Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-08-24
BERTHA DALTON's TRIUMPH
The HISTORY or An OPAL RING.



twas a soaking wet afternoon, with
q cutting March wind. II seemed as II
winter and spring had united all their
most disagreeable qualities. The sky
was covered with one continuous gray
cloud, the streets were muddy, the rain
dripped from the doorways and the
oyer-hanging cornices Of the shop
fronts, making pools In the inequalities
Of the flags. The policemen looked
drenched notwithstanding their water
proof capes, and from each umbrella
carried BY the few pedestrians whom
uecessity compelled TO be abroad ran
small cascades. 1t was q steady, deter
mined rain, which might to all appear
ance continue for week without stop
ping.
A Young lady turned at the corner Of
q street, and held up her finger as she
saw an omnibus approaching. The
driver observed the signal and drew up,
There was Just room for one. The
young lady took the vacant seat next
the door, and the omnibus ratified on.
She was q slight, fair girl Of about
two-and-twenty years of age, with soft,
hazel eyes and light brown hair. There
was nothing very striking about her
face; her complexion was pale, and her
features, though delicate, were not suf-
ficiently regular to be called handsome.
There was downward curve about
the lips. and q slight contraction about
the well-developed brow, which betok-
ened sadness, or perhaps WEAKNESS, and
her head dropped slightly, as flower
does when the dew is heavy upon it.
She was plainly dressed in dark blue
serge and black hat, and had wrapped
about her large gray woolen shawl
with heavy fringe.
She glanced listlessly at her fellow
passengers, her eyes resting at last up
on the person who sat opposite to her.,
He was an undersized man, with
swarthy complexion, and dark hair that
twisted itself into little corkscrew ring
lets; his nose was narrow and aqui-
line, his thin and wide lips were never
still for an instant, his eyes were small
and black. and placed too near together.
He had neither beard nor m0ustache,
though he could scarcely be called clean
shaved, as the black stubble on his face
appeared Of several days growth. He
wore brown great-coat with fur coli
lar, but the fur was considerably rub
bed about the neck, and one Of the but
tons of the coat hung loose. His black
gloves were out at the fingers, and his
hat, too, had seen better days. He pre-
sented altogether ''seedy" appearance,
but affected to carry it off jauntily.
The young lady, much given to spec
ulation as to the character of those
whom chance threw in her way, set him
down as an adventurer, not 0ver-scrup-
ulous probably, and began to wonder
what errand he was then bent upon
moraliZing at the same time upon the
little benefit such people appear to de-
rive from their schemes, which must
often cost them more time and labor
than earning money in an honest way.
Presently one Of the little mans
hands dived into a side-pocket. and
drew out a pOcket-book; then it dived
again for pencil; and this proving to
be without o point, he brought out a
knife to cut it, first pulling of his
gloves. The young lady then noticed
that he wore what appeared to be very
valuable antique ring upon the little
finger OF his not over-clean brown hand.
The central stone of the ring was q
splendid opal, several other small gems
being set round it. 1t was remark
able ring -0ne which, having been once
seen, could easily be recognized again.
The little man. after looking over his
pocket-b00k, took out paper, and
made memorandum; and then, glanc-
ing through the do0r-window OF the
omnibus, he began hastily to put up his
book. While clasping it, his umbrella,
which he had held between his knees,
fell forward against the young lady's
\ 'Pardon,n he said, in a foreign ac-
cent, stretching out his hand for the
umbrella.
] But it had caught in the heavy fringe
of the shawl. The young lady was GO
ing to extricate it, but the man was too
quick for her-his fingers must haves
been accustomed to nimble work. He
hailed the conductor, and, snatching up
his gloves, got out. The young lady
had the curiosity to look after him, to
see where he was going. He did not
put up his umbrella but ran quickly
across the street, and rang the bell at
the private door of large china and
glass shop. She did not discover
whether he was admitted, for the omni-
bus rolled on and she lost sight Of him..
1t grew rapidly dark; the rain came
down as fast as ever as the omnibus
stopped at its destination and the
young lady descended. She had then a
walk Of about ten minutes. She hur-
ried along, the wind blowing in gusts
which made it difficult for her to shelter
herself under her umbrella. After con-
Clnuing for hundred yards along the
road, she turned down "a narrow lane
leading to news. A little way further
on door was let into wall. Here she
stopped, and, drawing out a latch-key,
opened the door, and crossed o small
paved courtyard. From this another
door, opening with a latch, led to d pas
sage, on one side Of which was a kitch- 4
en-, at the end a staircase, and opposite
the kitchen another door, through
which the young lady entered.
Here the scene suddenly changed. A
pleasant home-picture presented itself. /
forming acontrast to the wet, gloomy /
evening out of doors. A cheerful fire
blazed In the CRATE. Crimson curtains
were drawn across the one window. and
q lamp on the table dimly showed some
fine engravings on the walls, and more |
vividly the damask table-cloth and the
tray with its pretty china while the
kettle singing on the fire, a loaf on a
wooden platter, cold ham, and q glass
plate of preserve beside the butter-dish
freshment.
Before the tea-tray sat fair, comely
dame OF about fiverand forty, her cheeks |
still blooming, her hair glossy and lux
nriant; and on a stool before the fire
? younger lady had placed herself, one
not far removed from girlhood.
You are late, BERTHA y said the fair
matron, as the newcomer entered.
Yes. mamma-late and wet and
tired, Bertha returned. ~ win lust,
go and take of my things, and then / |
VIII tel you what I have been doing.p