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

she gave slight description, Mrs. Le-
mont changed color In spite OF her
rouge.
1T is a curious circumstance" she
said, ''but / think you must be mis-
taken in concluding that it was to this
door the person you describe came. 1t
was growing dark, you say? You
might easily be deceived. / know no
such person as you describe; nor did
any one call here after four yesterday
afternoon"
could he have called to see one of
the servants?" Bertha suggested.
sit is not likely. We have only just
come from abroad. My servants have
no acquaintance in London, | believe:
but to satisfy you, l will ask" said
Mrs. Lemont.
She rang the bell. 1t was answered
by the same man who had admitted
Bertha.
Ibid any one call here about seven
o'clock last evening, Perkins," Mrs.
Lemont asked; and Bertha fancied she
saw something like signal of intelh-
gence pass between mistress and man.
NO one at all, marm," the man an
swered.
rs it possible that Eliza could have
gone to the door," Mrs. Lemont pur-
sued.
mo marm-impossible. "replied the
man. Il was in the house all the after
noon and evening, and Eliza was up
stairs at work"
THAT will do" said his mistress. and
the man retired. you see," she con-
tinued, turning to Bertha, ''that we
know nothing of the person for whom
you inquire. Perhaps he rung at this
door by mistake, and then passed on
Was the article lost of any great value?"
perhaps valuable enough to the per-
son who lost it to be veXed by the loss"
Bertha replied. She was determined
not to enter into particulars.
She took leave, and walked away slow
ly, after lntlmating to Mrs. LemOnt
that her address was on the card she
had left.
The wind had conquered; the clouds
of the night before had cleared away,
and faint sun shone through a misty
atmosphere; nor was it so cold as it had
been. Bertha Dalton had music lesson
to give; and this over, on her way home
she called at the place where the omni-
buses stopped, to ask if any inquiry had
been made for missing article. Re-
ceiVing an answer IN the negative, she
left her card and address there also, and
then felt she could do no more than
watch certain advertisement column
of the Times.
Judging from the appearance of the
man III the omnibus, and the mystery
which she felt sure existed respecting
his association with the lady she had
just seen-a mystery that probably ex-
tended itself to his life generally-she
thought it more than doubtful whether
I, NIL ,,.yl% a. ~
ring, 50 she determined to wear it with
a vague idea that some day or other she
might meet with its rightful owner.
When she reached home Lena hurried
to meet her, letter in her hand.
eff you had waited only ten minutes
longer this morning, you would have
had pleasant surprise" she said.
''And my pupils an unpleasant one in
"What has happened? Who has writ
temp
Dear old Lady Langley" replied
Lena; ''she writes to invite us for a
week at the end of April. You will
go?"
Bertha's countenance frightened.
''HOw kind of her to think of us" she
said. Yes, think l can go. Miss
Beaumont gives a fortnight then, and [
think | can get my other pupils to let
me take a holiday at the same time in
stead Of at Easter. 1t will be delight
full"
They must know lot of nice peo-
pie about there now" remarked Lena,
following her sister upstairs; who
knows what may come of it?"
"a pleasant change will come Of it,
at any rate; l don't look beyond that"
said Bertha, smiling.
II suppose you DON'T" Lena allowed,
sitting down beside her sisters DRESSING
table, while the latter proceeded to
dress for the afternoon. You are
such quiet little mouse, you don't eX-
pect to achieve greatness; now | do
But here one sees no one"
Il wish you would make haste and
achieve it, said Bertha, half laughing;
you have been talking about it for a
long time"
only let me have the opportunity"
returned Lena, glancing in the cheval-
glass. what have you done about the
ring?" she asked, as Bertha replaced it
upon her finger after washing her
hands.
Bertha told her, and added-"And
now | am going to wear it till it is
ownPd.n
You might as well let me have it; it
is just the sort of thing should like"
mo; go about more than you do,
Lena" Bertha opposed: land after all
it may be claimed. What else does
Lady Langley say in her letter."
''She. speaks of liking their new stu
alton more and more; she says that
they have several pleasant neighbors,
and that their estate adjOins Alphing-
ton Park"
perhaps you intend to set your cap
at old Lord AlphingtOn," said Bertha,
again smiling; che is a widower-nOt
above seventy, probably-and immense
ly rich, they say"
Il wonder if that story is true" said
Lena, Struggling her shoulders.
"What StOrypn asked Bertha, as she
arranged the ruff of the plain black
silk she generally wore in the after
noon.
Don't you remember? 1t was said
that his second son disgraced himself
in some way, and had to go to America.
Then Lord Chalfont, the eldest son,
died, and his children too, and now
there is no heir to the title and estate"
Il remember hearing something of
it." said Bertha. Cheer up, Lena;
there is all the better chance for you.'
You are always laughing at me,
Bertha, but you will see some day that
| shall captivate some one better worth
having than any one we have met yet"
said Lena, pOuting.
GU vain creature" returned Ber-
tina, laughingly. "Well, all l can say
is that wealth and title are not to be
picked up every day = and you are
three-and-twenty, Lena"
why remind me of my miSfortune?"
Lena demanded, in a veXed tone.
Il only wish you could meet with
someone you could thoroughly like and
respect; that would be better than all
the titles in the world" said Bertha,
speaking in a more serious tone.
Not to me-" cried Lena. IF old
Lord Alphington were to make me an
offer, and promise a handsome settle
ment, | would marry him tomorrow"
"Oh, hush, Lenal" said Bertha. II
can't bear to hear you say such things.
Come now, am quite ready-let us go
down to mammal" and she ran down
stairs as if to escape from hearing sem
timents that Jared upon her pure and
unworldly nature.
CHAPTER III.
In 8 largo room, fitted up to answer
the double purpose of sitting-room and
artists studio, two young men, sat
smoking before a glowing IRE.
There were three windows in the
room; the centre one was raised by an
additional row of panes of glass, the
lower part being covered with a thick
screen of green baiZe. At short dis
lance from this window stood an easel,