The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1880-02-14

" uCu ulSut again Iell the WlQu WAS sun
driving the heavy rain along the shore,
and the fury of tn sea seemed undated.
The old man and his daughter sat III
their old positions beside the fire and
listened to the storm without.
Leah, the old man said, breaking
the silence. "where is Stephen to
night"
She had been busy with her own
thoughts, intently gazing into the glow
ing Goals, and she raised her face, aglow
with the freight, to his. Then, with a
cry OF alarm, she sprang from her seat
and caught his head, which was falling
forward on his bosom, in her hands.
Father, speak to me What is the
matter o. she cried, gazing with a great
dread at the set and rigid features and
lips, from which all color had fled. leay-
ing them white as ashes.
Leah, the old man gasped. 4 am
dying. Quick-old Mr.. Hallam 1T the
old lodge. | must see him Tell him |
sent for him, and he viii come.
The gray head fell back upon the chair
as he spoke. The girl, nearly frantic.
and knowing not what to do, kissed him
IN Wild, frenzied way, and then dashed
It was long way, more than a mile.
but she did not mind fatigue. She did
not feel 1t any more than she felt the
stormy sweep Of rain that lrenched her
to the skin. Her mind had room only
for one thought-that she might be too
late
She reached the house at last and de
liyered the message to Mr.. Hallam ID
person, and then her over-straiued facul-
hes gave way, and she sank in swoon
on the floor. When she came to her
senses again she was lying IN a white
curtalncd bed IN a room finer than she
had ever seen before, and bending over
her was the stately young lady who had
come 70 her fathers cottage the night
before
Has he gone ?" she asked.
g Yes, > the lady answered. " he is with
him now"
She would have risen at once and re-
turned through the storm through which
she had come, but the lady was kindly
resolute and firm. and forced her to Ii
quiet and wait
An hour passed-it seemed an eternity
to Leah-when the door opened and Nj.
HaIlam entered, still dripping with the
ram. He crossed the room to the couch
and took her hand IN his
;" Ny poor child" he said, /" you can
not 60 home to-niS ut; this Is your home
from this time forth
She looked at him in dumb amaze
ment.
:" You are my daughter, now, . lie said.
and YOU must learn to look on me as
you would your father"
" And hep she cried out, tiingiug up
her arms with an unconscious gesture Of
entreaty.
g" You must bear it calmly, poor
child, F." he answered her. "He Is dead.
How it CHANGED that she should be-
come the adopted daughter of the
wealthy Mr.. Hauam was much OF
mystery to Leah, even when months had
passed, and the sorrow for her father
beginning TO wear of, she became ac-
customed to her new position. Mr.
Hallam was kindness persouihed; but
from the rest of the household her quick
instinct held her aloof They were all
kind TO her, but an indetnabla 5 me-
thing felt, though not expressed, that
she was not TO the " manor born, and
sort OF lnterloper raised barrier be-
tween them. As for visitors, of whom
there We're many, cf course this had
nothing to do: but still the feeling was
IL her mindal the same, and she became
cold and reserved.
rs for Frank Vernon, he became ias-
ciuatad by her-so much SO that It be-
came q subject of remark At last he
proposed, and she accepted him.
She did not love him. but she liked
his society, ami she loved no one else,
and felt proud Of his talents and hand
some person, az any girl would have
done. She made a condition. however.
that ther engagement should be kept
secret until her brother Stephen, who
had gone on a voyage Of several months,
should return.
\ week afterward Stephen came. She
Was almost beside herself with delight II
seeing him. L would have been It rave-
lation To any one who only kraw her as
the stately. Juno-Iike beauty Of he
Lodg-. t. sea her hang about his neck
and kiss him again and again through
her joyful tears
At length she told him how Frank
Vernon had asked her to be his wife.
and sae had accepted him The change
that had come over him ,tartIed her.
His face grew pale as death to the very
lips, aud Il wild llist swept over AIS ewes
only for moment, however. and then
he brushed the back Of his hand across
his ewes and forced smile
q" Leah he said. IN voice that trem-
bled in spite Of lis efforts t. keep j.
calm. at i Is for your happiness | viii
tuy to near j. 7 have had dreams.
when | kept my lonely watches that
some time you might love me well
enough To be something near t. nae
thaRa sister. | seewhat q TOOL ! have been
now-vou lady and an helrees, while |
ana but q Door ti5lerman-bu let II pass:
the memory OF my little sister viii ALWAYS
be thu dearest thing / can have on
earth
She stood thunderstruck for mo-
ment, almost deeming him mad.
'What do you mean ? :" she managed
to gasp 1T length.
"Do YOU not know? Have they not
told YOU, he cried, "that Won aro not
my fathers daughter, not my sister, hut
the only child OF Mr.. Hallam's brother,
and the lawful mistress IF Hailam
Lodge !"
The color faded from her face, leaving
il so palhd he thought she was going to
faint. Then, as quickly tie warm blood
rushed back again. sufusInp her face 10
the very roots Of her hair.
:" Are YOU sure of this = she asked
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