Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-10-03
Lefty Leigh.
Continued,

of sending her long, loving letters
written Oh dainty paper, with tht
Deye1euX and Ashley crest on the top
She had received them as a matter Of
course, and put them safely by in the
pearl and ebony box where her few
treasures were stored; among the resi-
certain drab attn shoe that had rs
very pleasant memories linked TO it
and the reason for keeping which she
could hardly have given, even to her
self.
Now that he was SO long away, and
no letters were coming, she began al
finally she grew angry at what she
looked upon as sighting indifference
on his part. She did not love him well
enough to make excuses for him, and
SO she went her long walks alone, and
brooded over this new phase in her en-
gagement.
One fair, sunshiny afternoon, when
the sky was more settled than usual,
Lefty put on her hat and jacket and
went down to the shore. She sat
down and buried her hands in the soft,
warm sand, and thought of Paul Len
nard, lovingly, yearningly, as she, the
betr0thed wife Of another man, should
not have thought of him. She knew
that very well, but she could not help
it; so she sat still in the warm sun
light and dreamed her dream. lulled
by the droWsy murmur and roll Of
the sea.
A haSty step coming over the sands,
a heavy hand laid on her shoulder,
and Lefty started to her feet, and
turning suddenly, faced Ernest Dever-
euX.
What has kept you away so long,
Ernest?" she asked. ''Have you been
ill.,
''Ill?' he repeated "No; but l
might have been. Your father is id,
Lefty. He can fret and moan, but |
"an not do even that. Will you walk
With me now, and | will tell you the
news | have come out after you to
tell"
His voice was low and hard, and
Lefty shiyered as she listened to it;
still she would not shrink from hear
ing whatever it was he might have to
tell. 1t was a story that many had
listened to before, with only the diff
ference of few paltry details. 1t was
story thai had been told, with
deadly effect, by many a hearthstone,
ana III many a banking-houSe,- tale !
hat many poor creatures had shivered
and moaned over before her, but it |
&ell none the less heavily and suddenly |
on poor Lefty on that account. 1t !
was all comprised in one wOrd-Yuin! !
1t meant hardship, and poverty, and |
humiliation; but they were hiddel rs
yet i'll the bic ak folds Of that one
ominous word Of four letters.
Mr.. Leigh had sunk all his daugh- !
:er,s fortune in great brilliant blb- !
be scheme; ali his gaudE air-castles |
Lad the well-being of this scheme for
their Foundations; but now the false
sands had sifted, and the cardboard |
n anSiofs were Strewn in the dust
Ernest DeyereuX had no fortune to
stake, but he Stlkei his M ne and his
prospects. and all the ready cash he
could muster, and the end was ruin
for him also; more dire, more complete,
than Lad even fallen upon Mr.. Leigh.
Not very pleasant story to tell to
any enc. much less to a Young girl
who had groWa accustomed to all Inc
joys and luNurieS which money brings
to its posseSSor. And Ernest Dever,
euX remembering the deathly faiEt of
the past New Years eve, felt no little
uneaSineSS as to how it would be re-
ceived. But Lefty did not faint now.
She heard him to the end quite calmly
and patiently, and then her words did
not express sorrow for herself or for
him, only for her father.
"My father" she said. her eyes full
OF tears, her voice broken; my poor
father. how will he bear it? What
can | do to make him able to bear it?"
Ernest Devereux looked at her and
wondered. This was so different from
all he had expected. and half dreaded
to see, when the hard news was
broken to her.
"If l could endure a life of poverty
with any woman, that woman would
he Lefty" he thought. "She would
never grow into a shrew under her
troubles"
81, too, am a ruined man. Lefty"
he said aloud. after a pause; '1but, for
all that. the bond between us need
never be broken. unless you will it."
II do will that it should be broken,
Ernest" she replied, ''but not for my
sake only. You are not one who could
make your way in the world if You
had poor wife to drag you down.
Some men could. but you could not.
and I dare not marry any man to be
burden upon him-I dare not do it.
No. don't" she said. putting her hand
on his arm to stop him when he would
have answered her. "don't say any
thing. I know you are honorable and
true. | know you would marry me
tomorrow if I wished It. though you
would have to live and die poor man
IN consequence: but I do not wish II.
Erne st-belfeve me. I do not
None but Ernest Devereux himself !
or some self-cankered world-hardened !
spirit like him, could know the effort !
his offer had cost him; and now, look
ing at her. he wished in his heart that
she had taken him at his word. For !
one moment he felt that to have the |
love of this trUe-hearted girl he would |
have been content to fight his way in |
the world. and take his place. humbly |
and earnestly apnnr 80 b,,Sr