Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-09-05
AND LEDA.

satisfactory litCc VI WIN uilitHo w
4ear down the whole mantel-piece. You
sec it has been loose for years. There
is a vide crack at the back that must
have been there a long time"
Herbert Payne looked r~uefully at his
able Of papers, his large bookcases, his
pictures, busts, and g%imcracks that made
his handsome library the one room in
the large house that seemed truly like
home to him.
Very WELL" he said. only be sure
YOU put it up this time 50 that there will
he no further annoyance
Then Herbert Payne fled from the
confusion to come, and took II trip of
TWO weeks, absolutely without end or
aim, excepting the escape from his dis
ordered library.
Mrs. Beach, his h~ousekeeper, took
care that none of his treasures were in
jured, ard when he returned there was
no trace Of the invaders, save that the
falling mantel-piece was carefully and
firmly reset.
But upon his table lay II sealed envel-
ope, yellow with age, and directed in a
pretty lady-like hand, to Mr.. Herbert
Payne"
Every shade Of color left the face Of
the middle-aged bachelor, as he saw
this epistle. His hand, stretched out
10 grasp it, trembled so violently he
drew it back. Mrs. Beach was within
call. and he controlled his emotion to
ask
How came this letter here?"
THE men found it behind the man
teLpicce, sir. It must have slipped down
Inc big crack"
He shut the door then, and bolted it.
No careless, curious eyes should watch
him when he read the letter, the letter
hat must have been hidden thirteen
wears behind the mantle-piece.
Before he touched it he unlocked II
writing desk evidently seldom used, and
took from it 4 .mI[tiplqtnre .RiiSStsggihie. Wffta
largo brown eyes and waving golden
hair,
\ face full of sweetness looked out
from the cold ivory, and the eyes of the
strong man grew dim with tears as he
. gazed upon it.
For he had loved her.
Not with the wild unstable love of
youth, but when he was a man past
thirty, who had faced trouble and tempt
alton, and conquered both.
He had met her first when she WAS
the comfort of an invalid father, and he
bad been won first to love her by watch
ng her sweet patience with the irritable
old man, who kept her constantly busy
IN his service.
Later, when they were friends, Her
bert learned that Mr.. Morrison, the fret
full sufferer, was II very wealthy man,
and that Lcda was his only child.
Being himself a mar Of large for
tune, Herbert Payne needed but little
the fact that Leda was probably an
neircss, but he found his whole heart
going out to her us they grew better
friends.
Every day he loved her better, till he
Mas assured of her love in return, when
he sought her fathers consent to his
taking her to his heart and home, his
owed, honored wife.
And Mr.. Morrison's plea was
Il cannot spare her yet. When | tell
yon her story you may not come to
marry her, but if you still love her
spare her to me Il few months longer.
may not, cannot live over another
spring, even in this soft climate, but
when | die Leda will inherit all my for
tune, though she is not my child. told
YOU she had n history.
When my wife had been married
Tut two years II first child was born
and died within an hour.
"Leda-my wife, Leda-was delirious,
.aIhng constantly for her babe, and the
doctor said it was life or death with her
70 have a child. So we took the babe
VINO has grown to be the comfort of my
NE from Il founding asylum. have
no idea who she Is or what was her
parentage, but from the hour she lay
my wifc's arms, the pressure of her
my fingers Gained the wild excite
Hlcnt Of the brain, she was to us our
nhild.
We never were blessed with one of
'1r own again, and all the love that was
pa our hearts for children was lavished
aHon Lcda. She was ten years old
Nnen her adopted mother died, but she
Nhe" nothing then, and knows nothing
to",o OF the secret Of her birth. Only
.go other persons besides myself knew
~. u, my brother and my nephew, who
VIII he my heirs if | leave no will.
But | promise you to ME- a will
.'Iore | die, and leave Leda indepen-
.-'t' lou-you do not look as if this
,yory had shaken your love"
nor has it. Leda will ever be to me
.-e one woman | love, and | care moth
ny Tor her obscure origin, nothing for
~ gI fortune Rlch.or poor, she will ever
'e me same TO me"
but you viii not urge her to leave