Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1877-01-04
4 Brilliant Adventure.

before christmas. There was not
many travellers, and | had a compart-
ment il the early tidal train to N.Y.
self. Ny destination was Paris, my
errand 30 convey from my father Ga
Londoi jeweler and silver smith
to bisagent 10 that city q very
valuable brilliant ring. "The dia-
monds 10 it are worth five hundred
pounds # they are worth penny
my father said to me; $50 | hope
you will take special care OF the ring,
Ned, and neither lose it on the way
nor allow yourself to be robbed Of
it," | smiled little supercliousl y
as my father spoke. AS if il were
at all likely that should either lose
1T oraIlow il TO be stolen from me
| was Just turn6u Un0.aud-t+~ on : Y
and my father had no right to speak
to me as if | were still hoy.
had got the ring safe in an inner
pocket of my walstcoat, as | took
care TO assure myself from time TO
time. | had not seen it since my
father put it into the little velvet
lined boz, in which it was still shut
up. When [ had finished my first
cigar and had got through the morn
ing news, the thought struck me
that | might as we'll have another
look at the ring. There could be no
harm in that, | know. | took the
box out of its hiding-place and
opened it. My eyes were dazzled as
/ looked. There lay the darling ia
its nest of purple velvet. Who could
have resisted the pleasure OF taking
it out and trying it on ? Certainly
not l. First on one finger and then
on another | tried it. Had it been
made for the third finger on my
right hand, it could not have fitted
me better. II locked simply ex.
quisite.
Now / came to think of 1t, was
there or could there be safer hid
ing-place for the ring than my fin"
ger? | had only to keep my glove on,
and not soul would know anything
about it. It was far safer there than
in my pocket. In such case to
hesitate was folly. placed the ring
on my finger, and put the empty
box back into my pocket. AS | was
alone, there was no occasion to put
my glove on just then 80 | unused
and smoked, and watched the many
colored rays Of light that flashed
from the brilliants, and wondered
what great swell's finger the ring
was destined to decorate. How L
wished that / could call it mine
There was no harm in dazzling
the eyes OF the ticket collector with
il. He was only railroad official.
Bet took care to put on my glove
an3 l,nttou it before alighting from
the tram. A quarter Of an hour
later we were steaming swiftly out OF
Dover Harbor.
There were not more than a dozen
passengers on deck. The day was
cold and clear, with just enough sea
on to make the voyage pleasant for
bad sailors. Only two ladies were
visible. One was stout middle~aged
person, who was eating and drink"
ing nearly the whole way across -
evidently an old salt. The other was
well, simply the most charming
creature | had ever set eyes on. In
point of fact, | could not keep my
eyes off her. [ passed her and re-
passed her as | paced the deck from
end to end, and every time / passed
her [ looked at her. What lovely
gray eyes What superb yollow
hair ! But as for her complexion, 1T
woul1 need poet TO describe its
wild-rose tints. Once or twice
her eyes met mine just for a
moment, and it struck me that they
were full of wisttul sadness. SO far
as | could Judge, she was entirely
alone. We were about half way
across when, as passed her for the
fftieth time, she spoke. "Would
monsieur have the goodness TO ask
the stewart to bring ne little cog
nae 2" She spoke in French. As the
song says, "Her voice was low and
sweet" was too futtered to ans
wer her. | could only bow and grin,
aud make q bolt for the stewards
den. OF course l took the cognac to
her myself. You should have seen
how pretty che thanked me. She
slipped at 1t as canary might do IT
that bird were in the habit OF drink
ing brandy. 81 hope that mademol-
sele is somewhat revived" | ven
tured to observe presently.
eyes very much revived, thanks
to monsieur. But | am not made
moiselle. | am madame. | am q
widow" She pressed her handker-
chief to her eyes as she spoke. How
interesting, nay how touching, was
this simple confession The wistful
sorrow 10 her eyes was at once &C
counted tor Would that it had been
my happy lot to comfort her
There was a camp stool close by.
Presently | ventured TO draw it Il
little nearer and to sit down on it,
blushng at my temerity as | did 80.
She did not seem at all offended, and
we were presently in the midst of
an animated and interesting CONVEX
sation. There was no hduteur about
madame. On the contrary, she was
candor itself. She had been only
three days in London, she told me.
She had been staying with Sir
Henry Ftz Evens, who had charge
of her late husbands interests in
England. She was now going back
to the little cottage in which she had
DIV cit ever since her dear husbands
death. She would not be able to go
forward by the tidal train, she told
me, having a business call to make
in Calais She would go forward
by the evening train.
All this was told me with charming
frankness. There was no reason why
| should not wait and go forward
with her on the evening train-if she
would only allow me to do SO. When
| threw out hint to that effect, she
ro;soJ - oLtoot;on Che admitted ut