Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-06
BERTHA OALTOH'S TRIUMPH,
THE HISTORY Of AN OPAL RING
CHAPTER VI.

MY young friend Bertha Dalton met
with rather curious adventure lately. -
said Lady Langley, and then she re-
lated the story of the ring, as Bertha
had told it to her. ut seems to be a
remarkable ring too; didn't you say it
had device, Bertha."
Il believe it has" Bertha replied.
There is a fine opal in the center, and
round it smaller gems, the initial letters
OF which make the word ,tides, unless
my imagination has much misled me.
AND do not think the various gems
could have been set at random
ut 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-
lngton, 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 so singular a
manner?" said he.
mo, | am sorry to say have not"
she replied. II wore it constantly in
London, hoping to find its owner; but,
before came down here, Twas persuad-
ed to leave it behind me-"
Would you mind giving me a more
exact description of it?" inquired Lord
Alphlngton. Il do not ask from mere
curiosity"
Bertha complied, not little sur
prlSed at the interest he took in the
subject.
Il have reason to believe this ring, so
singularly lost and found, is one belong
ing to my famiIy,n said Lord Alphing
ton. 1T must be the same; it is scarce
ly possible there can be two alike"
Yours, Lord Alphington! Oh, l am
so glad,' Bertha eXclaimed-"glad that
can restore it, l mean. How very
strange that. when l had almost de-
SPARED of finding the owner, | should
meet him here! [ thought it could not
rightfully belong to the person who lost
"What sort of a person was he?n
Lord Alphington asked, in some ankle
ty apparently.
IAN exceedingly unpleasant, disrep-
utable-looking person. Bertha replied.
Heaven forbid that he should be the
man who has put in claim to be ac-
knowledged as my grandson!" said
Lord Alphington, with a look of pain.
There is no danger of that, l hope"
Bertha returned. 'The person we are
speaking of is too old-about forty 1
should imagine"
"Ah, that is relief at any ratel" said
Lord Alphington. ''My grandson. if
he really proves himself to be so. can
rot be abo~ six-and-twenty. It's just
eight-and twenty years since my un-
fortunate son left England. Lady
Alphington wore that ring as a 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 worthi-
ly 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 l feel convinced"
Bertha listened with deep interest.
1.-The ring must be indeed valuable to
you," she said. Il will send for it at
once"
81 would have begged you to do So"
Lord Alphington observed. There is
another part of your story that strikes
the lady you called upon knows more
about the individual who lost the ring
than she chose to cOnfeSs?"
Il may do her injustice, but I am al
most sure of it, Bertha replied.
Lord Alphington sat for while lost
in thought.
1T is very strange" he said again;
and then, as another idea struck him,
he smiled. "You wore the ring for a
month, did you not say?"
Rather more than month, ;" Bertha
answered. 1T was only the second
week in March when | found it."
Il was smiling 1T the remembrance
of an old doggerel connected with that
ring-a sort of prophecy" Lord Alph-
ington remarked. Let me sect runs
thus
"Who three Tires nine days the ring has on
Shall live to be Countess of Alphington."
'sft is well that those old prophecies
should prove false occasionally" Bertha
said, laughing, 'or we should become
superstitious."
Other friends and other topics now
claimed Lord AlphingtOn's attention,
but before the evening was over he re-
turned to Bertha's side, this time en-
gaging her in conversation upon vari-
Gus subjects. He was charmed by her
unaffected sweetness of manner, her
good sense, and the intelligence and
cultivation of mind she uncOnsciously
displayed; and she in her turn felt her
respect for and admiration of the old
nobleman each moment increase.
"Sir stephen or Lady Langley must
have interested him in me for my dear
fathers sake" she said to herself. But
it was not so. Bertha was often passed
over unnoticed, and probably would
have been so passed over by Lord Alph-
ington, had it not been for the incident
of the ring; but no one came into actu-
al contact with her without feeling the
charm of her manner, and, while Lena
found admirers, Bertha gained friends.
On taking leave later in the evening
he came up to the piano beside which
the two girls were standing-they had
just been singing duet.
Lady Langley has promised me the
pleasure of lunching with me at Alph-
ington on Thursday" he said. 1.-The
Misses Dalton will, l trust, increase
that pleasure by accompanying her."
His glance included Lena as he spoke.
but 1t was Bertha's hand he held, and
Bertha to whom he addressed himself,
and Lena could scarcely conceal her
vexatiop on finding herself invited
merely as matter Of course.
Nor had she found other consolation.
At breakfast-time on the following
morning Sir Stephen Langley asked her
If Size had found an opportunity of set
ting her cap at Mr.. Hartley of Beech
wood, adding that he would recommend
her to do so, as he was man of wealth
and bachelor, though he did not think
pit would be very easy to induce him to
care for anything but his dogs and
horses.
The more credit there would be to
you in achieving the conquest" be
said, with his hearty laugh.
Lena colored and bit her lip. She had
often been annoyed at Sir Stephens
jokes at her expense. II was one thing
to pursue course of tactics. and an
other to have it held up to the merciless
daylight.
my turn viii come" she said to her
self, by way of consolation, land then
| let them laugh If they Will"
Bertha was anxious to dispatch tel.
egram to her mother as early as posi-.
bic, begging her to send the ring: she
was desirous of having it to present to
Lord Alphington on the following day.
| Sir Stephen ordered her to drive in the
dog-cart to the station, whence she
sent her message. 1t was arranged
| that they should then proceed to visit
some celebrated ruins at few miles
| distance, where Lady Langley, Lena
| and Frank Holcroft would meet them
| in the carriage, bringing luncheon with
| them.
On their way to the station Sir Steph-
en- again spoke of his wish to have
Bertha as an inmate of his house.
| sIf Won must have Mrs. Dalton and