Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-03-04

attendant upon fashionable ball-the
proud, ambitions beauty, Margaret
Shannon, and her newly-accepted
lover, Lord Mellon.
| must leave you noN, my dearest,
said the latter; and, whatever might
be the true character OF the man there
could be 10 question Of the reality OF
the admiration with which he gazed
into the lovely face beside him. I ]
have an engagement that cannot be
broken even for you. But before
90, ! will leave on this dear hand a
visible token Of our plighted love. See,'
An opal' exclaimed Margaret.
! what i 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?
Fle, iie. Yet wear it for my sake, dear
est, until | can procure another ring fit
t. grace this beautiful hand. Ali. yes,
it is nue. too large for this little
finger, too, | see We will soon change
it, By-the-way, what has become OF
y
ton? He left the ball very early"
lie j. gone. | shall never see him
again, she answered, briefly
And then, rs Lord Mellon went out
into the darkness, i 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 50 far as her cold heart was
capable Of loving at all, it loved Fred
erick Walton, and but for the glitter Of
a.coronct, would have remained faith
full to him. Alas and alas. it was I the
old, old story" Of the triumph Of greed
and ambition over love.
As Margaret at length turned to
rc-enter the house there came the
sound As Of metal iingling on the
stone steps.
Ny ring" She exclaimed aloud,
and rs though evoked to her aid by
the cry, il strange gentleman stepped
forward from the shadow Of il pillar
" ! think | can find it, madam" lie
said, courteusly. "Those lamps give
light enough, fit has not rolled of
the steps.
So while Margaret stood anxiously
looking q: tire stranger, whom she
knew to be i gentleman just arrived
from London, commenced il careful
search for the ring, even extending it
by the aid Of lantern, over the
ground near by.
fear il Is lost" lie said, 1T
Length ! trust ii is Of no great value,
madam"
Bat it was, Sir, Of great value, and
to make it worse, it was not mine ut
least, l.
The stranger looked 1T her earnestly,
and some irresistible impulse prompt
cd her to add, with i qniet grace and
dignity that well became her beauty !:
The ring is very valuable opal,
and belongs 10 Lord Mellon, to whom ]
am bctrothed =
80 bad As that Poor girl, poor
girl. muttcred the stranger, below his
breath; then, aloud u would
advise You to say nothing Of your loss,
except 10 the squire, and lie, no doubt
will set reliable persons to searching III
the morning. That is the only chance
If finding it. ! Am truly sorry that it
il not NY fortune to lie able to restore
it to you. hut it is really useless to
search further now
Useless, indeed rs Margaret would
have known, could her ewes have fol
lowed her volunteer helper to the
stables, whittier he at once FASTENED, Il
strange air Of triumph peryading his
whole manner, rs, standing under the
bright CLEAN Of il lantern, lie drew from
his pocket i magnificent opal ring and
4 tiny but powerful microscope.
knew ii, ! knew il" lie muttered
" Here are the very letters too small to
be seen by the naked eve, &. Rex.
Ny fortune is made: but | grieve for
that beautiful girl Still, my duty is
clear At Ill events. Brown shall stay
here to keep his eve on the quarry,
while | hasten to London for full au-
thority."
Two weeks later, the bells Of the little
church rang ont gaily, rs small wei
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 that should make his child i
countess
L WAS 1 hurried bridal, following
close OIL the betrothal. because Lord
Melons business affairs required his
departure for the American colonies.
where his stay might last d year or
more. and he naturally refused to post
pone his wedding until his return.
H. - Il
power to further this in him, desirable
end; but with Lord Mellon and his
daughter against him, he could but
yield al unwilling consent.
So the solemn, irrevocable words
We're spoken, and Margaret. Countess
Mellon had reached the summit of her
ambition. to attain which She had
ruthlessly trampled on the true heart
that had been devoted to her for long
years.
The newly-married pair passed down
the aisl", and We're 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.
rs if to ward off the doom that was
lowering over his head
The next instant two heavy hands
were laid on his shoulders. there was 4
click, rs Of metal swapping, and. before
word could be uttered the affrighted
spectators heheld the aristocratic bride
groom a manaeled prisoner, while the
bride. white aud terror stricken. leaned
upon the arm Of her aged father, him
self scarcely less agitated.
| demand to know what ali this
means" he uttered, in slow. studied
voice. There is some mistake here.
This gentleman. whom you treating 50
shamefully is Lord Mellon
No mistake 1T 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 very pain
ful piece of business to me, as well as
to the rest Of you, but | must do nv
duty. You, madam, may remember
was present when you dropped the
ring Lord Mellon gave you. l found it