Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-27

Il believe your head runs upon opals,"
laughed Lena.
did not hear something about an
antique opal ring that came into your
possession, and then disappeared again
IN an unaccOuntable Manner said st.
Lawrence, addressing himself to Lena.
1T is strange how reports fly about
Does rumOr this time tell the truth"
The story of that tiresome ring is
Bertha's, " answered Lena. Il am sure
we have heard enough of it. But Ber-
tina, dare say, will tell you about it if
you wish. / really have nothing to do
with it."
st. Lawrence turned inquiringN to
Bertha. who related all she knew OF the
circumstances her adventure IN the
omnibus. her call upon Mrs. Lemont,
and the subsequent loss of the ring dur
ing her absence, when she had found
Lord Arlington to be its owner.
you think. from the appearance of
the man who lost the ring. that he could
not have been the legitimate Owner?"
Intercepted St. Lawrence. what
was it about him that made you think
so?"
Bertha described the man, and st
Lawrence remained for a few minute
as if lost in thought and then rouSin
himself he thanked Bertha for her stor'.
at is altogether a singular incident"
he said: Il shall feel much interested in
knowing if anything further CONS of
it."
II will tell you if anything more is
ever heard" promised Berth /; 1.-The
story certainly ought to have a cOnclu-
siOn-especially with the prop necy at
tached to it.
What is that?" asked st. awrence.
"Only nonsense" interpC 5ed Mrs.
Dalton. II wonder that YOU repeat
such stuff, Bertha, when yOT know how
impossible it is that it can ever be full
filled in your case"
1T is Just because it is so absurdly
impossible that do repeat it" Bertha
rejOined, smilingly.
Let me hear this absurd impossible
ty." st. Lawrence requested.
Lord Alphington is my authority"
said Bertha. He told me of an old
tradition in the family that whoever
wore the ring for three times seven
days-I think that was the charmed
number-would be Countess of AIph-
ingtOn. | suppose the inventor of the
prophecy believed the ring TO be too
small for any but a lady's hand. Won
der how long that little man in the ON
nibuS wore it on his bird S-claWSke fin
ger?"
The man seems to have impressed
you" observed st. Lawrence, looking
at Bertha with an expression of great
interest. as If he began to see her in
new light. "WOuld you recognize him
if you saw him again?"
Immediately" Bertha returned. 81
should know him by his restless black
eyes, too near together, his thin, aqui-
line nose, his thin lips, always in mo-
ton, and his dark hair in little cork
screw curlS.n
Its quite ridiculous how you notice
peoples faces, Bertha" put in Mrs.
Dalton. Il never do. And yet you are
not what ! call obseryant. You didn't
see that Mrs. Maxwell had on a new
bonnet at church last Sunday
Il suppose we don't all observe the
same things, mamma" Bertha said;
and smile played round the corners of
her lips
st. Lawrence was plunged in thought
for few minutes, and then he again
regarded Bertha with the same express
sion of deep interest.
Did you wear that ring the approved
number of dayS?" he asked, recurring
to the prophecy.
Il wore it rather more than a month;
pO OtlBOOt IliG CIltil III Ndo DlOhClls
she replied.
II think we are never to hear the last
of that ring said Mrs. Dalton. Tho
first time Mr.. Fancourt called upon us
his visit was about that ring"
Mr.. Fancourtu' st. Lawrence eX-
claimed, sharp ring in his voice.
Lord AiphngtOn grandson, Mrs.
Dalton cXplained-"they young man who
has just been proved heir to the earl
dom. It is quite a romantic story. OF
course we shall be introduced to him
when we go to stay with our friends,
Sir Stephen and Lady Langley, at the
Larches-they are neighbOrs of Lord
AlphingtOn's. But he called to inquire
about the ring"
st. Lawrence glanced quickly first at
Bertha then at Lena. Bertha had evil
IDENTIFY heard FancOurt's name men
toned with perfect indifference. Lena
cast down her eyes with a conscious
look, as she felt st. Lawrence's eyes
bent upon her. She began to replace
the working materials she had been en-
gagged upon in the dainty little basket,
as if to conceal her embarrassment.
st. Lawrence lip curled. The slight
expression of contempt she did not
see; nor, if she had noticed it, would
she have interpreted it Alright. Her
vanity would not permit her to imagine
that any uuengaged man she met might
not become her adorer. Feeling as she
did the power of st. Lawrence'S noble
bearing and courteous manner might
exert over her, in addition to the
straightforward honesty that shone
from his clear gray eyes, and the refine
ment and mental cultivation that made
itself evident in the meditation of his
Unian Chn r1NnrDlNy holanai1p fha
question as to whether she would allow
him to fall in love with her or not.
Conversation returned to indifferent
topics. The long spring twilight closed
III, and Mrs. Dalton rang for the lamp.
st. Lawrence soon rose to go.
Il have large picture on my easel L
shall be happy to show you, if you and
your daughters would think it worth
while to take the trouble of visiting my
studio" he said as he shook hands with
Mrs. Dalton.
Mrs. Dalton did not care very much
about the pictures. but she was always
glad of an excuse for going out, glad of
anything for a change; she therefore
graciously signitied that she would be
happy to pay him visit with her elder
daughter. My younger daughter is
much engaged she added
Bertha'S CCuntenance fell, something
of the old weary look returned-and
this was not lost upon st. Lawrence.
The occurrences of the evening had
given him much to think of and specu-
late upon. He sat up late. throwing
open his window, and gazing up at the
strip of sky that the view from it per-
mitted him to see. He might have
been an aStrologer seeking to read the
future in the stars. While the smoke
from his cigar assembled into the still
night air, he pOndered much over what
he had seen and heard.
Mingled with many anxious consider
atiOnS as to his own fortunes were
thoughts of those whom he had Just
left. There seemed to him a great dis
crepancy. The Dalt0ns' house was
small, but there were signs of elegant
tastes not ungratitied. Mrs. Dalton and
the elder daughter were dressed fash
ionably. in a style thst necessarily en-
tailed no small outlay The latter, too,
INDUCED i'm the lan~u;d. i.d0lant airs
" q my lady. she mad ceased 70 charm
him, in spite of her beauty. During
that evening he had read her character
tolerably co, .eCt, and it certainly uld
not inspire him with any warm regard.
How was it. he asked himself, that the
younger sister was compelled to work,
and to work hard, apparently? How
was it there was such a marked differ
ence in her appearance? He felt inter-
ested in her-foT Douglass sake, he
told himSelt-and was inclined to resent
in her behalf the distinction made.
"She is sweet and SVmpathetiC. as
4 I