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

The time was about n fortnight before
Christmas There were not many travellers,
and had a compartment IN the early tidal
train to myself My destination was Paris,
nv errand to convey from my father "a Lon
don ieweler and slversmith) to his agent in
that city a very valuable brilliant ring. 1.-The
diamonds ia it are worth $500 If they are
worth a 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, / smiled
little superciliousy as my father spoke AS
if il were at all likely that 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 II were
still boy.
had got the ring safe IN an inner pocket
OF my waistcoat, as took care to assure my
self from time TO time had not seen II since
nv father put 1t INTO a little velvet-lined box,
in which It was still 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
rim. There could be no harm IN that you
know took the box out Of Its biding-place
and opened It, My eyes were dazzled as l
looked. There lay the darling in its nest oil
purple velvet, Who could have resisted the
pleasure OF taking il out and trying |; on
Certainly not l. First on one finger and then
on Another tried it. Had il been made for
the third finger of my right hand 1t could not
have fitted me better 1t looked simply ex
quisite.
Now came to think of il, was there OF
could there be a safer hiding place Tor Inc
ring than my finger? had only to Keep my
glove on. and not a soul would know any
:, T, tar of than N
pocket In such case to hesitate was folly
[ placed the ring on my finger, aud put the
empty box back into my pocket. AS was
alane, there was no occasion to put my glove
on lust then; so 1 unused and smoked, ant
watched the many.colored rays of light thai
flashed from the brilliants, and wondered
what great swell's finger 1t was destined tf
decorate. How | wished that | could cal
il mine
There was no harm in dazzling the eyes o
the ticket collector with it. He was only
railway official But took care To pull oil
my glove aud button i, before alighting IRON
the train. A quarter of an hour later we wer'
steam Iug swiftly out OF Dover harbor.
There were not more than a dozen passen
gers on deck. The day was cold and clear
with just enough sea on To make the voyage
unpleasant for bad sailors. Only two ladie
were visible. One was stout middle aget
person, who was eating and drinking ncarl,
the whole way across--evident|y an old sail
The other was-well, simply the most charm
in creature had ever set eyes on. In poin
nj fact, conld not keep my eyes off her.
passed her and re-passed her as paced tn
deck from end to end and every time that
passed her looked at her. What lovely gra
eyes! What superb yellow hairl But as 70
her complexion, Il would need n poet TO de
scribe its wild rose tints. Once or twice be
eyes met Eline just Tor n moment, and II struc
me that they were full of wistful sadness. 5
Tar IS could judge. she was entirely alon
We we're about half way across when, as
passed her for The fiftieth time, she spok
"Vonld Monsieur have the goodness To ms
fne steward to bring me little cognac
s.. spoke in French. As tho song say
"Her voice was low and sweet" / was Il
fuiiered TO answer her. | could only DO
40 .ria. and make bolt for the steward
aru OF course took the cognac 90 her m
r-r You should have seen how prettily 81
thanked me. She slipped It as canary mig
= fthat bird was IN the habit OF drinkir
brandy.
hope that mademoiselle is somewhat I
v,ved," ventured 10 observe presently.
"Yes. very much revived, thanks to mo
sseur Bot I am not mademoiselle. / =
gasia-e an widow" She pressed b