The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-02-17
He IS A BORN CHIEF. MYSTERY OF 4 l.INv.

my mother and to her mother before her.
Surely you can do something toward its re-
covery. l prize it SO very highly that |
would give almost any price for it's re-
turn, and ask no questions of the person re-
turning it. l beseach you again to use
every endeavor among the employees to find
it,
Il was sitting in the reception-room of
fashionable hotel, waiting to see friend
who was staying there, and, attracted by
these words, looked up.
The speaker was tall, graceful WON
an, elegantly but quietly dressed Her face
alone would have attracted me had she not
just given utterance to the words that
aroused my curiosity. 1t was face of rare
beauty and singulary sweet. Yet there was
something pulling in it. The exquisite del
icacy of the sensitive mouth, indeed of the
whole face, which was high bred and clear
| cut, like cameo, struck one immediately
But it had a certain contradictory element
in it that fascinated and puzzled me. The
! tender mouth was characterized by what
seemed to me an habitua smile-a smile I'M
like any other | had ever seen-gentlc, wist-
| full and nexpressivey sweet, while in direct
contradiction to it were the eyes, of that
clear, deep-blue which one occasionally
meets in combination with dark hair and
lashes, which held a pathetic Sadness as if
| smiles were strangers to them.
'sThe face aroused strong interest in me.
| The smiling mouth, the melancholy eyes, the
cultivated musical voice, whose mingled
| sweetness and sadness were still in my ears,
had singular fascination for me.
Certainly, madam replied the gentle
man she had addressed. evidently the man
ager, everything possible will be done and,
bowling with grave courtesy, he passed on.
Sat that moment the bellboy returned
with the information that my friend was
| out, and was Just rising to take my de-
parture when | noticed that the lady who
had Just spoken was approaching me, and
evidently wished to speak to me-
Pardon me-, she said, in soft, hesitate
ing voice, your face attracted me-
Il looked up in sincere surprise Viewed
in the most charitable light my face is a
plain, nonedscript one.
"'You look like one who would not hest
tate if you found it in your power to do
kindness to anyone in trouble she contin-
ued, perceptible tremor in her voice. My
| vanity went up to the highest PITCH for at
the best we are all human, but something
| better and worthier stirred strongly within
! me.
l Anything, madam, within my power
said, enthusiastically, forgetting entirely
| that she was a stranger.
i She sat down best lie me and spoke in an
undertone
Il have had stolen from me at this hotel
in the most unaccountabe manner, val
liable ring, which, aside from its money
value, is almost priceless to me as an heir
loom. Something in your face put the
tI,A,,o
sistance, and 1 am going to ask you to go
yourself to the police station and send an an
officer to me. Give him this card, and tell
him to ask for the lady whose name it bears.
If you will do this for one who is deeply per-
picked, you will win my lifelong gratitude ?
Most willingly, madam. But, surely,
the hotel people will do all that can be done,
answered, in some establishment.
My dear lady, she said, sorrowfully,
this occurred week ago, and, SO far, they
have done absolutely nothing but make
promises; my anxiety
Her voice broke off abruptly, a fright
ened look entered her eyes, which deepened
to one OF positive terror. lnvoluntarily |
followed their direction. A man had just
entered the room and was approaching us !;
my companion eyes rested upon him.
There was something IN this mans dark
face, in its smoothness and its suavity, and
in his self-contained, slightly supercilious air
that dlspleased me even before he spoke
i have come to take YOU out for a ride,
Agnes he said simply. The words were but
few, and have kindly sound when written,
SO that despair of putting into them when
reproduced the cold note of command, the
proprietary sound, the inexplicable some
thing that i felt and resented in the suave
voice.
Without word she arose. That smile
was still upon her lips, the smile cannot
forget. Through it's pale sunshine her an
gushed eyes met my own pleadingly.
You will not forget 2 she said, gently.
{" Forget what% asked her companion. /
thought he, looked at her suspiciously
That we are friends, she answered
softly as he drew her away.
J He half turned and gave me swift, keen
glance. | thought | had never seen a
face SO greatly disliked at first sight. Sc
cure in the consciousness that / had trans
!. crossed no law of conventonality 1 felt my
chin taking decided celestial tendency,
and gave him naughty glance that fell
, harmlessly upon his back as he walked
J, away.
: But kept my promise and sent an officer
!. to the hotel without delay.
A week later ] CHANGED to meet the same
officer on the street and recognized him
at once. For an instant hesitated, and
then my interest and curiosity triumphed. ]
put out OBTAINING hand as he was pass
ing.
Pardon me, but did the lady recover her
ring?" I asked.
For an instant he looked at me in evi-
{ dent perplexity, and then swift light OF
recognition flashed into his eyes.
oh, YOU are the lady that sent me to
Hotel - last "Wednesday. Did the lost
z ring turn up? No, ma am. you bet it didn't
A ring that's been lost well on to thou
sand times, yet never found, cannot be pro
/ duced'
: "'You need not tell me- I said, with ris
ing Indignation, that the lady who lost the
ring is fraud, because know better; she's
every inch lady,
II was becoming angered at the officers
seeming Indifference at the ladys loss, and
: was inclined to show it.
p" sudden rumnus On tho ctroat c,,,sa,l