The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-17
a BRILLIANT ADVENTURE;
Or, What Do You Take Your Old Dad For!'

The time was about fortnight before
Christmas. There were not many Travellers
and had a compartment in the early tidal
train to myself My destination was Paris,
nv GRAND to convey from my father "a Lon
don eweler and sllversmith) to his agent in
that city very valuable brilliant ring. "Thc
diamonds 10 it are worth $500 If they are
worth penny" my father had said to me !;
$50 hope you Will take special care of the
ring, Ned, and neither lose II on the way nor
allow yourself to be robbed Of it, l smiled
little superciliously as my father spoke. AS
if it were at all likely that l should either
lose it or allow it to be stolen from me. |
was just turned onc-and-twenty, and my faith
er had no right TO speak to me as If were
still boy.
had got the ring safe in an inner pocket
OF my waistcOat, as l took care to assure my
self from time TO time. had not seen 1t since
my father put it into little velvetlined box
in which 1t was sttli shut up. When had
finished my first cigar and had got through
tho morning news, the thought struck me
thai might as well have another look at the
rinc There could be no harm IN that, you
know. took the box out Of Its hiding-pace
ard opened 1t. My eyes were dazzed as
looked. There lay the darling in its nest o!
purple velvet Who could have resisted the
pleasure OF taking il out and trying i; on
Certainly not |. FIRST on one finger and then
Oh another tried il. Had it been made for
the third finger of my right hand it could no,
have fitted me better. 1t looked simply cx-
quisiie.
Now came to think of it, was there or
could there be safer hiding place for the
ring than my finger? had only to keep my
glove on, and not q soul would know any
thing about it. 1t was Tar safer than IN my
pocket In such u case to hesitate was folly.
placed the ring on my finger, aud put the
empty box back into my pocket. AS i was
alane, there was no occasion to put my glove
on just then; so | unused and smoked, and
watched the msny-colored rays of light that
flashed from the brilliants, and wondered
what great swell's finger it was destined Ia
decorate How | wished that | could call
il mine
There was no harm in dazzling the eyes OF
the ticket collector with it. He was only q
railway Official. But took care to pull on
my glove aud button it before alighting from
tho train A quarter of an hour later We were
steam n swiftly out Of Dover harbor.
There were not more than dozen passcn-
gers on deck. The day was cold and clear,
with just enough sea on to make the voyage
unpleasant for bad sailors. Only two ladies
NflF flnlbtt. INV WIS Nlpuls hE'h
person, who was eating and drinking nearly
the whole way across-evidcutly an old salt
The other was-well simply the most charm
in, 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 10 end, and every time that
passed her looked at her. What lovely gray
ewes! VIVA, superb yellow hair But as for
her complexion, IL would need poet TO De
scribe its wild rose tints. Once or twice hei
eyes met mine Just FOR a moment, and II struck
me tina, they were full of wistful sadness. Sc
far as could judge. she was entirely alone
We were about half way across when, as
passed Ler for the fftie,h time, she spoke
"Wonld Monsieur have the goodness to asl
fne steward to bring me little cognac 2
s. spoke in French. As the song says
Her voice was low and sweet" | was TO
fu,iered 10 answer her. | could only boz
aa1 yrin. and make bolt for the steward
den OfcOurse took the cognac 20 her my
f-H You should have seen how prettiy sh
thanked rue. She slipped II as a canary nigh
! ifthst bird was IN the habit of drinkin
brandy.
p! hope that mademOiselle is somewhat re
yived," ventured 10 observe presently.
ayes. very much revived, thanks to NOR
sieur. But I am not msdemoiselle. an
gas,iaae. 7 an widow" She pressed he