Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-11-22

mdiuiId. SIZE whispered. IledSe 1Or-
give me for having kept our engage
ment secret from you-it was only for
few days"
Your engagement? What are YOU
talking about, child? Have you lost
your senses?" said Mrs. Dalton. aghast.
Has he not told you, then?- asked
Bertha, withdrawing her arms and look
ing into her mothers face.
Something in Bertha's blushing. hap
Ply face, the recollection of the manner
In which she had found st. Lawrence
and Bertha together, staggered Mrs.
Dalton; she began to recall her CONVEX
sation with st. Lawrence, and remem-
bered that ne had not mentioned Lena's
name. Still she struggled against con-
victiOn.
But you, Bertha" she said, in
quavering voice, and sinking into the
nearest chair-'you Countess of Alph-
ingtonl 1t is impossible!'
Hush, please, mammal" entreated
Bertha, glancing toward the bed where
Lena lay. Read that-it will tell you
ALL" and she drew st. Lawrence's letter
from her pocket, and placed it in her
mothers hand.
Lena turned her head uneasily and
uttered a low mOan-Bertha sprang to
her side.
MY head!" she said, putting up her
hand.
Lena was really i'll. When morning
came the doctor had to be summoned.
Brain-fever threatened, and the ut
most quiet was declared to be necessary.
So, instead of wedding festivities,
there were a hushed household and
grave and anxious faces.
Lord AlphingtOn and Sir Stephen and
Lady Langley delayed their departure
from town till Lena was pronounced
out of danger. Every attention that
kindness and pity could suggest was
paid to the unfortunate invalid. Per-
hapS to fall i'll was the best thing Lena
could have dOne-it turned peoples
feelings of displeasure into mmisera-
ton.
During the month that followed, the
trial of Sedley and the two LemOnts
came on-fOr Mrs. Lemont did not die,
though her health was permanently inn
paired. Sedley was condemned to penal
servitude for life-a sentence he re-
ceiyed with the logged sullenness he
had evinced ever since his arrest. Mrs.
Sedley, as having acted under her hus-
bands directions, got off, but Pierre
Lemont was sentenced to penal servi-
tude for seven years. He was loud in
expostulatiOns and entreatieS for mercy,
seeming to have expected to escape
punishment by full confession.
Lena Dalton recovered slowly, but
the brightness of her beauty was dim
med. Her fine color was gone, her COM
plexion had assumed a tinge of sallow-
ness; deep dark lines showed them
selves under her eyes, her hair had been
cut off, and it was doubtful whether
she would be able to crownherself with
abundant glossy plaits any more. She
moved about wan and spiritless, the
ghost of her former self.
The doctor recommended change Of
scene and warmer climate for the
winter; and Mrs. Dalton was glad to
get away from the inquiries OF her
"dear friends" 1t was agreed to shut
up Ivy Cottage and proceed to Italy,
taking old Martha with them. Bertha
wished to accompany them, not De-
heying that Lena would recover
StrnngtI2 or tranquility of spirits if left
alone with her mother, who was con-
tinually harassing her with regrets, not
to say reprOacheS. Not only EuStace.
however, but Lord Alphington and the
Langleys, set their faces strenuOuSly
against this arrangement, and Bertha
was obliged to yield.
1t SO happened that the daughter of
the cnrate of the next parish to Alph-
ingtOn was seeking for some ,ccupa-
ton. Kate Medhurst was a great IA
vOrite with Lady Langley: she had often
wished for the girl, who was now four
and-twenty, a more extended experience
of the world, and an opportunity of cul-
tlvatlng the taste for art which she de-
cldedly possessed. A bright idea struck
Lady Langley; Kate MedhurSt should
accompany Mrs. Dalton and Lena to
Rome. She was not only a thoroughly
sensible and intelligent, but lively and
energetic girl, who could not fail to ex-
ercise a beneficial influence over Lena.
This arrangement satisfied all par
ties. Miss MedhurSt was glad to go, on
condition of having her expenses paid
and being treated as one of the family,
and Mrs. Dalton was charmed with the
idea of having some one who, like Ber-
tina, would take all trouble off her
hands.
Bertha was married the day before
Mrs. Dalton left England. At her par
ticular desire the wedding was very
quiet affair; she wished to have no
grand preparation that would recall the
past. On their return to the house after
the ceremony, Lord AlphingtOn placed
the opal ring on the finger of the bride.
The prophecy has come true" he
said; land never has the ring been worn
by one more worthy to be Countess of
Alphington;"
THAT will not be for many, many
years yet, | trust Bertha returned,
touching with her lips the venerable
hand that held hers.
"All i'll Heavens good time. my love-"
said the Earl. But, if it be the will of
Providence, shall be glad to be spared
a while to witness the happiness of my
children"
Mr.. and Mrs. FanCourt, after short
tour, went to stay at Alphington Park
till after Christmas; they then went
nOrthward to another seat belonging to
the Earl, but which was now to be
their own country home till the season
commenced, by which time the house
in Magnus Square was to be ready for
their reception.
Any one wishing for admittance there
would have met the face of an old
friend. The situation of hall-pOrter be-
coming vacant, Perkins, at Mr.. Riggs
request, was promoted to the post. 1t
is perhaps needless to say that he filled
it with much dissatisfaction. He
looked upon Riggs as wonderful man,
and held no grudge against him, but he
had received lesson, and was careful
in the future how he became contiden-
tial over a glass of whisky and water.
The Honorable Mr.. and Mrs. Fan
court had not yet returned to town
when news arrived from Rome. Doug
las had written warm congratulations
both to Eustace and Bertha, and from
subsequent letters they gathered that
he had quite recovered his spirits. Now
he was going to take them by surprise,
he said. He was about to be married.
He had first been attracted to Kate
Medhurst from fancied resemblance
to Bertha, but had soon learned to love
her for herself. lie had been working
steadily during the winter and making
money, and the want of fortune with
his bride would be no draw back; she
was worth her weight in gold her
self. the enthusiastic bridegrOOm-elect
ayerred. Miss MedhurSt would return
to England with Mrs. Dalton and Lena
IN the spring, and he would shortly Toi-
low, when he hoped happy reunion
"w"'ted them 6u.
''HOw GO. 4 ,,,n.'' Bertha exclaimed.
Il think it was the only thing wanting
to make my happiness complete
"HOw jealous | was once EuStace
said, kissing his wife fondly, when |
was afraid the prophecy wouldn't come
true! But now all has turned out well,
for Douglas has found the right woman,
it seems, and my Bertha wears the opal
ring"
THE END.
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