River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1881-03-03


said the latter; and, whatever might
be the true character OF the man, there
could be no question of the seality of
the admiration with which he gazed
into the lovely face beside him. Il
have an engagement that cannot be
broken even for you. But before l
go, will leave on this dear hand
visible token of our plighted love. Seel"
" An opall' exclaimed Margaret.
" what beautiful opal! But II
would rather not wear it. l am
afraid ofopals The say they bring
evil fortune"
Lord Mellon started, then laughed
gaily.
"What my Margaret coward?
Fie, fiel Yet wear it for my sake, dear
est, until can procure another ring tit
to grace this beautiful hand. All, yes,
it is muca 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 iingling on the
stone steps.
My ring she exclaimed aloud,
and as though evoked to her aid by
the cry, a strange gentleman stepped
forward from the shadow of a pillar.
% think can find it, madam he
said, courteusly. "Those lamps give
light enough, if it has not rolled OF
! the steps.
So while Margaret stood anxiously
looking on the stranger, whom she
knew to be gentleman just arrived
from London, commenced IL careful
search for the ring, even extending ii
by the aid of lantern, over the
ground near by.
" l fear it is lost" he said, ut
length" trust it is of no great value
madam"
." Bat it was, sir, of great value, and
to make it worse, 1t was not mine-at
least, /"
The stranger looked at her earnestly
and some irresistible impulse prompt
ed her to add, with qniet grace and
dignity that well became her beauty
!" The ring is a very valuable opal
and belongs to Lord Mellon, to whom
am betrothed."
$50 bad as that? Poor girl, poor
girl, muttered the stranger, below his
breath; then, aloud 81 would
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 il
is not my fortune to be able to restore
it to you, but it is really useless &c
search further now"
Useless, indeed Us 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 CLEAN of lantern, he Grew from
his pocket a magnificent opal ring anc
n tiny bat powerful microscope.
| knew it, knew il" he muttered
" Here are the very letters toe small tC
be seen by the naked eye, G. Rex.
! NV fortune is made; but / grieve fol
that beautiful girl Still, my duty il
clear at all events. Brown shall stay
here to keep his eye on the quarry
while | hasten to London foY full au
thority."
Two weeks later, the bells Of the little
church rang out gaily, as small we'd
ding party walked up the aisle, ceasine
! their chimes only as the bride and
bridegroom paused before the ehancel
where stood good Mr.. Shannon, ready,
though sorely reluctant, to pronounce
the words that should make his child a
| countess.
1t was hurried bridal, following
| close on the betrothal, because Lord
| Melons business affairs required his
/
| where his stay might Lass il wear or
more and he naturally refused TO post
pone his wedding until his return.
Mr.. Shannon had done all in his
power to further this in him, desirable
end; but with Lord Mellon and Lis
daughter against him, he could but
yield an unwilling consent.
So the solemn, irrevocable words
were spoken, and Margaret, Countess
Mellon had reached the summit of her
ambition, to attain which size had
ruthlessly trampled on the true heart
that had been devoted to her for long
| years.
The newly-married pair passed down
the aisle, and were about to step into
their carriage, when the bridegroom
suddenly dropped his wife's arm and
! staggered back against the wall extend-
ing his arms in dazed, helpless way,
as if to ward off the doom that was
lowering over his head.
! The next instant two heavy hanl-
were laid on his shoulders, there was a
click, us of metal swapping, and, before
a word could be uttered the aflfighted
spectators beheld the aristocratic bride
groom a manacled prisoner, while the
bride, white aud terror stricken, leaned
upon the arm Of her aged fatheg, him
self scarcely less agitatcd.
II demand to know what all this
means" he uttered, in slow, studied
voice. "There is some mistake here.
| This gentleman, whom you treating 50
shamefully is Lord Mellon"
mo mistake at all, sir, am sorry to
say" interrupted the law officers,
whom Margaret, even in her horror,
recognized as the stranger who had
searched for her lost opal. Believe
me" he continued, "this is a verY pain
full piece of business TO me, as well as
to the rest of you, bu. | must do my
duty. You, madam, may remember
, was present when you dropped the
ring Lord Mellon gave you. i found il
almost Immediately; but duty forced
me to deceive you, as | was employed
| by the true owner of the ring, our
| blessed sovereign himself, to recover it.
So, Of course, there was but one path
open to me. That opal ring was the
final proof in chain of cncumstantial
evidence that we had been weaving
around this gentleman. 1t gave us le-
gal proof Of what we had before only
suspected. | started that night for
London, hoping to get back in time'to
prevent what has happened, and save
this lady's name from being linked