The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1883-10-07
BERT TIA DALTON TRIUMPH.
THE HISTORY OF AN OPAL RING.

tinued, turning to Bertha, THAT we
know nothing Of the person for whom
you inquire. Perhaps he rung at this
door by mistake, and then passed on. =
Was the article lost of any great value?'
Perhaps valuable enough to the per-
son who lost it to be veXed by the loss,
Bertha replied She was determined
not to enter into particulars.
She took leave, and walked away slow
ly, after intimating TO Mrs. Lemont
that her address was on the card she
had left
The wind had conquered; the clouds
of the night before had cleared away,
and faint sun shone through misty
atmosphere; nor was it so cold as it had
been. Bertha Dalton had music lesson
to give; and this over. on her way home
she called at the place where the omni-
buses stopped, to ask if any inquiry had
been made for missing article. Re-
ceving an answer III the negative, she
left her card and address there also, and
then felt she could do no more than
watch a certain advertisement column
of the Times.
Judging from the appearance Of the
man in the omnibus, and the mystery
which she felt sure existed respecting
his association with the lady she had
Just seen-a mystery that probably eX-
tended itself to his life generally-She
thought it more than doubtful whether
he would come forward to claim the
ring. SO she determined TO wear ii with
a vague idea that some day or other she
might meet with its rightful owner.
When She reached home Lena hurried
TO meet her. letter in her hand.
IF you had waited only ten minutes
longer this morning, you would have
had pleasant surprise, " she said
And my pupils an unpleasant one in
being kept waiting" Bertha rejoined.
What has happened? Who has writ
temp
Dear old Lady Langley" replied
Lena; sic writes TO invite us for
week at the end Of April You viii
go:'
Bertha's countenance frightened.
How kind Of her to think Of u.s. she
said. Yes. | think ! can 20. Miss
Beaumont gives fortnight then. and |
think can get my other pupils To let
me take a holiday at the same time IN
stead Of at Easter 1t will be delight
full"
They must know lot of nice peo-
pie about there now, :" remarked Lena,
following her sister upstairs; who
knows what may come OF it,
~ pleasant change will come Of it,
at any rate; don't look beyond that"
said Bertha, smiling.
II suppose YOU DON'T Lena allowed,
sitting down beside her sisters DRESSING
table, while the latter proceeded to
dress for the afternoon. You are
such quiet little mouse. you don't eX-
pect to achieve greatness; now | do
But here one sees no one"
II wish you would make haste and
achieve it, said Bertha, half laughing
you have been talking about it for a
long time.
Only let me have the opportunity"
returned Lena, glancing in the cheval-
glass. What have YOU done about the
ring" she asked, as Bertha l-placed it
upon her finger after washing her
hands.
Bertha told her, and added-"And
now am going to wear it till it is
owned"
"Yon might as well let me have it, it
is Just the sort Of thing | should like, y
said Lena.
NO; ! 60 about more than you do,
Lena, Bertha opposed; and after all
it may be claimed. What else does
Lady Langley say in her letter."
"She speaks Of liking their new stu
alton more and more; she says that
they have several pleasant nejghbOrs,
and that their estate adjolns Alphing-
ton Park"
Perhaps you intend to set your cap
at old Lord Alphington,' said Bertha,
again smiling he is a widOwer-no
above seventy, probably and immense
~ rich, they say
II wonder if that story is true" said
Lena. Struggling her shoulders.
What story asked Bertha, as she
arranged the ruff Of the plain black
SIX she generally wore in the after
noon.
Don't you remember? It was said
that his second son disgraced himself
IN some way, and had TO 90 TO America.
Then Lord Chaliont, the eldest son.
died. and his children too, and now
there IS no heir 10 the title and estate "
\ remember hearing something Of
II. said Bertha Cheer up. Lena:
there is all the better chance for YOU. -
You are always laughing at me.
Bertha, but you Will see some day that
| shall captivate some one better worth
having than any one we have met vet"
said Lena, pouting.
You vain creature returned Ber-
tina, laughingly. "Well. all | can say
is that wealth and title are not to be
picked up every day - and you are
Internationally, Lena
why remind me of my misfortuneY'
Lena demanded, in veXed tone.
Il only wish you could meet witt
someone you could thoroughly like anC
respect; that would be better than al
NE titles in the world said Bertha
speaking in more serious tone.
NOT to me- cried Lena "lf oil,
lord Alphington were to make me al
oner, and promise a handsome settle
ment, would marry him tomorrow.
"Oh, hush, Lena,h said Bertha. "
/. can bear to hear you say such things
Come now, ! am quite rcady--let MS L
! Gown To mammal" and she ran down
stairs as if to escape from hearing ser
: tlments that Jared upon her pure an
. | npllnplIlu ~ al