LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2344, 7 October 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

THE MARQUIS' RING: A VilliY OLD MAID'S STORY. ( Continued.) Wo got away after this, for wo did not like to run the carriage into tho second hour. I could have criel all tho way home, I felt so vexed mortified ; only I would not 'et Misa Jones see it. And I waß sorry for the Marquis too ; his downfall was certain for every one would know now that the Dean's wife was no guarantee for Wb respectability. We met him on our way home, noming towards the crescent ; and I declare my heart bled for him, he looked bo handsome and interesting as he raised his hat ; but Miss Jones said he looked like a singer! And she used to bo ono of hla great admirers ! The next day there was a large picnic to some caves in the neighborhood, ending with a tea dinner at the Blackers'. I saw them start from our wirdow, Colonel Poddleton driving his own drag, and Agnes Dalrymple sitting beside him. The Marquis went too, but in a fly by himself. He looked np at our windows as he passed, and his face was very Bad. In the evening mother and Misa Jones persuaded me to go in ; they said it would look as If I felt myself in disgrace; and as Mrs Blacker had sent In for the loan of our teapot and spoons, mother said I might go stiff. I own I felt a little curious to see how things were going on, but nervous also ; and 1 grew more nervous when, after a few minutes, during which I saw the Marquis was not there, Colenel Poddleton attacked me in his brusqne haw-haw sort of manner—- ' Well, Miss Baratowe, so your foreign friend has been blown—shown up regularly ; and now means to cut, and try the business in London. But that won't do. We don't stand swaggerers there. A regular cad, that's what he ia I'

* We owe it to you that he was found out in time,' said Mrs Blacker with an air of intense thankfulneus, end as if she had escaped some great danger; whereas, as we all knew, she had been running down the Marquis's throat. ' I confess I was taken in,' she added with charming frankness, ' and so waß every one oxeapt you, Agnes dear. I think you never liked the Marquis, although indeed —' 'He liked her 1' struck in the refined Colonel, with a loud laugh ; ' just liko hia impudence.' And then he whispered something to her, and sho craned her long neck towards him, and they comported themselves much as engaged lovers do. ' It is all settled,' whispered Miss Jones to mo ; 'he proposed to-day after lunch in the Nun's Cave, and Mrs Blacker took us all aside and told us half an hour after. Yon never saw anyone so cut up as the Marquis was. Either that or the treatment he got from everyone gave him a headache and he went home to rest a bit. No one asked him to come back except me, and I really oould not help it, although I daresay it was wrong.' 'Wrong I' cried I indignantly; 'why, what has he done ? Suppose he is not rich ; surely that's not a crime. His worst folly is looking after that cold statue of a woman, Agnes Dalrymple.' ' Hush, my dear ; don't say any more. Here he is *

Poor man, he was looking very pale and ill, I thought, as he came in, under a volley of cold looks from his hostess and everyone. I was the only one who gave him a kindly look or word And what was I, a poor insignificant spinster ? Colonel Poddleton contlnned his whispering in a most offensive manner; bnt I think Agnes seemed a little uneasy, and inolined to draw away from her overpowering lover. Presently a move was made to the piano, and, under cover of the noise and confusion, I heard the Ma-quia Bay to her—

' You will play to me "nee more ; you wlil let me stand next to you ; you will let me hold your glovea, your handkerchief, for the last time—the last time. Oh, Agnes I' The depthjof sorrow in his voice must have touched even her cold heart, for she answered gently enough, although she looked round uneasily, as if afraid of her tyrant. But she went to the piano at once, and was quicker than usual in the little tricks we all knew by heart. The marquis, standing beside her, was in possession of her gloves, her rings, and her handkerchief, when, all of a sudden, Oolouol Podaleton came striding towards him.

' I can relieve you of these,' he said, in a rough voice ; ' Lady Dalryrnple would prefer my holding them—eh, Agnes ?' And, without waiti g for an answer, he snatched the "gloves and the fan from the astonished marquis, and scattered the rings on the floor There was a little stir amongst ua picking them up. The Blacker* always kept their floors polifshed and carpetless, ready for dancing, when any foolish young men were caught to waltz with them ; and therefore it was easy enongh to see the stones gleaming on the boards. I went in search of one truant, when, looking round, I saw the marquis at a little distance on all-fours under a table. He picked up something quickly that glittered iike a diamond, and, to my amazement, stowed it away in his pocket The next minute he left the room, unnoticed in the general confusion. There was a great, deal of talking and laughing, and then Lady Da!rymp.e began playing again. Miss Jone 3 came and whispered to me that the marquis had slipped away without saying good-night to any one.

'Mark my words,' she said, 'we shall have a duel between him and the colonel. He was furious at the way Poddleton tre-ited him. Ah, Lady Dalrymple has a deal to answer for, that she has ! I saw him going out, and he was ghastly white.' I could hardly answer her, I was so upset, and at the same time bo curious to know what would happen next. As Agnes had missed nothing, perhaps it was all right; but how could I doubt the evidence of my own senses ? And the more I thought of it, tho more sure I was that it was a ring the Marquis had put away. And if it was so, and it was miestd, what was I to do ? All this time Agnes kept playing on in a dreamy wandering fashion, while the Colonel sat behind her, holding the much coveted fan and the recovered rings, which he occasionally looked at with an air of proprietorship, which woald have irritated me had I been his affianced wifa. But she d'd not seem to mind him, her thoughts were evidently far away ; and as sbo kept on playing the Marquis's favorite airs, I presume she thought him still in the room. I saw her eyes wandering round, searching every eorner ; and when she at last stopped it was with a very listless manner that she turned to the Colonel, and took her fan and her rings. 1 now looked on with feverish anxiety. He gave them to her oce by one, remarking on each as ho did so. When he had done she still held oat her haad. ' Don't be anticipating,' he said significantly i ' you have no more at present.' She smiled, pretending to be embarrassed, but persisted, saying a little pettishly, ' Dont teaza me Colonel Poddluton. Give me my circle ring of diamond and rubies—a gem the jewellers call '

'Gem or no gem, it Is not here,' he answered shortly; ' you said seven rings, and I have given you seven.' ' Where's the use of saying that ?' Bhe answored rather crossly ; ' I had eight, and this was my best, my beautiful ring.' ' Now, are you quite sure ?—think ?' • I will not think about it I know I had it r,n ; mamma saw it, and so did Mies Jones —she admired it on my finger.' And Miss Jones corroborating, there was nothing for it but to begin the hunt again Down on our knees we all went, the servants now being called in to help. All in vain, although some of us went at it with a will. I poked and ferreted in every hole and corner, but to no use, and we had at last to give In, Mrs Blacker saying she would lock the door and search again in the morning, To say the truth, she was more quiet and ladylike about tl-< matter than Lady Dal rymple, who aeemt! I to suspect some of her company of purluiuing the ring, and she insisted on our all turning out our pockets, under pretence that it might have elipped in ; but so far Marquis did not occur to her, until at last an idea struck Colonel Poddleton. ' I declare I think it must be that French fellow. What become of him ? Where did he disappear to, eh, Mrs Blacker ? Eh, Misa Barstowo ? Hallo, what's the matter with you ?' In spite of all my efforts I felt myself changing color, and all eyes turned upon me, ( To he continued. )