Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-09-06

II so picturesque,
I'VE have a back entrance to q lane,
where a carriage can come down." OBJ
served Mrs. Dalton. The house was
originally a market-gardener' cottage.
Most of the ground was sold and built
upon, but this bit was left; many of the
old fruit trees are still standing. The
old cottage is now the Kitchen and
servants rooms; the rest OF the house
has been added since, at different
times"
"Ah. iudeed!" said the lady, as if
much interested.
She was leaning her elbow upon the
small table that stood close to the
chair where she sat. Mrs, Dalton'S
usual armchair stood on the other side
of the table, and here she seated herself
While she spoke.
Il am so sorry I Ihave been mistaken, :"
the lady resumed. Il should have TAX
en- servant from here with such conf
dence," she added, casting an admiring
look round. what a trouble servants
areln
They are indeed" Mrs. Dalton
agreed, tiattered by her visitors impl ed
compliment. "One of my servant, has
been with me upward of twenty years;
she is an excellent cook, and an excel
lent, trustworthy woman, but she has
such temper. declare to you dare
not interfere with her. As for the girls,
they are so fond of finery and SO pert
and Stuek-up, don't know what they
Will come to-
And careless too" said the lady.
Don't you find it so, with all this val
liable china ahOut?'
Il never allow a servant to touch it."
Mrs. Dalton answered. My Younger
daughter always dustS it herself"
Quite right and prudent, am sure"
the lady observed. That bowl is old
Chelsea ware, is it not? | have a per-
feet passion for the autiQue.n
"Yes, that is Chelsea ware. I have
two or three fine specimens of Wedg-
wood ware and some old SevreS that are
very valuable" said Mrs. Dalton.
u dote upon China" announced the
stranger, but my particular craze is
for antique jewelry. l have some few
articles l wouldn't part with for any
money!"
II dare say not" said Mrs. Dalton
"We have a curious ring in our possess
sion just now. One of my daughters
found it in very singular manner"
"A curious ringln exclaimed the lady.
81 am afraid it would be giving too
much trouble to ask to see it; bat you
have no idea how fond | am of such
things, and l tiatter myself l am no
mean judge of jewels"
ut will be no trouble at ALL" said
Mrs. Dalton, ringing the bell, and then
returning to her seat. Sarah" she
,.,.l
at the summons, there is the key Of my
dressing-case. You know how the
drawer opens. just inside you will find
small Ting-case-bring it down"
This is rather peculiar ring, though
not valuable one" observed the lady,
drawing from her finger a small cameo
in coral, and handing it to Mrs. Dalton.
''1t is very pretty. 1t is antique, |
suppose?" interrogated Mrs. Dalton,
examining it.
"Oh, yes, certainly an antique. 1t
has been i'll our family for many years, y
the stranger replied, as she replaced
the ring, and drew on her glove.
Sarah soon returned with the case,
and Mrs. Dalton, taking out the opal
ring, showed it to her visitor, but with
out giving it into her hand.
''It is really splendid" " the lady ac
knOW,odged. eff it were mine | should
be quite afraid of wearing it, lest l
should lose it."
81 persuaded my daughter not to take
1t into the country with her, for fear of
an accident" observed Mrs. Dalton,
cOmplacently. as she replaced the ring
III its case, and laid it on the table be-
side her.
II really must not intrude any longer
thank you so much" said the lady
Could you tell me of any registry-oilice
for servants near hereI"
YES, there is one in Portland Town."
Mrs. Dalton replied.
Il am quite ashamed to be so trouble
some, but would you be so very good as
to write the address for me? | really
have no head for names; / never can
remember names of places or people,"
''Oh, certainly. III write it with pleas
ure," said Mrs. Dalton, going to table
at the other end of the room, on which
stood blOtting-book and inkstand.
The strange lady received the written
address, and then took leave with a
profusion of thanks. Mrs. Dalton inn
mediately took the Ting-case from the
little table where it had been standing,
and, going upstairs, locked it again in
her dreSSing-bOX. 1t was the same
morning, only few hours later, when
Bertha's telegram arrived, that she
went to the case and found it empty.
Sarah accompanied the lady down the
garden to the eate, and stood looking
at her for d minute or two as she went
along the road.
"Well, IneyeT!' was her exclamation,
as she closed the gate and returned TO
the house.
Close search was made for the ring
1t must have slipped out of the ring
case, and have rolled away in the draw
ing-rOOm, or on the stairs, and Sarah
must find it, Mrs. Dalton averred.
Things were always going wrong in
that uncomfortable manner, for the sole
purpose of tOrmenting her, she de-
clared. She wished Bertha had only
had the good sense to keep her own
counsel about the ring, and then this
trouble need not have happened. 1t
was so ridiculous of Bertha to mention
it when there was no occasion.
Sarah nearly got her dismissal for
asserting her belief that the strange
lady had taken it. Such utter non
sense" Mrs. Dalton said; las if were
not sufficiently good judge of charac-
ter to know lady when | see onep
On Sarah repeating her conviction, she
was desired sharply TO hold her tongue,
which she accordingly did, but with a
determination to give her version of
the story TO Miss Bertha" when she
came home.