Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-04-03
out for somebody, now asked, call right,

Step 1ntO my ONCE. care say It's dlA
right. Better not say too much mere, you
know"
We followed him through the little
crowd of passengers and porters, accom-
panied by policeman in uniform. AS
we passed, we heard fragmentary obser-
vations of the most pleasing kind.
(which is it," said some one.
':It's the girl, think"
s'No; it's the old woman. She looks as
if she would do any one mischief, if it
suited her."
'Old man looks too soft for anything"
and so on.
We went into the Office, and I indig-
nantly turned to the station-master.
"What is the meaning of this, sir?"
ooh! it's very simple, sir, telegram
has arrived from the police in London
with orders to stop this young lady; here
it is"
took it and read:
1.-THE young lady, looking very ill, dressed In
olack silk mantle, white straw bonnet, with white
flowers is to be detained at the station till the ar
rival of the officer by the afternoon mail. She is
seated in the middle compartment of the third
frst-class carriage from the end of the train. Her
present nameis Clara Webster To avoid the pos
sibility of mistake, she has a 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.
'tLet 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 mean? Is any
thing wrong at home?'
"I'll tell you presently, dear. Give me
the ring"
She took it off and gave it 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, MADAME"
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" | said.
wait, Uncle Joseph, what for?"
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?"
~ cannot tell you; it is useless to com
plain now, we must wait"
az shall do nothing of the kind; shall
at once go and get my brother and Mr..
Tredgar, and 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" l asked.
mot at all, sir; you are both free to go
at any time, but the young lady must
stay"
"Where?"
"Well, sir, Pm sure there's some mis-
take, and was so from the moment | saw
the young lady, so if you'll give ne your
word not to go away, I'll take you into
my house, out of the hustle of the sta
tom
Mrs. Webster went off, and Clara and l
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 PHEASANT now.
''But about the ring? Do you think it
possible, that what mamma said?"
"Possible, my dear; it's ridiculous. It's
hundred years old, and l dare say it
belonged to his mother before he gave it
to you"
az can't think what it can be-
Don't think about it. It's mistake.
that's all. 1t will be cleared up in a few
IVoi1l bava cor,o ~, &C
the time az 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
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 a rap at
the door startled US both.
"Come in"
A gentleman entered.
Miss Webster?"
Clara bowed.
ON 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:
"O Uncle, am so happy" and then
fell into 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.
"Mr. Francis Tredgar presents his compliments
to Miss Webster. and begs to state that he must
HpplI q NJ nrnm n ms
his wife The unhappy circumstance of Miss
Webster's public arrest on the charge of being in
possession of diamond ring stolen by her former
lover, will at once account for his decision. Mr..
Tredgars wife must be above suspicion.
Mr. Tredgar begs also to inform Miss Webster
that the services of his solicitor, Mr.. Blake, the
bearer, are at her disposal
"Well, Mr.. Blake" said l, 'you see we
shall not require your services. | shall
wait the event, and if it is not cleared,
shall employ my own solicitor in the mat
ter VIII you present my kind regards
to Mr.. Francis Tredgar, and express my
own and my nieces admiration of his
gentlemanly courtesy and kindness? I
would write to him if did not consider
that correspondence with such miser-
able, cowardly scoundrel was too utterly
degrading to be thought Of"
II shall faithfully convey your mes
sage, sir, and allow me to assure you that
was quite ignorant of the contents of
the letter, and that it shall be the last
-, hon haor him. Z,