Page:The trail of the golden horn.djvu/168

164 that I saw angelic forms filling all the seats, and crowding the building. It may have been an hallucination, though to me it was very real and heartening. But I suppose you will say it is all nonsense. That is too often the way with people of the world who cannot understand such things.”

Hugo made no reply just then, but that night as he sat smoking, he turned abruptly to the missionary, busy at his writing.

“How is the girl?” he asked. “Have you seen her to-day?”

“Oh, yes, I have been over several times. There is no change as yet, although Kate thinks that she will recover.”

Hugo smoked in silence for a few minutes. At length he rose to his feet, and bent over the table.

“Will you do me a favor?” he asked.

“I shall be only too glad to do so if it is within my power,” was the reply.

The trapper at once thrust his right hand into an inside pocket, brought forth the diamond ring, and held it in the palm of his hand. Seeing the look of wonder in the old man’s eyes, he smiled.

“It is no wonder that you are surprised, Mr. Norris, for one doesn’t come across such as this every day. But I found it in a cabin and I want to give it to you.”

“Give it to me!” the missionary exclaimed. “Why what in the world would I do with such a thing as that? I have no use for so valuable a ring as I take that to be.”

“Yes, I believe it is valuable. You can sell it some day, and it will repay you a little for your care of that girl.”

“But I don’t want any pay for that.”