My Diamond Ring.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 9288, 14 January 1892, Page 4

My Diamond Ring.

"Good-bye, old lady," shouted my father, as he drove out of the yard. " Mind and take care of yourself!" <♦ No fear," I shouted back, as I nodded my adieu ; and though the words wore somewhat alangy, ihoyVere applicable enough, for I certainly felt no fear, though perhaps some giils in the same circumstances might have been rather nervous. My father was a farmer, aud often disposed of his live stock at cattle fairs. On the morrow of the day of which I write a large fair was to be held some twenty miles distant. Our throe farm servants had therefore started that evening to drive the boasts that were intended for sale about half-way on th« road. They were going to put up for the night at a farmhouse where resided a friend of ours, and then resume their journey about three o'clock next morning, ' in ordor to bo in good time for the commencementof business. My father was driving into the town that night, as he would have tt ma':o all arrangements for the reception oi the cattle. So only myseJf and Sally, our maid-of-all-work, wore loft in the house. But we had been so left many a time before, and had become completely used to it. I was never accustomed to much company, so that, perhaps, accounted for my own being generally sufficient for mo. Our house stood, as many farmhouses do, in the middle of the farm, and we were quite a mile away from any other habitation. People often pitied me, saying they wondered how I could bear such a solitary existenco ; l>ut a great deal of their sympathy was utterly thrown away, for with my perfect health, daily occupations, keen love ef Nature, aiid a strong leaning towards literary pursuits, I was happy, and found nothing lacking in my life. And a new sweetness had recently come to be the .crown and perfection, I only prized the sparkling diamonds on my finger because they constantly- reminded me—not, indeed, that I needed thus reminding — of a love as changeless and bright as themselves. "Not diamonds, Tom," I had pleaded when my lover brought the sparkling gems. "They are out of place on the finger of a farmer's daughter ;" but he had only laughed and said I was as true a lady as any in tho land ; so I had yielded, and had grown each day to hold more dearth© circlet that meant so much to me. Happy thoughts are ever pleasant company. So that night after watching my father out of eight I turned again towards the house with a smile. It was an evening in July, ,but tho day had been lowering, and the ■ night seemed to be closing in early. As I passed through the yard I was accosted by a, man who had for some weeks been working for my father. Those of my readers who are familiar with farm-life may know that often in the harvest-time extra men are. employed — men who not seldom prefer a comfortablo " shakedown " amid the clean straw of the outer buildings rather than walk any distance to lodgings. Since this- man had been with us he had each night slept cosily in a sheltered corner of tho barn. • " A dark night, miss, he said, with hi? customary civility, as I passed him. "Dark indeed," I answered in my usual chatty 'way. "I hope there will not be a. storm, or the master wiil get wet ere he reaches his destination." "Is he going far, ma'am 1" asked the mau, and I answered openly, " Yea, as far as S . He will slay the night in order to bo in readiness for the fail 1 early in the morning ;" and then I ran on to the house, on the thresh-, old of which I was met by Sally, wearing such a particularly demure and modest, expression that I at once , instinctively' knew that she was about to ask a favour;"If you please, ma'am, lj - she began with much gravity, "do you think you could spare me for about an hour and a-half to { run up and see my mother ? She was so middlm' on Sunday that s l've felt quite uneasy, an 1 if you could ma'am M and there Sally paused and looked at me entreatingly. Now I did not believe this mild fiction the least bit in the. world. I did not think that Sally's anxiety for her mother was at all overpowering, and I did remember that the way to the village would lead her exactly past the blacksmith's shop, where I had not the slightest doubt that sturdy Basil West would bo on the look out for her. I suppose I ought to have been shocked at the idea, bnt then yon see I was young, and had a lover myself. So I pretended to think that Sally's statement was correct, for, of course it would not have done to let her suspect that I understood about Basil, and said very seriously . " Yes, you may go for a little while, Sally, but be sure and do not be longer than an hour aud a half, as I shall bo all alone." " Thank you, ma'am," said Sally, joyfully. "I'll surely be back." And with that she hastily put on hor bonnet and shawl, and was soon out of the house. Left to myself, I went into the diningroom, but tho atmosphere struck me unpleasantly, aud the place altogether wore a cheerless aspect. Heing summer-tirno we had no fire lit there, and the dull, e r lor>mv evening seemed to demand somecmng orignu ana pleasant, "i will go into the kitchen," I said to myself. " There is a beautiful tiro there, and I can take an easy-chair and make myself cosy." So suiting the action to the word I was soon in front of the ruddy glow, comfortably,seated with a favourite book in my hand. The unshuttered window was at my left, hand, and the unfastened door at the far end of tho room. You may,, perhaps* wonder that I did not secure the bolts ot the door, bixt it never struck me to do so» All my life had I lived in that house, and was so thoroughly accustomed to it that I never thought of its loneliness. So I read on in placid enjoyment, until suddenly I felt that somebody was looking at mo through tho window. I raised my eyes quickly, and then I saw the mau to whom a while ago I had boon speaking. His gaze was fixed on the glittering ring on my finger, and something in his expression made me suddenly realise, with a sickening terror, that I was alone in that lonely house. I sat, literally pctrilied as I heard him making slow, stealthy steps towards tho door, but as I heard bin hand on the latch the blood resumed its flow in my veins, and with one intense prayer, "Lord help me!" I was ready for him. I turned with a smile. " Oh, Donovan, is that you 1 Come in and bear me company by this good fire. lam quite glad you have come. I was list beginning to feel a triflo lonely." The man was, I could see, thoroughly lakcn aback by my smiling giaciousness, and knew not what to say. He muttered eometliing ; but I went on unheeding : (( Come and sit down in this cosy corner, and I will get yui some supper, t ana isure you must be tired of the cold things you buy in tho village. I was jus* going to cook mutton chops I will do souio extra ones for you." Tho coarse face watching me relaxed a little, ax\f). seeing this T sprang from my chair, though without any appearance of undue haste, and made- my way into the lawier. Thence I speedily emerged with the weak, which was soon merrily frying aver the fire. Tho appetising odour- filled the kitohen as I deftly spread tho cloth on tho table and proceeded *.o lay on it all that; ooukl be rucjuircd. And never onco did I cease

[to be continued.]