I noticed it , because I had heard the girls say that Miss Reade never wore rings , not liking them . It was not a new ring ; it was handsome , but of an old-fashioned design and setting , with a glint of diamonds about a central sapphire . Later on , when Miss Reade had gone , I asked the Story Girl if she had noticed the ring . She nodded , but seemed disinclined to say more about it . `` Look here , Sara , '' I said , `` there 's something about that ring -- something you know . '' `` I told you once there was a story growing but you would have to wait until it was fully grown , '' she answered . `` Is Miss Reade going to marry anybody -- anybody we know ? '' I persisted . `` Curiosity killed a cat , '' observed the Story Girl coolly . `` Miss Reade has n't told me that she was going to marry anybody . You will find out all that is good for you to know in due time . '' When the Story Girl put on grown-up airs I did not like her so well , and I dropped the subject with a dignity that seemed to amuse her mightily . She had been away for a week , visiting cousins in Markdale , and she had come home with a new treasure-trove of stories , most of which she had heard from the old sailors of Markdale Harbour . She had promised that morning to tell us of `` the most tragic event that had ever been known on the north shore , '' and we now reminded her of her promise . `` Some call it the ` Yankee Storm , ' and others the ` American Gale , ' '' she began , sitting down by Miss Reade and beaming , because the latter put her arm around her waist . `` It happened nearly forty years ago , in October of 1851 . Old Mr. Coles at the Harbour told me all about it . He was a young man then and he says he can never forget that dreadful time . You know in those days hundreds of American fishing schooners used to come down to the Gulf every summer to fish mackerel . On one beautiful Saturday night in this October of 1851 , more than one hundred of these vessels could be counted from Markdale Capes .
By Monday night more XXXXX seventy of them had been destroyed .
On around at because for of than that to with