Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-09-05

and in March Herbert was to return and
remain with the Morrisons.
He was filled with new, deep happi-
ness as he journeyed homeward, and
every tender, loving letter from Leda
added to his content
January was over when the letters
ceased
He waited reasonable time, then
wrote. No answer.
Fastening at once to the house Her
bert found it closed and deserted.
The agent whose address was on the
placard announcing the place "To Let"
could give no information excepting
that he had received his orders to let
the house from Mr.. Morrison, the broth
er of the former owner He was not at
the funeral himself, did not know any
thing about Miss Leda, could give the
address of the late Mr. Morrison's
lawyer, and knew that the surviving
brother and his son were travelling.
At the lawyers the news was crush
ing. Mr. Morrison had died without q
will, and the entire property had passed
into the hands of the heir-at-law.
"He was superstitious," the old law
yer said, "fancying it would hasten his
death to make will. Foolish9 WE'LL
yes, but not uncommon. Miss Leda re-
manned week, but do not know what
became of her then. The brother was
very unkind-one might say brutal, for
he had been jealous of her for years,
and understood perfectly we'll that it
was only because of his brothers neg
lect that she was left penniless instead
of inheriting the most of the estate. If
1 hear of her 1 will let you know GER
tainly"
But thirteen long, weary years passed
by, and no word of Leda reached the
faithful heart waiting and hoping to
have the long-looked-for tidings.
No other fair face ever took the place
in Herbert's heart that Leda's filled.
No other love ever drove out this one
strong love of his life, and when he
looked upon the parting gift of his dar-
ling every throb of his heart was as truly
hers as it had been when he babe her
farewell and tenderly kissed away her
falling tears.
1t was many minutes before he could
control his agitation sufficiently to open
the letter
The date was that of the day. pre-
vious to that of Mr.. Morrison's funeral.
When at last he opened and read it,
tears that were no shame to Herbert
Pavne's manhood, coursed down his
cheeks
In humble words Leda told him frank
ly the story already familiar to him and
her own penniless condition.
"You may not care to claim wife
who knows nothing of her birth" she
wrote, "who stands now utterly alone, a
beggar, But if-as my heart will whis-
per hopefully-you still love me, you
will find me here for week longer. If
YOU do not come, [ shall know you des-
pise me for my involuntary deceit, and
[ shall accept position offered me by
an old friend as governess to her chill
dren."
"Oh, my darling, my forsaken darl-
ingw Herbert whispered, where are
you? Sorrowing for your wasted love.
Despising your lover who deserted you
| in sorrow and lOnliness! It is too bit
teri"
But calmer thoughts came at last,
and after a long deliberation Herbert
tidings of his lost love.
In every city for week one leading
newspaper contained this advertise
ment-
"LEDA-The letter written thirteen
years ago has just reached me. Write
again. H"
Waiting, endured for so many years,
became torture after this notice APP
peared, and once again Herbert Payne
resigned himself to future uncheered
by loving companionship.
| Had be possessed Asmodeus' power
he might have been waited to a home
/ in Paris, where a sWeet-faced woman,
lovelier in her gentle maturity than
even in her girlish bloom, was teaching
| class of girls the hard words of the
English language.
Accepting the position offered her by
her old friend, and refusing the assist
ance proffered grudgingly by her adopt
ed fathers brother, Leda Morrison had
travelled with the children under her
charge for nearly six years.
Then, finding herself In Paris and
able to gather class Of pupils for Eng
lish, she had decided not to return. to
her old home, earning more than suffi-
cient for her humble wants in her new
vocation.
1t was some weeks after the discovery
of the long-lost letter, and the class OF
girls were improving their English &C
cent by reading from newspaper, when
one slowly and hesitatingly read
LEDA.-The letter written thirteen
years ago has just reached me. Write
again "H."
In moment Leda, white and tremb-
ling was eagerly scanning the lines
! Leda! 1t was an odd name.
! Could there be another Leda who had
risked her whole life's happiness thir-
teen years before in letter H?"
Were there two Herberts? If it
should be-if it should be!
The young ladies wondered at the per
feet impunity with which they murdered
the English language during the re-
mainder of the class hour, but none
guessed the tumult of hope and fear in
the heart of their pale, gentle teacher
none saw her, when she was at last
alone, write few words only:
I