The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-12-16
BY CHARLOTTE N. BRAEME

! her fathers neck she had been most de-
voted to him; with angelic patience she
! had borne with all his discomfort, his
| grumbling, his angry denunciation. his
sullsn resentment against the whole
| world, his selfish neglect of her.
| No words could tell how she had
| thought of her beautiful sister-how she
! dreamed of her, longed for her-how she
! tried to fancy what she had grown like
and what she was doing. Going to Lon
| don made her think of Leah more than
| ever.
| The desire Of her hear. was unexpect-
| eddy granted. She went to the theater,
| little dreaming that her sister would be
| there on that same evening in all her bril-
| liancy and magnihcence. Hettie and her
companion were in the pit-and even that
seemed q great thing to the girl. The
| landady had apologized; she would have
| liked to take Miss Ray to the dress cir
| Gle, but it was not possible Simple, kind
| " Hettie protested that the pit was the
very best part of the theater-it was cool
err. and one could see the stage better;
which view Of the matter largely helped
| to comfort her companion.
| While the curtain was down, Hettie
amused herself by looking round the
house. The scene was complete novelty
to her. She enjoyed seeing the fair faces,
the rich dresses, cleaning jewels and ex-
quisite bouquets. After a short time she
noticed that the attention of many people
was directed toward a box in the grand
tier. She wondered what was the source
| of attraction, and she looked herself in
| the same direction. Her eyes frightened
and her beautiful features assumed an
| Of h..
and yet She saw a lady dressed
| superbly in satin of the color of the most
delicate heiotrope, with a suite Of mag
nitcent opals-a handsome woman with
stately, graceful bearing, her face a
charming combination Of refinement and
| happiness. Her hair was fastened with
diamond stars. Before her lay a bouquet
Of scarlet passion flowers. The graceful
arch of the neck, the cleaning white
shoulders, the proud carriage of the head
were all Leah's.
A cry rose to Hettie's white lips, which
she repressed; her heart beat fast, and
something like mist came before her
YES. This magnificent woman, in all
the splendor Of dress and jewels, sur
rounded by all that was gorgeous, was
Leah, her sister. Could it be possible
that that beautiful head had ever rested
on her breast, that night after night she
had slept with that figure closely clasped
in her arms? Was that the face she had
kissed in such an agony when they part
ed? She gazed at it long and earnestly
Hettie's heart yearned for her. She could
nave stretched ont her arms TO her and
FRIED out her name; but she had promised
never again to speak one word to the sis
ter whom she loved SO dearly-ncver
again. Something more bitter than death
had parted them. Hettie saw no more Of
the stage until Leah's companion rose
, and both disappeared; she kept her eyes
| fixed on the proud face of her sister
| From that evening very fever of I'M
happiness seized Hettie. She longed so
| intensely to see Leah again; her thoughts
were always with her.
At last the fever of longing mastered
her She would not break her promise
she would not speak to her; but she must
| look upon her face again. For days she
| struggled hard to find Il few moments
| leisure. Her father went out, and was
not to return until after midnight Quick
as thought she dressed herself It was
| just eight O'Clock, and she would probably
! be in time to see Leah leave Harbury
House for whatever ball or party she
might be attending.
| Those who lived in that noble mansion
| little thought that the fair young sister
OF their beautiful mistress stood outside
| for many hours with n wistful look on
her pale face, her eyes fixed on the great
entrance door. Leah had left the house
before she reached ii; but Hettie was re-
| solved to wait for her return. 1t would
| have touched a heart Of stone to sec the
| patient figure walking up and down with
| tireless footsteps.
At last came the sound of wheels.
| lights appeared. as though by magic in
| the windows of the great house The
| carriage drew up before the hall door
| and the footman descended. Hettie drew
| back into the shade as a flood of light
fell upon the pavement. She saw the
| carriage door flung open. the general de-
! scend first. and then Leah. She saw the
| lovely face. more beautiful than ever. en-
| yeloped in a mass of soft white lace.
| Leah made some laughing remark as she
| stepped from the carriage II the ground ,
! and Hettie saw that she carried Il bou-
quet of scarlet flowers in her hand. In
! another minute she had passed through
| the wide-open door.
Then Hettie came forward and touched
| me HOFFMAN on ne arm.
Il viii give you," she said, "a soyer-
| eign for the flowers that lady carries in
| her hand. Could you get them for me if
! | remain here?"
| The man looked at her in aStonishmtnt.
| DO you understand" she went on
quickly. II will give you a sovereign for
! 'he flowers which that lady carried IN
! her hand"
The light from the lamp fell on hex
| sweet, appraised face, and the man was
more hewildered.
What do you want them for?' he ask
ed.
Never mind she replied Il DO want
!hem. Do not waste time talking to me.
but get them if you can"
Look here" said the footman; That
| lady is our young mistress, ana l would
not have any harm come to her
Il mean no HARM" she turned quickly
Il simply want them TO keep by me after
they are withered and dead. for love of
her-that is all; but / do not wish any
one to know"
oh, if that is whatyo want them for
ali right said the man. Il will get
| them for you. Stand there; will not De
| i minute"
/ Leah had laid her bouquc. on one OF
the hall tables. IT was composed Of scar
let passion flowers. The man took it up
| and went back to the door.
Here he said briefly; and the rext
moment Hectic had exchanged her one
! sovereign for the faded bouquet.
How she loved her treasures. How
she kissed them, Leah had held them in
her hand, perhaps even touched them
with her lips.
1T is all that l shall ever have 10 r..
mind me Of my beautiful Leah" she said
TO herself. Il will keep them as long as
( | live"
/ She fastened home. reach nc there for
tunate:y before Martin Rsy's return.
Leah did not know that her sister had
seen her. and the little incident OF the
flowers had never been mentioned.
1t happened that an artist, travelling II
the county where Martin Ray and Hettie
i-n hal h,- ,y,i I'D a