Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-11-02
Story Of the Wedding Ring.
By BERTHA M. CLAY.

Il
but she was unconscious of 1t, and
said to herself at times that her life
would be spent in dreams.
One morning she sat in the garden
| making a faint pretence at work, but
| the needle had fallen, and the white
hands lay listless and still, She sat
under the shade Of large elm-tree,
and the sunbeams falling through
green leaves were like a halo around
her. frightening her marvellous
beauty. She was engrossed in her day
dream of that golden future, when
the little maid-servant came to tell
her that a gentleman wished to see
her
She rose hastily, crimson flush on
her fair face gentleman to see her!
Who could it be?
Before she had time to ask the ques-
ton. she saw a gentleman entering
through the garden-gate. He advanced
towards her and bowed
Have / the pleasure of addressing
Mrs Waldron?' he asked.
He was so different from the people
she had passed her life amongst
that she blushed and hesitated. She
could not help noticing that the
stranger was watching her intently,
and that his eyes fingered on her face
with an interest that was not Curl
osity; he was studying every feature,
and when she spoke he listened eager
J., to every word.
81 must apologize" he said, "for IN
truding, but the garden-gate was
open, and / saw you here. Time is
very precious with me- / thought you
would pardon me If l followed the
maid
She looked at him as though she
would fan ask him who he was; but
fell on the lovely little boy who was
playing on the grass Suddenly
change came over his face; he made
hurried step, and then stood still.
rs that your child-your son-Mrs.
Waldron?' he asked, eagerly.
Yes she replied that Is my
baby boy"
II am very fond of children" said
the stranger. will you let nue. nurse
him?' He took the child in his arms,
and looked just as intently in his face
He is noble boy" he said "a
princely child. What is his name,
Mrs Waldron? she forgot the IT.
regularity of the interview in her de-
light at the gentlemans admiration.
His name is Lionel" she replied;
we call him Leo. His father wished
him TO take my name, but | would not
consent"
your name must be a peculiar one
!. you could give it to boy he
said, and If Mrs, Waldron had looked
more intently at him. she would have
seen that the subject was one of great
moment to him.
My name is Ismay" she said and
at the word strange flash of delight
came over the visitors face; and then
that she had not yet heard the reason
Mrs Waldron seemed to remember
that she had not yet heard the rea-
son Of his visit
no you wish to see my husband?'
She asked
No" h. replied slowly MY object
i'm waiting upon you is to ask your
permission 70 make sketch Of this
charming little cottage"
Ismay looked mp In delight
A picture Of my home" she said
d think there can be no objection
Are you an artist"
The visitor smiled a strange. pc
cUliar smile
Not by professions but am fond
of drawing
Then slowly, and with great art, he
drew her into conversation He told
her that he had heard her history and
sympathized with her Tie asked her
tr She remembered anything Of her
lGy before She came 10 Ashhurnham.
10 could not possibly remember"
SHE replied Fl was but three years
oN The only childish memory
mvo rs strange to say, OF my mothers
hair beautiful brown waving hair
witch which ! used to play; her face
comes d.mly before mo az times
remember nothing more
Nru were three years old he
said how do YOU know that
~ have heard Mrs Hope say so, :"
-ae answered When viii YOU begin
tho sketch''
I0r IL suddenly struck lsmay that
perhaps Paul would not be pleased il