Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-12-28
Story Of the Wedding Ring.
BY BERTHA M. CLAY.

many political conversions.
Il hope they were sincere ones,
said the beautiful woman, with q
laugh.
Il hope 50 too. II nature had gifted
me with a face like yours, | should
have made more. Here comes Mr..
Dale. | have been wondering why he
accepted my invitation; he goes no
where"
The next moment tall figure was
bowling before her. Lady Brentway
! said
Mrs. Waldron, allow me to intro
duce Mr.. Dale to you" Then, bent
upon hospitable cares Lady Brentway
moved away
| Ismay looked into the handsome
face bending near her; and then a
short, sudden, stihed cry came from
her lips, her face grew suddenly white
as death her eyes assumed startled,
| incredulous look.
"Mr Dale" she said In low voice
like that OF one in a dream.
into which she gazed was cold and
dark and proud.
She clasped her hands tightly.
pray pardon me-" she said. you
are so much like-It is-it is Paul him
self! Paul, do you not know me?'
IL have not the pleasure of knowing
Mrs. Waldron," he said.
She stood looking after him, wonder,
fear, love, dismay. all striving for
mastery
1T Is PAUL" she said "As surely
as | breathe there is my husband, and
he does not know met"
The whole room seemed turned
around A nervous cry rose to her
lips which she could with difficulty re-
press. She looked after the tall state
ly figure.
ut is-it must be Paul" she muir
INJURED. That is Pauls figure and
Paul's face; yet-no, must be dream
ing. How could Paul be Mr. Dale, ana
a member OF Parliament? ! must be
going mad"
Lord Brecon came to ask her to
dance; she declined, and he looked
with wonder at her pale agitated face
Are you i'll, Mrs Waldron?"
NO she replied. 81 am well
enough; but | am puzzled Lord Bre-
con, do you know anything of the new
member, Mr., Dale?"
Nothing much, he answered. Il
know that he is wonderfully clever.
and have heard that he is a self-made
man he has risen by his own efforts e
What was he originally" she
asked, with trembling lips
Il cannot tell; | have never heard.
He rose from the humblest ranks, /
believe. Does he interest you, Mrs
Waldron?"
She played with her fan for some
moments before she answered
All clever people interest me-" she
replied
- wish were clever, said Loru
Brecon
is he MIR. Dale married. do you
know" she inuiqred.
II think not have met him sew
eral times, but have never heard OF
a Mrs. Dale"
And then Lord Brecon seeing that
Mrs Waldrou was distract and unwil-
ing TO talk. went away.
1T is Paul, she said as she watched
the stately figure. 81 remember that
fashion of bending his head re
member-ah me, how shall bear ito
II Is most surely PAUL."
He was standing somewhat apart.
looking over some photographs She
watched him with beating heart; hel
hands trembled so that her fan fell
from them, her pulse throbbed. every
nerve seemed strained.
III must be Paul. no other man liy-
ing ever had face like his Dare
/ speak "a him He did not know me.
he could not have understood my
name must 90 to him; or shall
/ diet"
With all the pent-up, long repressed
I rove OF her heart shining in her face
4 the light cleaning in her jewels and
/ falling on her rich violet dress. she
J crossed the room and went up to him
He did not move even when he saw
her She laid her hand on his arm II,
looked mp IN polite cold surprise.
Paul She whispered bending low
+ until her beautiful face was near his
Paul DO YOU not know me- am L.
. may ismay your Wife
Tie smiled politely sull but coldly.
/ fear Won are mistaken. madam.
have NO wife
She looked ~ him long and earn
.stly
Gam br mismkeue" SHE said
must believe
. Nut tho worls died ON her Ups
/ Lord HrgnwU Joined taem with somt
ram@rk about the Warmth on the room
1ha was a1le,d 10 control hesrlf al
#aHsn ne aaart was terrible. Nh
..'. '.## fr.r. 9rFth ..#rts .vres..