrait, gave her
attention to my next neighbor, and left me
to nv devices and the satisfaction OF my
greedy appetite. 1 made good use OF the
liberty thus accorded to me, and IN lew
seconds every trace of food on my plate had
disappeared. Dinner was nearly over when
the conversation turned on law suit that
my host had gained for one of his clients.


"Well," said the judge, laughing, the
case is one of my best, I'll allow; but my
client deserves a little mention too. Just
look at the handsome present he has sent
me-" and be drew from his finger magniti-
cent diamond ring, and handed it for inspec-
ton to the lady who sat next to him. In
the midst of Expressions of delight and admir-
alton, the Jewel was handed from one guest
to another around the table, and Mrs. Carle-
ton had Just risen and was proceeding to
pass into the drawing room and her husband
exclaimed, my dear have you my ring?"


mo, indeed; Mrs. M returned it to you
a few mintes since"


"Bless mel Then where can 1t be? he
said, shaking out his napkin, and feeling in
all OF his pockets, one after the other. No
one stirred from the table, and for some
minutes the room was filed with con-
fused hum of voices and the jingling OF
knives and forks, china and glass, brought
into violent collision by the excited guests
in their search after the missing jewel. But
the search was all IN vain; the ring had GER
tainly disappeared.


81 see how il is" SAID the judge, jokingly,
that ring must be some wicked fairy who
has maliciously hidden herself away in the
pocket of one of our number. Now, | am
going to make proposal, if you willard
which you would utterly reject II 1t came
from any other quarter; but which you will
accede to, coming from an eccentric Indi-
vidual like me-"


"Explainl explain" cried all the guests
in chorus.


"I propose then" continued our host,
'that before we leave this room we shall
proceed to search each other. the ladies on
this side, and we gentlemen yonder. Let all
who object hold up their hands


At the word search" all the blood in my
veins rushed back to my heart, and a cold
sweat broke cut on nv forehead and trickled
down my face, which felt had become
ashy pale. l stood there apart, with rush
of sound IN my ears, a mist before my eyes.
and swaylng to and fro like man drunk
with wine. And through it all, l could
hear the laughing voice of my host count
ing the votes in favor of his proposal: Sud-
denly he confronted me, and said in a
peculiar tone, and with a significant glance
at my srms, which were tightly folded on
my breast:


And you, sir, do you not approve of my
suggestion -.,,,,. -, - - 8 ,,.
ness, but with face paler than ever. A ST.
lence as of death succeeded these words, and
every eye in the room was turned in my di
rectiOn.


'I beg your pardon for this foolish joke,
SIR" said the Judge after pause, in tone
shall never forget "I would rather be the
loser of ten thousand dollars than wound
the feelings of q guest under the shelter OF
my roof, and, moving toward the door, he
added lightly, gentlemen, coffee will be
ruined II we delay here longer" Just as be
was passing through the open door l ad-
vanced toward him.


'T owe you an explanation, Mr.. Carleton, -
said; "you will hear me? Pray do not re.
fuse me, 1 added, seeing him turn coldly
away. He stood stlll for a moment and
turning toward me, he said brusquely, but
without looking at me


Every well, come" and he led the way TO
his study.


The door had hardly closed behind us
when shouts of laughter were heard from
the drawing room, and before / had time to
utter word Mrs. Carleton burst into the
room holding the missing ring in the palm
of her hand.


There Is your ring" she said, handing il
to her husband, "a servant has Just found
it."


"where?" stammered Mr.. Carleton, with
look of stupefied amazement.


"Just in your plate" she answered, laugh
ing merrily.


"Very well, Annie, leave us for an instant
and we will join you in the drawing room.


AS the door closed behind his wife Mr..
Carleton came up to me and seized me by
both hands,


Before you say another word, sir. hear
my story, CRIED" and then with rapid,
feverish elOquence l told him of my strug-
giles, my affection for my sister, OF my suffer
ings at seeing her suffer, and finally of the
heart wringing scene of the morning. And
this is why prefer to pass for thief rather
than have it known that my fathers daught-
er was ding from hunger" concluded,
drawing from my pocket the portion of the
fowl / had contrived to slip from my plate
during the sumptuous repast of which l had
Just partaken. The tears fell from the eyes
OF the good lawyer as be listened to me, and,
when | had ceased speaking. he once more
seized my hand and exclaimed


"Good lad The sister you love so well
shall never know want again." and with my
hands still clasped in his own, he threw
open the door of the drawing room, drew me
in after him, and laying his hand on my
shoulder with fatherly affection, he said in q


Gentlemen, L present to you the most
honorable and worthy fellow l know, my
private secretary"


There were two happy, thankful hearts
that night in our humble apartment.





Indiana Politics.


[St. Louis Times.l