Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1873-03-21

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what Is the meaning of this, sirH"
"Ohl it's very simple, sir, telegram
has arrived from the police in London
with orders to stop this young lady; here
1t Is"
took it and read:
"The young lady, looking very III, dressed in
black silk mantle, white straw bonnet, with white
flowers s to be detained at the station till the
rival Of the officer by the afternoon mail. She s
seated in the middle compartment Of the third
hrst-cass carriage from the end Of the train. Her
present name is Clara Webster. To avoid the pos
sibility ofa mistake, she has diamond ring on
the third finger OF the left hand, with the words
From Herbert, engraved on the inside"
1t certainly was correct description,
and the name-there might be two Clara
Websters, though.
"Let me see your left hand, dear"
Sic pulled off her glove and there was
the ring.
"Let me see that ring with the diamond
on IT,"
"Uncle, what does this meanS Is any
thing wrong at homer
"11l tell you presently, dear. Give me
the ring"
She took it off and gave il to me, and
l read "From Herbert" on the inside.
"Why that is the ring that Mr.. Langley
gave you"
"What has he to do with this?" said
Mrs. Webster. "Perhaps he"
"He what, madam"
'Perhaps it did not belong to him,
was going to say"
/ saw it was no use to struggle; when
the officer came down he would explain
the mistake.
"Where can we waltz" I said.
wait, Uncle Joseph, what forP"
MADAM, this telegram orders the ar
rest of your daughter, and her detention
here until the arrival of an officer from
London
"But what for?"
"I cannot tell you; it is useless to COM
plain now, we must wait"
81 shall do nothing of the kind; shall
at once go and get my brother and Mr..
Tredgar, aud come down"
"Pray don't, madam; there's no occa-
sion to make more noise about this mat
ter than can be helped"
81 shall remain with Clara; you had
better go and say we are coming very
shortly"
"Your instructions don't include this
lady and myself?" I asked.
'Not at ALL sir; you are both free to go
at any time, but the young lady must
stay"
"where9"
"Well, sir, I'm sure there's some mis-.
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the young lady, so if you'll give me your
word not to go away, I'll take you into
my house, out of the hustle of the sta
| tion."
Mrs. Webster went off, and Clara and
went out to the house.
What can it be, Uncle"
Cant say, my dear; it will be some
thing to laugh at by-and by, though it's
not pleasant now"
'But about the ringP Do you think it
possible, that what mamma saidP"
Possible, my dear; it's ridiculous. It's
a hundred years old, and I dare say it
belonged to his mother before he gave it
to you"
''I can't think what it can be-"
| "DoD't think about it. It's mistake
that's ALL 1t will be cleared up in few
hours. Well have some dinner and pass
the time as well as we can"
"Do you know, Uncle, l feel almost
glad of this; it seems like break in the
dullness; it puts off my wedding at least
a week. Mamma herself could not press
it for tomorrow after this"
| We had dined, and got to be quite
cheerful and laughing over the blunder
as we sat at the window, when rap at
the door startled us both.
"Come in"
| A gentleman entered.
miss Webster"
| Clara bowed.
an IS Clara Webster" he said, reading
the name from letter.
Clara bowed again.
He handed her the letter, which she
opened, read and dropped ON the floor,
exclaiming:
80! Uncle, l am so happy" and then
| fell into a chair, fainting
picked up the letter, and calling the
people of the house, very soon brought
her to, and we were once more alone
with the bearer of the note, which ran as
follows:
"TREDGAR HALL.
. M Mr.. Francis Franc Tredgsr presents his compliments
| decline the fulfllment OF his promise to make her
his wife. The unhappy circumstance Of Miss
possession Of diamond ring stolen by her former
| lover will at once account for his decision. Mr..
T@redgar's @ - wife must be above susplci9n
that the services OF his solicitor Mr.. Blake, the
bearer are at her disposal"
"Well, Mr.. Blake" said I, "you see we
shall not require your services. l shall
wait the event, and if it is not cleared,
shall employ my own solicitor in the mat
| ter. Will you present my kind regards
to Mr.. Francis Tredgar, and express my
own and my niece's admiration of his
gentlemanly courtesy and kindnessP /
would write to him if did not consider
that a correspondence with such miser-
able, cowardly scoundrel was too utterly
degrading to be thought Of"
"I shall faithfully convey your mes.
sage, sir, and allow me to assure you that
1 was quite ignorant of the contents of
the letter, and that it shall be the last
time shall ever bear one from him; and
now, as you will not let me help you as
his solicitor, allow me to proffer my SER
vices as friend"
"With all my heart, Mr.. Blake; come
in here few minutes before the train
comes in, and we shall be glad of your
help"
"Was 1 not right, dear UncleH" said
| Clara, ae soon as we were alone. "Ohl
you can't tell how happy am; can live
now. o. this glorious mistake; it is the
most fortunate thing that has happened
Uncle, aren't your" and she came up to
nae.
with all hopes torches lit in both her
eyes," she kissed me, and would have me
speak
eyes, darling, am glad-more glad
than can find words to tell Your fate
linked to such man as this scoundrel,
would have been living death. am
heartily glad, Clara"
THE OFFICER.
"This way, sir. The young person is
in the house; she gave her word not to
attempt to leave; the old gentleman is
with her."
This we heard through the door as the
station-master came along the passage.
Our friend, Mr.. Blake, had arrived some
time before.
The station-master entered, and behind
him tail, broad-shouldered man, with
bushy beard and moustaches concealing
all the lower part of the face.
"Will you have light, sirf" said the
station, master to the officer
''Thank you, no.
Clara started at the sound of the voice,
| and laid her hand on mine