The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-14
CHAPTER VI

and with ii the expected guests. Lady
Langley was charming hostess. Every
one felt al ease, and every one talked.
At one time the conversation happened
10 turn on remarkable accidents, or in
Cid0atS, most of those present having
some experience TO record.
"My young friend Bertha Dalton met
with rather curious adventure lately. y
said Lady Langley, and then she re-
lated the story OF the ring. as Bertha
had told it to her. At seems to be a
remarkable ring too; didn't YOU say it
had device, BERTHA
II believe it has Bertha replied.
There Is line opal in the center and
round 1t smaller gems, the initial letters
Of which make the word tisS. unless
my Imagination has much misled me.
And do not think the various gems
could have been set at random
1t Is very curious, said Lord Alph-
ington
During the remainder of the time
they sat at table he appeared somewhat
absent in mind, and spoke but little,
except when personally addressed.
After the gentlemen had joined the
ladies in the draWing-room. Lord Alph-
iugt0n taking cup Of coffee from the
tray that was being handed round,
crossed the room to where Bertha was
sitting and placed himself beside her.
May ! ask if you have the ring with
you that you found in 50 singular a
manner" said he.
NO, | am sorry to say | have not, )"
she replied. 81 wore it constantly in
London, hoping to find its owner; but,
before came down here, was persuad-
ed to leave il behind me-"
would you mind giving me more
exact description Of it, inquired Lord
Alphington. II do not ask from mere
curiosity
Bertha complied, not a little sur
prised at the interest he took in the
subject
Il have reason to believe this ring, so
singularly lostand found, is one belong
ing to my family said Lord Alphing-
ton. 1T must be the same; it Is scarce
~ possible there can be two alike"
"Yours, Lord AlphinCton' Oh, am
so glad Bertha eXclaimed-"glad that
can restore it. | mean. How very
strange that, when | had almost de-
SPARED of finding the owner, | should
meet him here, / thought it could not
rightfully belong to the person who lost
it"
"What sort Of a person was he?"
Lord Alphngton asked, in some ankle
ty apparently:
An exceedingly unpleasant, disrep-
utable-loOking person Bertha replied.
Heaven forbid that he should be the
man who has put in a claim to be ac-
knowIedged as my grandson said
Lord Alphington, with look Of pain.
There is no danger Of that, hope, y
Bertha returned. The person we are
speaking of is too old-abOut forty |
should imagine"
"Ah, that is a relief at any rate" said
Lord AlphingtOn. My grandson, If
he really proves himself to be so, can
not be above siX-and-twenty. 1t is just
| Extraordinarily years since my UNI
| fortunate son left England. Lady
Alphington wore that ring as keeper
according to the tradition Of our family
for many generations. The last time
| she ever saw our younger son she drew
| it from her finger and placed it on his,
| pledging him by this act to live WORTH
| " of it and of her in the future. 1t is
| strange how it could have got into other
hands; he would sooner have parted
with his life than have given it away
of that feel convinced
Bertha listened with deep interest.
The ring must be indeed valuable to
you, " she said 81 will send for it at
once
II would have begged you to do So
Lord Alphington observed. There is
another part Of your story that strikes
me, he continued. you imagine that
the lady you called upon knows more
about the individual who lost the ring
than she chose to confessy"