Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-08-23

eyebrows, were several shades darker
than her golden hair. Her skin was
wax-hke in its delicacy. relieved by the
rich carnation of the cheeks and lips.
Her figure, of rather above the middle
height was slight, though well rounded,
and her movements displayed an indo-
lent grace which harmonized with the
calm, Unconditional expression of the
lovely face.
at is certainly a valuable ring" OBJ
served Mrs. Dalton as Bertha took her
seat at the table.
81 wish it were mine said Madeline,
or Lena, as she was always called; and
again she placed the jewel on her fin
ger, looking admiringlv at the fair hand
thus adorned.
but it isn't yours" opposed Bertha.
''To-morrow as soon as [ leave Mrs.
FACETS, l will 90 to the house [ saw the
man stop at, and make enquiries. How
glad | am l happened to notice"
Hunger had first to be appeased, and
then she examined the ring infinitely.
Round the opal that had first attracted
her attention were five small stones
forming a sort o. horseshoe, and below
was tiny gold heart. The setting was
of exquisite workmanship, and proba-
bly, from the style, dated back two CEN
turtles. 1t was no doubt an old family
relic.
Il think these gems must be intend
ed for some word, said Bertha. They
must be, because they ara so curiOusly
mixed; see, this second one is bit Of
jasper only. The first is opal, then
come jasper, diamond, emerald, and sap
phire."
"O-J-D-E-s," spelled Lena - "that's
nonsense"
Stop" returned Bertha, isn't the
opal sometimes called fiery Stone
And the il might stand for II l have
it-F-I-D-E-s, .fdeS'-there is no doubt
of it. I dare say it has been betroth-
al ring"
II wish you would get on with your
tea, girls, a." observed Mrs. Dalton. 1.-The
ring is both beautiful and curious, but
it isn't much to US. 1t is sure to be
claimed"
81 hope so, mamma" said Bertha;
''though I must confess, from the gen.
eral appearance of the little man in the
omnibus, L should much doubt whether
it came honestly into his possession"
''How should you know that, Ber-
thai" inquired Mrs. Dalton.
"Of course | don't know, mamma"
replied Bertha. ut is only my sur
mise"
Tea being finished, Mrs. Dalton put
away the sugar and preserve in the
heavy, Old-fashiOned sIdebOard, and
rang for the servant to clear away.
Bertha went to her wOTk-bOX and, TAX
ing out small piece of silver-paper,
she wrapped the ring III 1t, and placed 1t
in her purse.
'Stay there till tomorrow, when I
hope your owner will be found" she
said, and then she brought out her
writing-desk-She had some exercises
in harmony to correct for her pupils.
Lena also rose for her work. AS she
did so it might be seen that she had a
trailing skirt of dark blue silk under
her well-titting black velvet tunic. AS
Sara took away the white cloth, Lena
placed on the crimson table-cOver a
dainty little work-basket containing
some pOint-laCe work similar to the col
lar and cuffs she Lad on.
81 wish you would make room for me
on that side of the table, Lena-I am so
cold" Bertha said, with Shiver, as
she stood with the desk in her hand.
II am cold, too" Lena returned, as
she edged away little.
"lIaVe you been out to-day" Bertha
asked, as she seated herself in the space
left for her.
''Out! No, l should think not, on
such wet day as it has been" was the
reply.
1T was no wetter for you than for
me, y observed Bertha.
You forget the difference, Bertha"
put in Mrs. Dalton, as she took up the
magazine she had been reading while
waiting tea. "You know | could not
allow Lena to go out by hcrSelf-and |
1nnId not ont i'm tho ynt -
Bertha understood what her mother
meant by 1.-The difference" Lena was
Bertha's senior by sixteen months, and
she could not reCOlleCt the time when it
had not been impressed upon her that
Lena was beauty, while she had moth
ing to boast of in the way of good
looks. Sometimes, in these latter days,
Bertha wondered, if her father had
lived, and they had been little better
Off, she being thus released from the
necessity of working so hard, whether
she might not have been brighter and
fairer. Surely it was no wonder if her
cheeks were sometimes pale and her
eyes heavy; and twas hard to be found
fault with for want of yiYaCity when
she often felt so weary.
Bertha, however, both by tCmpera-
ment and education, was inclined to
make the best of things. 1t was only
when she felt Ovcr-tired and depressed
that her case seemed hard; and then it
occurred to her that her elder sister
might share her labors. In the general
way she was content. She enjoyed her
home when she returned to it
after her days work, and though their
acquaintance was not large they had
a few agreeable friends in whose society
she was happy. Then there were al
ways holidays to look forward to. No,
Bertha Dalton was not unhappy; she
had the pleasant consciousness of duty
and the cnnW that Lena often
complained of was to her unknown.
She was too imaginative not to suffer
from occasional fits of depression; but
she shook them off cOurageOusly, and
went on her way in full confidence that
the path which seemed marked out for
her was so ordered by Providence, and
must consequently be the right one for
her to pursue.