Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-03-15

y
in weeds, and if ysu were, We should both
be far more independent tkan we can be
as young ladies. The idea of pretending
| to be widow came into my mind then,
and I thoubht it would be good fun.
Mabel cid not like it, but I made her
consent. We bought a widows cap and
bonnet; We were already in mourning for
grandfather, and I determined TO call
myself Morton. It really is my name
Wlnifred Morton Heath. We talked so
much to each other about Mr.. Morton
that We came half to believe in him, and
to be rather fond of him. We did not
understand at first how difficult il would
be to keep up the pretense, or how many
lies we should have to tell. I was many
time longing to tell you the truth, but I
was AFRAID
II am sorry you did not, my DEAR" said
myi mother graveiy. However; that
cannot be helped now, Did you expect
| your brother?"
a surprise. He walked suddenly into the
| drawing room, and found me in widows
cap'-she laughed somewhat hysteri-
cally.
"You must have been startled, Mr..
Health"
II was startled at first" he said, and
when l learned the truth I was shocked.
did not think either of nv sisters would
have been capable of such systematic
deceit. was determined that I at least
would not be party to it. This visit is
also to say goodbye, Mrs. LESLIE" he
added. "My sisters accompany me to
London this evening. They will scarcely
find Longmede pleasant residence, once
the truth is known. I am remaining in
England for year, and for that time, at
least, they are better with me. I eannot
understand" he added, "why you were SO
ready TO assume that l was-the late Mr..
Norton" with an expression that made
hin for the moment like Freda.
''We saw you photograph" I said hest
tatingly.
"Did she show me as Morton?" he ask
ed, his face darkening.
"Mabel did"
81 beg your pardon" said Mabel's
grave voice. "Xou assumed that the por-
trait was that of Freda's husband. and I
did not contradict you. You were much
struck by the photograph, I remember,
and rather scRndalized at Freda's having
survived her loss"
under the amused scrutiny of Mr.. Hsath's
brown eyes. The Heaths soon after went
away, leaving Hilda and me much sad
deGed, both by their departure and the
manner OF it.
"Poor Edmund" I said, ''what a pity
that he was in such hurry I must write
and tell him the truth. Perhaps he has
not yet finally arranged to sail in the
Venetia."
"My DEAR" said my mother very ener-
get1caily, 81 would rather a thousand
times that be sailed in the Yenetia than
that he married that decietful girl. Her
conduct shows q want of honor and prin~
ciple such as I should be sorry to see in
Edmunds wife,
Nevertheless, I thought it due TO
Edmund to let him know the state of af-
fairs. The only notice taken of the COM
munication was postscript in the next
letter to my mother: Tell Rose ! receiv-
ed hers of the 22d."
We had heard nothing of the Heaths
after they left Longmede. In the sur
prise and confusion of our parting we
had forgotten to ask them to keep Us in
formed of their movements, while they
probably felt chary of writing under the
circumstances.
At the end of year Edmund came
home, looking older and browner, bis
quiet, reserved manner suiting him better
cow than it did in his more boyish days.
He had bought practice in little town
on the south coast and intended settling
there. The first time he aid [ were alone
he asked if [ knew anything Of the
Heaths. | was somewhat ashamed to con-
TESS that [ did not.
'You and Hilda imagined yourselves
attached to those girls, believe"
$50 we were but mother was so much
annoyed at the deceit"
"a mere bit of childish masquerading
undertaken without considering the con-
sequences. l do not know how you cali
it by such hard name as deceit"
''I have often felt sorry since that we
did not ask their address. Do you think
you could find it out E6mund?"
IT have found it out. met Australian
| friends of Heath's on board ship, who
gave it to me-"
"Have you seen them?"
'sNot yet. I came first to my mother"
"Give me the address and I will write
to Freda"
AS you did without news of them for so
long, you cen exist without it little
longer. You shall have the address
soon."
Edmund went away in day or two on
| business, and about a week later there
came letter announcing his engagement
| to Miss Heath. Poor mother was in
| great trouble at the news, md we had
considerable trouble in persuading b or
to look npon her former escapade as mere
childishness, and not as a sign of innate
depravity.
IA little before tho wedding, I went to
stay with the Heabh5 at Kensington.
Freda was looking pale and thin, but very
happy.
"Rosie," she said, as soon as she had
got me into corner alone, Il have been
punished for my deceit all through the
last year."
"Punished?"
IT have been so unhappy. I Thought
he was as disguised with me as the rest
of you, and that whould never see him
again."
"Then you loved him all the timer"
eyes, used to think I should never
care for any one as much as [ did for
Richard, and now Mabel is going with
Richard and L am staying behind
Ny mother did not go to Edmund's
wedding; but she was very kind and
affectionate to Freda when the young
people came to stay at Longmede. She
confided to me, however, that she could
never look at her daughter-in-law with
out remembering the widows cap in
which she had first seen her."
'It seems to me an omen," she said.
That was many years ago, however,
and no shadow of the widows cap has