Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1878-10-30

her tiny fingers oalmed the wild OK
citcmcnt Of the brain, She was 10 u
our child, We were never bleaset
with one Of onr own again, and al
| the love that was In our hearts fol
children was layished upon Leda, Sh'
was ten years old when her adopted
mother died, hut she knew nothing
then aud knows nothing now, Of the
secret OF her birth, Only two othel
persons besides myself know of II
my brother aud my nephew, who vii
be my heirs'if ! leave no will, But
promise YOU 10 make awill before
die, and leave Leda independent
YoU--you do not look as il tins stor,
hal shaken your love-
"Nor has it, Lcda will ever be tC
me tie one woman ! love, and ] care
nothing for her obscure origin, moth
ing for her fortune. Rich orpoor sh'
will ever be the same to me"
"Bul you will not urge her to leave
me yet--not until spring' 'Tis but
few months, but it is all my life
~ will not ask her to leave you,
Herbert said, deeply moved by th,
pa,hos OF those last words, shut lei
me speak to her, win her consent t(
be my wife if I eau, and have thu
right 10 return here TO comfort her nj
any time you fear you must leave he1
ip sorrow aud loneliness
AYES, yes; but must you go?"
Il must. | am here only on bust
ness, and must return TO my home
at once, and if You wish it, will re
turn in March.
81 do wish il.
Little doubling his succession
while Leda had never been unmaiden
ly, she had never quite concealed hel
shy, pure love-Iferbort wooed ant
won the maid he sought for his wife.
They were to correspond regularly,
and IN March Herbert was TO return
and remain with the Morrisons.
January was over when the Letters
ceased.
He waited a reasonable time, ther
wrote. No answer.
fastening to the house Herbert
found 1t closed and deserted. The
agent, whose address was on the pla'
card announcing the place, "To Let,
could give no information excepting
that he received the orders to let the
house from Mr.. Morrison, the brother
owner. He was not at the funeral
himself and knew nothing, about Miss
Leda He could give the addresses
of the late Mr.. Nlorrisons lawyer.
and knew that the surviving brother
and his son were travelling.
AT the lawyers the news was
crushing. Mr.. Morrison had died
without will, and the entire property
had passed to the heirs.at-law.
''ILe was superst.tious," the old
lawyer said, ''fancylng it would hasten
his death to make a will, Foolish =?
Well, yes, but not uncommon. Miss
Lcda remained a week and l do not
know what became Of her then. The
brother was very unkind-you might
say brutal, for he had been jealous Of
her for years and understood perfectly
well that it was only his brothers
neglect that she was left pennilcss in.
stead Of inherlting the most Of the
estate If | ever hear of you l will
certainly let you know"
Bnt thirteen long, weary years
passed by and no word of Leda
REACHED the taithful heart waiting and
hoping to have the long looked for
tidings, y -. ~
No other far face ever took the
place in Herbert's heart that Leda's
face filed. No other love ever drove
out this one strong love of bis life,
and when he looked upon the parting
gift of his darling every tLrob of his
heart was as truly hers as it had been
when he bade her farewell and tender
Iy kissel away the falling tears.
1t was many minutes before he could
control his agitation sufficient to open
the letter.
The date was that of the day pre-
vious to Mr. Morrisons funeral.
In humble words Leda told HIM
frankly the story already familiar to
him aud her own panniless condition.
"You may not care to claim a wife
who knows nothing other birth," she
wrote, sand VINO now stands ut
terly alone, beggar. But if--as my
heart Whispers hopefully-you still
love me, you will find me here for
a week longer. fyou do not come !
shall know you desplse me for my in.
voluntary deceit. and l shall accent a