The Path of Duty, and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 310 pages of information about The Path of Duty, and Other Stories.

The Path of Duty, and Other Stories eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 310 pages of information about The Path of Duty, and Other Stories.

The shopkeeper burnished up the setting of the diamonds and placed the ring among many others in the show-case upon his counter.  But so expensive an ornament as this does not always find a ready purchaser, and for some months it remained unsold.  One afternoon a gentleman entered the shop to make some trifling purchase, and, as the shopkeeper happened to be engaged with a customer, he remained standing at the counter, till he should be at leisure, and his eye wandered carelessly over the articles in the show-case.  Suddenly he started, changed countenance, and when the shopkeeper came forward to attend to him he said in voice of suppressed eagerness, “will you allow me to examine that ring,” pointing as he spoke to the diamond ring sold by Ellen Harris.  “Certainly, Sir, certainly,” said the obliging shop-keeper, who, hoping that the ring had at last found a purchaser, immediately placed it in his hand for inspection.  The gentleman turned the ring in his hand, and carefully examined the sparkling diamonds as well as the antique setting; and when he observed the initials, engraved upon the inside, he grew pale as marble, and hurriedly addressed the astonished shopkeeper saying, “In the name of pity, tell me where you obtained this ring?” “I am very willing to inform you,” said the man “how this ring came into my possession.  Several months ago a young girl, of very delicate and lady-like appearance, brought this ring here and desired me to purchase it.  She seemed very anxious to dispose of the ornament, and, thinking I could easily sell it again, I paid her a fair price and took the ring, and that is all I can tell you about the matter.”  “You do not know the lady’s name?” said the gentleman anxiously.  “I do not,” replied the man, “but I have frequently seen her pass in the street.  The circumstance of her selling me this valuable ring caused me to notice her particularly, and I recognized her countenance ever after.”  “Name your price for the ring,” said the gentleman,—­“I must purchase it at any price; and the next thing, I must, if possible, find the young lady who brought it here, I have seen this ring before, and that is all I wish to say of the matter at present; but is there no way in which you can assist me in obtaining an interview with this young lady?” “I have no knowledge of her name or residence; but if you were in my shop when she chanced to pass here I could easily point her out to you in the street.”  “You may think my conduct somewhat strange,” said the gentleman, “but believe me my reasons for seeking an interview with this young lady are most important and if you can point her out to me in the street I will endeavour to learn her residence, as that will be something gained.”  Before the gentleman left the shop he paid for the ring, and placed it in his pocket.  For several days, he frequented the shop of the jeweller with the hope of gaining a view of the lady.  At length one morning the shop-keeper suddenly directed his attention

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The Path of Duty, and Other Stories from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.