Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-03-03


+ engagement with the brilliant stranger
who flashed across our path some six
weeks ago"
"What do you mean, Fred?" gasped
the rector.
The young man drew long breath,
and his lips quivered. Then he said,
] huskily:
" Briefly, sir, [ have come to say
good-by. Your daughter has just told
me that she prefers a gilded coronet
to the love of poor sailor, and has
this evening accepted the former and
discarded the latter. Don't interrupt
me, sir. 1t is true; have seen it com
ing this long time. Have no fear foI
me. shall go back to my ship, and
shall do we'll enough. But, oh, sir look
we'll into the character of this Lord
Mellon before you trust him with her.
He is the head of one of the first
families in the kingdom, but, SO far as
visible resources go, is very poor. His
estate is heavily mortgaged; and its
rental a mere nothing. Yet he seems
always to have plenty Of money. No
one knows where it comes from, and
every one has remarked that he is
seldom to be found in the evenings,
and always disappears early, if seen at
all, at ball, or other social gathering.
Some say he CANDLES, but doubt it.
But look to it, sir, and for heavens
sake do not let her dear life be wreck
ed. Good-by, sir! God bless your
While this scene was passing in the
rectory garden, two persons were
standing on the balcony of the sources
brilliantly-ighted dwelling, whence
issued sounds of music, and the gaiety
attendant upon a fashionable balI-the
proud, ambitions beauty, Margaret
Shannon, and her newly-accepted
lover, Lord Mellon.
L must leave you nov, my dearest, 2"
said the latter; and, whatever might
be the true character OF the man, there
could be no question of the reality of
the admiration with which he gazed
into the lovely face beside him. q
have an engagement that cannot be
broken even for you. But before [
go, [ will leave on this dear hand d
visible token of our plighted love. Seel"
An opalr' exclaimed Margaret.
what beautiful opal! But II
would rather not wear it. | am
afraid ofopals. The say they bring
evil fortune"
Lord Mellon started, then laughed
gaily.
What! my Margaret coward?
Fie, fie! Yet wear it for my sake, dear
est, until [ can procure another ring fit
to grace this beautiful hand. All, yes,
it is muc2 too large for this little
finger, too, seeI We will soon change
it. By-the-way, what has become of
your very especial friend, young Wal
ton? He left the ball very early"
He is gone. [ shall never see him
again" she answered, briefly.
And then, as Lord Mellon went out
into the darkness, triumphant smile
lighting up his handsome face, her
thoughts turned regretfully to the true,
fond heart she had just put away from
her forever. She knew its value-she
knew that so far as her cold heart was
capable Of loving at all, it loved Fred
erick Walton, and but for the glitter of
a coronet, would have remained faith
full to him. Alas and alas it was !" the
old, old story Of the triumph of greed
and ambition over love.
AS Margaret at length turned to
re-enter the house there came the
sound as of metal jingling on the
stone steps.
Ny ring" she exclaimed aloud,
and as though evoked to her aid by
the cry, strange gentleman stepped
forward from the shadow ofa pillar
q [ think | can find it, madam" he
said, courteusly. "Those lamps give
light enough, if it has not rolled off
the steps.
So while Margaret stood anxiously
looking on the stranger, whom she
knew to be a gentleman just arrived
from London, commenced a careful
search for the ring, even extending it
by the aid of a lantern, over the
ground near by.
L fear it is lost" he said, at
length" I trust it is of no great value,
MADAME"
but it was, sir, of great value, and
to make it worse, it was not mine-at
least, /"
The stranger looked at her earnestly,
and some irresistible impulse prompt
ed her to add, with q qniet grace and
dignity that we'll became her beauty
:" The ring is very valuable opal,
and belongs to Lord Mellon, to whom I
am betrothed."
so bad as that? Poor girl, poor
girl, muttered the stranger, below his
advise you to say nothing of your loss,
except to the squire, and he, no doubt,
will set reliable persons to searching in
the morning. That is the only chance
of finding it. am truly sorry that it
is not my fortune to be able to restore
it to you, but it is really useless to
search further now"
Useless, indeed as Margaret would
have known, could her eyes have fol
lowed her volunteer helper to the
stables, whittier he at once fastened, a
strange air Of triumph pervading his
whole manner, as, standing under the
bright gleam of a lantern, he drew from
his pocket a magnificent opal ring and
a tiny but powerful microscope.
g [ knew it, knew it" he muttered
Here are the very letters too small to
be seen by the naked eye, G. Rex
Ny fortune is made; but I grieve for
that beautiful girl. Still, my duty is
clear at all events. Brown shall stay
here to keep his eye on the quarry,
while [ hasten to London for full au-
thority."
Two weeks later, the bells of the little
church rang out gaily, as a small we'd
ding party walked up the aisle, ceasing
their chimes only as the bride and
bridegroom paused before the chancel,
where stood good Mr.. Shannon, ready,
though sorely reluctant, to pronounce
the words tn at shnIlld make his child q