Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-20
BERTHA DhLTOH'S TRIUMPH,
THE HISTORY Of AN OPAL RING.

"Di6 you think you recognized Ihe
person?" she asked. s
Fancourt started and again flushed.
"IY' he interrox2ted. ''Oh dear no!
merely guessed at random.
ItMv dear how can you talk such nom
sense?n said Mrs. Dalton TO Bertha, in
a tone of rebuke. How could you
suppose Mr.. Fancourt could have recog-
niZed the person before | had told him
what she was likef"
And so the ring is lost againl How
very annoying!" observed fancourt,
looking at the fnger-tips of his gloves
as if he were going to bite them.
LORD Aipnington has given notice
to the police; he is going to employ a
detective to follow the matter up, said
Bertha, fixing ler eyes upon Fancourt's
cOuntenance, n d yet scarcely knowing
why she did so.
She perceived that he WINGED; the
hand that held the hat shook. He rose
from his chair.
"WeI, it is a deucedly yeXatious af-
fair for all parties concerned" he re-
marked; but ! for one have the less to
regret if it has been the means Of intro
ducing me to Mrs. Dalton" he added,
with bow to the elder lady, and an
other glance toward Lena, who had al
so risen. May | hope that as the
grandson of Lord AlphingtOn you
will allow me to repeat my yisitr"
I'VE shall be most happy to see you
at any time" Mrs. Dalton replied gra-
ciously. Bertha, my dear, just ring
the bell"
With reiterated thanks Mr.. Fancourt
took his departure, Sarah proceeding to
open the gate.
How very oddl' Lena exclaimed, as
soon as Mr.. Fancourt's back was turn
ed. "IIow little we thought who it was
we met in the Park last Sunday! |
knew him at once; didn't you, Bertha?'
Yes, answered Bertha, dryly; you
took him for a pOdcber, you know"
''lIe was 50 shabbily dressed then,
and started mp SO suddenly before one,
one didn't know what to Think" Lena
observed.
ITS most fortunate circumstance,
his coming to inquire about that ring, F."
said Mrs. Dalton really quite proYi-
Dental one may say. One can see that
he already admires Lena excessively"
II don't like him" confessed Bertha.
"IIe's not a gentleman-andI can't help
fancyIng there IS something wrong
about him"
Really, Bertha, you are too trying
with your absurd ideas" said Mrs. Dali
ton I'm sure heIl be a very good
looking young man as soon as he gets
at ease, and all that. And, if the law
ycrs say its all right, and Lord Alph-
ington owns him, what can there be
wrong | should like to know"
'Bertha's jealous" iutCrpOsed Lena,
laughing. own it now, Bertha! You
don't want me to be Countess Of Alph-
ingtOn. You foolish chit, don't you see
what a chance there is2 I'm not going
to lose it, can tell you"
"Oh, Lena, take careI" Bertha cried.
you cannot think that the man who
has jul left us would be an agreeable
person to be associated with, were he
twenty times an Earl's SOM"
Pm sure | don't know where you
have picked up your silly notions, Ber-
tia, said Mrs. Dalton, COmplainingly.
lit was from your poor father, | sup
pOso-nOt from me, I'm sure. 1t would
De UngralCiul to Providence to throw
away such a chance. Thank goodness,
Lena las more common sense. AS for
you, you viii be a drudge to the end Of
your days, unless our precious Lena,
when she has gained the position she
WAS born for, does not allow us to want
for anything" The picture was affect
ing, and Mrs. Dalton drew her handker-
chief across her eyes.
There's one thing must be-. Ber-
tina, she went on; land that is, that
when Mr.. Fancourt is here you will not
Disgrace us by making any reference to
your having to go out to teach"
Il believe Bertha is quite capable Of
that said Lena, pettishly; she JOld
Sir Stephen Langley all about it, l
know"
1t was such remarks rs these that
occasionally made Bertha's rebclIious
spirit rise. She controlled herself, how
ever, and merely said:
Il do not think it likely shall ever
have much to say to Mr. FancOurt |
think him perfectly od,ous."
Any reioincr that might have been
made was cut short by The arrival of
another visitor.