Year: 1875

printed an unhallowed kiss on her
ruby lips. But see, he starts Tie
recognizes the sound Of carriage ap-
preaching some one has heard her
screams and hastens to aid her. One
thought flashes across his mind as the
light from the lamp falls upon beau
tiful diamond ring upon her; he
seizes it and fled


AS soon as he gets out a short dis
tance from the house, he ceases run
ming, and creaps along with as little
noise as possible, taking good care to
keep the darkest side of the road
until he arrives ct the little cottage
in which Harry lived. lie tried all
the windows and doors, but found
them securely fastened, so his OILY
chance is to climb upon the roof OF
the back. building and creap steath!-



ly to window, which might beeaslly
forced open. lie accomplished this
successfully, but his work is not fin
ishel. Having lighted his lantern,
Ike crecps along on his hands and
knees to the room occupied by Harry,
who was sleeping soundly 50 it was
but the work Of moment 10 pat the
ring in Harry trunk and leave.


But to return to Pearl. The man
had guessed rightly, for the approach
ing carriage did contain assistance.
K was Pearls parents, who, having
recognized the voice Of their dtu9h-
ter, Aastened to learn the cause Of the
alarm.


No sooner had the carriage stopped
than the "oll man was in the house,
and there PROSTATE before his eye
lay his daughter as still rs death. He
lifted her into his arms and placed
her upon q sofa, where by kind treat
ment she was soon restored. The
father seeing his child was not dead,
embraced her tendcrly, and wept like
child.


Soon the whole tale was told. Eut
who this man was none knew, Pearl
could not tell she did not remember
Of ever seeing him before. She no
ticed that her ring was gone, and that
her fingers had been terribly lasccr-
atel by the villain in tearing it oil.
Mr.. Deyons suspicion rested solely
upon Harry West, and they Were
strengthened by the fact that persons
had seen him walking back and forth
in front Of the house. The old man
could not rest until he procured q
search warrant and had Harry 5
house searched There, in his trunk,
was found the lost ring. Who else
could have committed the act but
Harry ? lie denied it, of course, but
who would believe him. The father
carried the ring to Pearl and told her
where it had been found, but still she
would not believe Harry was guilty.
He was the last person in the world
she would have suspected.


"Now,' said her father, "you will
not contend that Harry West is not a
reprobate, a scounlrel and thiel.


Il will, sir; I'll never think him
guilty until he says he is,


Seeing that it was Of no use to at
tempt to convince her, he left ner
alone to consider the matter. 1t
nearly broke her heart to think that
Harry was suspected, but if it was
not him, who could it be +? Something
told her to examine the ring closely.
She did 50, and found instead Of her
name carved within it, the name Of
tR. Duncan y She ran with great
haste from the room to meet her ia
ther and inform him of the discovery.


He was terror stricken at first, but
after a few moments of meditation,
summoned up all his resolution and
went straightway to Mr.. Duncan S
residence.


lie happened to be at home. When
Mr.. Devon told him what had oc-
CURED, and what he thought, he pre-
tended to be highly insultel. But
when Mr.. Devon produced the ring
from his pocket, and showed him the
inscription in it, the evidence Of guilt
was damning, lie Immediately ac-
knowledged the foul crime of which
he had been guilty, and fell down
upon his knees begging for mercy.


lie at length persuaded Mr. Devon