Year: 1879

The time was about a fortnight before
Christmas. There were not many travellers,
and l had compartment in the early tidal
train to myself. My destination was Paris,
my errand to convey from my father Ia Lon
don jeweler and siversmith) to his agent in
that city very valuable brilliant ring. THE
diamonds'in it are worth $4,000 if they are
worth a penny my father had said to me,
so hope you will take special care of the
ring, Ned, and neither lose it on the way
nor allow yourself to be robbed of it. I
smiled little supercilously as my father
spoke. As if it were at all likely that
should either lose it or allow it to be stolen
from me was just turned one-and.twenty
and my father had no right to speak to me
as if l were still a boy.


Ihad got the ring safe in an inner pocket
of my waistcoat, l took care to assure my
self from time to time. / had not sean it
since my father put it into little velvet
box, in which it was still shut up. When l
had finished my first cigar, and had got
through with the morning news, the thought
struck me tn might as well have another
look at the ring. There could be no harm
in that, you know. took the box out of its
hiding -placeand opened it. My eyes were
dazzled as looked. There laid the darling
in its nest of purple velvet. Who could have
resisted the pleasure Of taking it out and
trying it on? Certainly not 1. First on
one finger and then on another, ! tried it.
Had it been made for the third finger of my
right hand, it could not have fitted me bet
ter. 1t looked simply exquisite.


| Now came to think of it, was there or
could there be safer hiding place for the
ring than my finger? 1 had only to keep
my glove on, and not soul would know
anything about it. 1t was far safer than in
my pocket. In such a case to hesitate was
folly. placed the ring on my finger, and
put the empty box into my pocket. As
was alone there was no occasion to put my
glove on just then so / mused and smoked
and watched the many colored rays of ligh
that flashed from the brilliants, and won
dered what great swells finger it was destin
ed to decorate. How wished that coud
call it mine.


There was no harm in dazzling the eye
of the ticket collector with it. He was onl.
a railway official. But l took care to pul
on my glove and button it before alightinl
from the train A quarter of an hour late
we were steaming out of Dover harbor.


There were not more than dozen pas
sengers Oh deck. The day was cold and clea
with just enough sea on to make the voyag
unpleasant for bad sailors. Only two ladie
were visable. One was a stout middle-age
person, who was eating and drinking nearl
all the way across-evidently an old sal
The other was-well, simply the most charm
ing creature had ever set my eyes on. |
point of fact, ! could not keep my eyes o
her. | passed her and repassed her as
paced the deck from end to end, and ever
time passed her looked at her. VIII,
lovely gray eyesl What superb yellow hal
But as for complexion, it would take pot
to describe its wildrose tints. Once or twit
her eyes met mine just for moment, an
it struck me that they were full of wistfl
sadness. So far as | could judge, she WI
entirely alone. We were about half-ws
across when, as passed her for the fiftiet
time spoke. would Monster have the goo
pess to ask the steward to bring me lit
Cognac p She spoke in French. AS Il
song says, Her voice was low and sweet


was too fattered to answer her. cou
only bow and grin and make bolt to Il


stewards den. OF course | took the Co


mace to her myself. You should have se


how prettily she thanked me, She slipped


as a canary might do, if that bird were


the habit of drinking brandy. Il hope th


Mademoisselle is somewhat revived i We


tured to observe presently


yes very much revived, thanks to Nc


sieur. But am not Mademoisele l


a Madame, am widow She press


her handkerchief to her eyes as she spOi


How interesting, nay, how touching "


this simple confession. The wistful sorr


in her eyes was at once accounted 4


Woul that it had been my happy lot


comfort her


There was a camp stool close by. Pr
t6 emily ventured to draw it little nea
nc and to sit down on 1t, blushing at my te
he Gritty as / did so. She did not seem
'ai all offended, and we were presen
. in the midst of an animated and INTEREST,"


conversation. There was no hauteur abb
= Madame. On the contrary, she was can,


itself. She had only been three days,


told me, in London. She had been stay


with Sir Henry Fitz.Evans, who had cha


of her late husbands interests in Engla


She was now going back into seclusior


going back to the little cottage in which
zen had dwelt ever since her dear husbar


death. She would not be able to go torw
!, iby the evening train.