“‘Lucy,’ I said, ‘when was that placed there?’

“‘I put it there, ma’am.’

“‘But what induced you?’

“’She told me to do so, ma’am.  A few days before she was taken sick, she called me and took from her bureau-drawer, that ring.  The ring was in a small box.  She was very pale when she spoke—­she looked more like death than she does now, ma’am.  I know’d she wasn’t able to stand, and I said, ‘Sit down, honey, and then tell me what you want me to do.’

“‘Mammy,’ said she, ’you’ve had a world of trouble with me, and you’ve had trouble of your own all your life; but I am not going to give you much more—­I shall soon be where trouble cannot come.’

“‘Don’t talk that way, child,’ said I, ’you will get through with this, and then you will have something to love and to care for, that will make you happy again.’

“‘Never in this world,’ said she; ’but mammy, I have one favor more to ask of you—­and you must promise me to do it.’

“‘What is it, Miss Ellen?’ said I, ’you know I would die for you if ’twould do you any good.’

“‘It is this,’ she said, speaking very slowly, and in a low tone, ’when I am dead, mammy, when you are all by yourself, for I am sure you will stay by me to the last, I want you to put this ring on the third finger of my left hand—­will you remember?—­on the third finger of my left hand.’  She said it over twice, ma’am, and she was whiter than that rose that lays on her poor breast.’

“‘Miss Ellen,’ says I, ’as sure as there’s a God in heaven you are Mr. Lee’s wife, and why don’t you say so, and stand up for yourself?  Don’t you see how people sneer at you when they see you?’

“’Yes, but don’t say any more.  It will soon be over.  I made a promise, and I will keep it; God will do me justice when he sees fit.’

“‘But, Miss Ellen,’ says I, ’for the sake of the child’—­

“’Hush! mammy, that is the worst of all; but I will trust in Him.  It’s a dreadful sin to love as I have, but God has punished me.  Do you remember, dear mammy, when I was a child, how tired I would get, chasing butterflies while the day lasted, and when night came, how I used to spring, and try to catch the lightning-bugs that were flying around me—­and you used to beg me to come in and rest or go to bed, but I would not until I could no longer stand; then I laid myself on your breast and forgot all my weariness?  So it is with me now; I have had my own way, and I have suffered, and have no more strength to spend; I will lie down in the grave, and sleep where no one will reproach me.  Promise me you will do what I ask you, and I will die contented.’

“‘I promised her, ma’am, and I have done it.’

“‘It is very strange, Lucy,’ said I, ’there seems to have been a mysterious reason why she would not clear herself; but it is of no use to try and unravel the mystery.  She has no friends left to care about it; we can only do as she said, leave all to God.’