The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-14
BERTHA OAIT0A'S TRIUMPH,
TIE HISTORY OF An OPAL RING.

Mrs. Da'tun'S income ought to have
SuGircd. bat Mrs. Dalton could not do
with tie one good old servant who had
ACCOMPANIED them from Plymouth.
She found il absolutely necessary 10
have parlor-maid. Then il WAS eS.
sential that Lena should be Stylshiy
and hetomngy dressed, and, as Lena
could not 90 out by herself, she must
also be well dressed to accompany her
She must subscribe 10 Nude ;, because
she would he bored 10 death now that
thew saw so little company, unless she
had al the new novels; and SubScTlp-
ton to the Botanical Gardens was also
advisable. where she and Lena could
walk at pleasure. Al these items, and
many more. such as her two glasses of
good sherry daily. and her cream for
coffee and tea. were nothing, size ar
gued; but altogether they amounted TO
Something: and, to Mrs. Daton's alarm,
she found. Notwithstanding their being
in mourning, that her expenses during
the first year of her widoWhood had eX-
ceeded her income.
There was nothing they could re-
trench in-ahsolutely nothing, she said
to Lena-and il was then bright idea
struck her.
Bertha was a good musician; she
played brilliantly on the piano, sung
well. and as her father had never al
lowed her to acquire any accomplish
ment in merely pcrfunctory manner,
she had also considerable knowledge of
counterpart. Bertha should teach
musiC--So Mrs. Dalton determined. She
might very well add a hundred a year
to their income. Half of that would
pay Lena's dresSmakers bill, and with
the remainder they could 20 10 the sea-
side somewhere for few weeks in the
summer II was SO very unpleasant 10
remain in London while every one was
away, and then have to say, 1--WE have
been nowhere"
Thus Mrs. Dalton reasoned, and forth
with she informed Bertha of her de-
cision. Bertha was a little startled at
first; she was not quite sure that her
father would have approved OF that
kind of life for her. But, always ready
to do her best, never shrinking from
what was placed before her as a duty.
enabled through lady who had large
school at the West End, TO obtain for
her immediate employment. Other pu-
pills presented themselves; and Ber-
tha's time was soon so fully occupied
that she had little leisure for her own
pursuits, and very little for relaxation
After a time she could not help Sug-
costing that Lena might as well take a
few of the lessons that were pressing
rather too heavily upon her; but this
proposal was met by such a storm OF
angry rcproaChes that she never again
attempted any eXpostJlation. but pa
tiently accepted her lot as it had been
laid out for her,
Lena must marry well. and her beau
ty must not be endangered by exposure
to sun and rain" Mrs. Dalton declared.
"while, when her mothers pension
ceased. and her income from other
sources came to he divided. Bertha
would not find she had any too much,
and il was better she should accuStom
herself to work for her own livelihood
Bertha made no demur TO the last
part of the argument hut still she
failed TO see why the difference between
Lena and herself should he taken so
completely for granted, or how some
employment of Lena's time would in
tertere with the great object upon
| which her mother and sister had set
their hearts.
1t was this that Bertha felt the hard
est to bear She could not contemplate
these matrimonial speculations without
a wound to that wOmanly pride and
sensitive deliCacy to which the teach.
ings of her excellent father had added
depth and strength. Like other young
girls, Bertha had her own vision of a
future, but, If she thought Of marriage
II was as holy state, not to be enterS
INTO excepting from the strongest and
truest love, She would sooner have
toiled on to the end Of her days than
have made commodity of herself
waiting for the highest bidder. Bertha
had learned to keep silence, however
TO avoid wrangIing, only now and ther
protesting gently, or playfully, wher
she found that she could safely put ii
word.
Sir Stephen Langley, while holding
post at Plymouth, had become intimate
with Captain Dalton, whom he thor
oughly liked and esteemed. He wa
godfather to Bertha and always ken
up a warm interest in the family. tn
worthy knight was now an old man
and had retired from public life TO z,
estate he had lately bought.
he Larches, though a handsom
modern house, standing in the midst o
extensive grounds, needed many atera
, tons before II even approached 81
Stephens idea of comfort, but he hap
been principally led TO the purchase b
us proximity TO Alphington Park. Tn
: late Countess and Lady Langley ha
/. peen dear friends, and il was tbroug
d Lord Alphington's oiten-eX pressed dc
I lfe that the Langley's became hi
b ,eighbors.
/; AS usual, the greatest attention la
!; Deen paid TO Lenas wardrobe "Ther
! vas no knowing whom they migl
u meet" said Mrs. Dalton. The proceed
y u Bertha's lessons for the term lust @,
9 bred were added to what she herse
u .ould spare, and ont of this united su,
Q Iena had new silk dress, rs well as
,. )retty morning costume and a fashion
d lble hat. Mrs. Dalton brought ont
o gray silk that she had worn before 81
9 became q widow. With little alter
u ion this would do capitally for Berth
ME averred, thinking herself very gel
,rOus when she added au old black vp