Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1882-09-14

ing nair. Dy Sir feItr lAly.
Underneath the PICTURES, here and
there. stood massive tables, and heavy
carved chairs covered with brocade OF
needlework traced by the fair hands
probably OF some OF these pictured
danes. The length Of this gallery
formed . charming promenade, and had
been q fayorite resort OF many genera
lions Of Fancouffs Here state secrets
had been discussed and political move
ments determined on. Here loye-stories
had been whispered and fond fancies
woven, and hearts had throbbed that
had long ago crumbled into dust; and
here children had raced In their glee
who had since grown old and gray, and
had passed away, leaving another gen.
Grafton to make the old halls resound
with song and laughter. ~.
Lord Alphington appeared in Won
derfully good spirits; he laughed at Sir
Stephens jokes, and entered with in
terest into his description OF proposed
vice and suggestions. When they went
into the gallery. he took an opportunity
of drawing Bertha aside: he had no
ticed that during luncheon she had
looked grave, rs If something troubled
her. qa7 Is 10 9a
"You are not looking well, he said,
In his kind manner, as they stood to-
gether in the recess Of one Of the win
-dows. "Do you feel tiredY Would you
rather rest?n D,
"Oh, no; am not at all tired, thank
you," said Bertha; ''but have had bad
news. l am grieved to say that the
ring is lost again-stolen, as it seems.n
Her lips quivered as she spoke; she
found it difficult to keep back tears; she
felt altogether SO yeEce and disap-
pointed. e ~. II
Lost againl" exclaimed Lord Alph-
ington in surprise. "How is that2"
Bertha drew her mothers letter from
her pocket. 1t was written, as were all
| Mrs. Dalton's letters, without much Sc
| quence as to the order of events, and
without single stop from beginning to
end; moreover. it was penned in an
| illegible pointed hand, and any circum-
stance she had to relate called forth re-
| fiections of which no one else could see
| the relevancy. In order therefore to
| give Lord AlphingtOn clear notion of
| what had occurred, as far as she could
understand it herself, Bertha had to
| pick out bits of her mothers letter here
and there and put them together.
1t seemed that, on the very morning
| Bertha had sent the telegram to request
| that the ring should be forwarded, an
| elderly widow lady had called on Mrs.
Dalton to inquire about the character
| of a servant. 1t appeared-so Bertha
| made out-that her mother and the
strange lady had gone on talking, and
| that their conversation had turned up
| on rings. At any rate, Mrs. Dalton
| told her visitor of Bertha'S adventure,
| and showed her the opal ring, taking it
| out of its case for that purpose. The
lady admired it, and commented upon
| it, and then gave it back to Mrs. Dal-
| ton, who restored it to its caSe-of this
she was quite certain. When Bertha's
telegram arrived, she went to the ring
case to take the ring out, but it was
gone. She had searched everywhere
for it, but in vain.
1t was impossible it could have been
| stolen, Mrs. Dalton wrote, because she
had never left the room; she had never
even turned her back, except for mo-
| ment, when she went to side-table to
write an address. Besides, the stranger
was quite well-dressed, lady-like
woman that it was quite out of the
| question to suspect her of having taken
| it, even if she could have had the OPP
| pOrtunity. Mrs. Dalton expressed
| much regret, but of course she was not
to blame-when had she ever been
otherwise than model of wisdom and
self-sacrifcing goodness, in her own
opinion?o
't"And now what is to be done?" cried
| Bertha, with a little sob. "Oh, | am
so sorryl'
Lady Langley, perceiving Bertha's
| distress, came up to where she was
standing. ss
II suppose you have been telling Of
the loss of the ring" she said. "Itis a
provoking circumstances; but don't let
| her take it too much to heart y she add
ed, turning to Lord Alphington.
| "Pray don't do that, my dear young
lady," be requested; "there is no need
I don't pretend to say that the loss Of
the relic is not disappointment to me,
but it is of less consequence than il
might have been. have no doubt
whatever that the person who called
upon Mrs. Dalton stole it, he con.
tinud, turning to Lady Langley; land
as little doubt that the object in gain
ing possession of it was not its mere
m0ney-value. This belief gives much
more Importance in my mind to the
robbery
Il had not thought, of that; but il
certainly strikes me SO now you men,
| tion it, said Lady Langley. You will
take q, some steps 70 trace it, will you
.sThat I certainly shall, 2 Lord Alph
ingtou replied. ISL shall give notice, to
the police at once, and have detective
set, to work. There is altogether q
mystery about it," s.t.i 6ay- VI
',So i seems to me-" returned Lady
/ Langley. ga ss n, sss
! "Xs 60 the more important case, I am
happy to say all doubts are cleared
away announced Lord Alphington.
i lit received letter from my solicitors p
| Bertha looked up with inquiring eyes.
i, "You have received satisfactory in
| telligeiice then?" interrpgated Lady
laY Unanswered Lord Alphington!
sThe young man calling himself Sed-
ley has laid his papers before Thompson
i 81 Cratchit. who assure me they are all
i in order. There is no, o,l0nger a question
that this Sedley is the legitimate son Of
my, sonsq The only thing missing that
ought to have been in the box he hand.
ed over to the solicitors is this ring,
Fortunately, it was not necessary fol
prOOfsn 6f4 ssiialfg8ff .Bd! I,MS
4 "Oh, / am SO glad,Y cried Bertha, a
flush rising to her cheeks as she felt heI
mind more at ease. 5sss n Nj n gSa,I a4s
\ ST most sincerely congratulate you.'
said Lady Langley. 31eA,ga. d I, Il.s,s,
I Thanks You may indeed do 50, 4 10;