The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-02-02
Nistel lanrn1ts.
A Brilliant Adventure.


The time was about n fortnight before
Christmas. There were not many travellers
and had n commandment in the carly tidal
train to myself. NV destination was Paris
NV GRAND TO convey from nv father "a
London ieweller and silversmi.hI to his agent
in that city yery valuable brilliant ring
"The diamonds in it are worth $500 if thev
are worth n penny." nv father had said to
me $50 I hone YOU will take special care OF
the ring, Ned, and neither lose it on the way
nor allow Yourself to be robbed of it." |
smiled little superciliously as my father
spoke. As if it were at all likely that ]
should either lose it or allow it to be stolen
from mel Twas lust turned one and.twenty
and nv father had no right to speak to me
MS if were still a boy.
| had got the ring safe in an inner pocket
of nv waistcoat, as took care to assure N.Y.
self from time to time. | had not seen it
since nv father put it into a little velvet.
lined box. in which it was still shut up -
When | had finished nv first cigar, and had
got through with the morning news, the
Thought struck me that might as well have
another look at the ring. There could be no
harm in that, YOU know. Itook the box out
of its hiding place and opened it, My eyes
were dazzled as | looked. There laid the
darling in its nest of purple velvet. Who
could have resisted the pleasure of taking it
out and trying it on? Certainly not l.
First on one finger and then on another, !
tried it. Had it been made for the third fin.
ger of my right hand, it could not have fitted
me better. 1t looked simply exquisite.
Now | came to think of it, was there OF
could there be safer hiding place for The
ring than nv finger? had only to keep my
glove on and not soul would know any
thing about it, 1t was far safer there than in
nv rocket, In such case to hesitate was
folly. | placed the ring on my finger, and
put the empty box into my pocket AS
was alone, there was no occasion to put my
glove on lust then; SO unused and smoked
and watched the many colored rays of light
| that flashed from the brilliants, and wondered
| what great swel's finger it was destined tc
decorate. How | wished that could call il
mine.
There was no harm in dazzling the eyes O
railway official But | took care to pull OF
nv glove and button it before alighting from
the train, A quarter of an hour later W,
were steaming out of Dover harbor.
There were not more than dozen passen
gers on deck. The day was cold and clear
with lust enough sea to make the voyage un
pleasant for bad sailors. Only two ladie
were visible. One was stout, middle.ageC
person. who was eating and drinking nearl,
all the way across-eVidently an old salt
The other Was-well, simply the most charm
| mo creature had ever SET nv ewes on, Ii
p6int of fact, | could not keep my ewes of
her, | passed her and rcpassed her as
paced the deck from end to end, and ever,
time I passed her looked at her. What love
ly gray eyes What superb yellow hair !
But as for complexion it would need a poe
to describe the wild rose tints. Once O
twice her ewes met mine for lust q moment
md il struck me that they were full of
wistful sadness So far as could Judge, sh
was entirely alone. We were about half wa,
across when, as | passed her for the fiftieti
time she smoke. dWould Monsieur have tn
qoodness TO ask the steward to bring me
little cpn She smoke in French. A
fine song saws. "Her voice was low and sweet.
7 was loo fattered to answer her, I coul
oniv how and grin, and make bolt TO tn
stewards den. OF course took the cogna
to her myself You should have seen hoy
nrettilv She thanked me. She sipped ut il A
canary might do, if that bird were in tn
habit of drinking brandy. II hone tina
Mademoiselle is somewhat reyiyed' | ven
tnred To observe presently
eyes. very much revived. thanks to Mon
sieur But I am not Mademoiselle, AZ
Madame 7 am n widow" She pressed he
handkerchief TO her ewes as she smoke. Ho,
;nterestinc nav how touching was this sin
nle Confession The wistful sorrow in he
ewes was at once accounted for Would tha
il had been my happy lot to comfort her.
|