The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-12-09
HAPPIER VII

| no care about the entertainment of Wis
| itors; the long. bright hours were hers,
/ to spend as she would
Lady Maude Trevar had gladly accept
| ed the duchess invitation; but pretty
/ May Luson had promised to pay a visit
! elsewhere, and could not break her en-
| gagement. The military element had dis
persed. Sir Basil Carlton had been de-
! lighted with her grace's proposal to Join
| the party at the Abbey. He liked the
duchess; her kindly manner pleased him:
| he was touched by her kindness to him.
! self, although he did not know the cause
| He did not go with the party from Brent
wood, but he followed them in few
/ days 1t was n wonderful change from
! the green, sweet woodlands of Warwick
/ shire to the country bordering on sun
ny southern sea.
! Leah was more shy and timid with
| Basil than she had been at Brentwood
! She avoided him a little, but loved him
! just as much. She would have gone
! through fire and water for him; she
would have made any sacrifice for him.
! The marvel was that the young baronct
never dreamed Of the conquest he had
/ made. As for Leah. she had not yet he
/ gun to doubt; she felt certain that his
/ love would be hers in the fullness OF
! time.
| Sir Arthur Hatton was 4 stranger to all
fair love-dreams and sweet fancies That
! lie should understand a nature or 4 love
! like Leah's was not to be expected; bat
! he was one day the unwilling witness of
4 little scene that opened his eyes
| In the library stood a large japanese
/ screen, and Sir Arthur enjoyed nothing
I than nl1ciur thic &c III
great bay windows and intrcnching him
! self therein with his newspaper One
morning there was some Indian news in
the Times which interested him greatly
letters written by fellow officers whose
opinions he valued highly. He wished to
be undsturhed; so he bctook himself to
his favorite retreat. He found the library
cool and empty; the sun blinds were all
drawn, the light was dim and pleasant.
He placed the screen around his favorite
window. "ThInk goodness" he said to
himself, that | shall now be able to read
in peace
Fate was against him this morning
! The door opened. 1t was Leah who an
| peared. She was in her far07tte coIors
of amber and white, with creamy roses
| at her throat. She did not observe the
| screen. much less wonder if anyone ,ypre
behind it.
! For ten minutes there was almost com
! plete silence. Sir Arthur could hear the
sound Of Lcah's pen. She was writing
rapidly. Then. suddenly. the door open
| ed, and Sir Arthur's smcthered groan
was lost in the voice of the speaker.
Shall | disturb you. Miss Hatton:"
1t was Sir Basil who put the question.
Il am in trouble, from which a Lady
! alone can release me-
Il am glad you sought me-" she said
what can [ do for you:'
There is an old proycrb which saws
| that "A stitch in time saves nine. VIII
YOU make that first stitch now. and save
! the nine hereafter, Miss Hatton:"
"Of course | WILL she replied. Where
| is the stitch needcd?'
In this driving glove he replied: the
button is nearly off. Would you be so
good as to faSten it,
Leah laughed blitheiy.
"Certainly," she said, as she took The
thick yellow driving glove that he held to
her '-Will YOU excuse me one minute
while find needle and thread?" she add
ed.
She went away, leaving Sir Basil look
ing over an open volume that lay upon
the table.
Il hope" thought the general to him
self. that this good fellow will not find
me out, and begin TO air his ideas on
Indian politics to me-"
But Sir Basil was in happy ignorance
Of the generals proximity. He read few
lines in the open volume hummed fav-
orite air to himself, and then Leah re-
turned.
4 am sorry 10 have kept you waiting"
she said. Il Will release You now in
few minutes
The slender fingers soon accomplished
their task. She held ont the glove to
him. and as she did so her eyes fell on
the spray of stephanotis that he wore in
his coat.
Your flower is faded" she said; "let
me give You another. | have 4 super>ti-
ton that it is unlucky to wear faded
flowers"
by all means replace it. if you will be
good enough" he responded.
She took the spray Of stephanotis from
him and laid it upon the table. From one
of the vases she chose 4 beautiful moss
rose bud, fresh as the dawn, and fastened
it in his coat for him.
He thanked her briefly. stood talking
To ntG IpE SUING lew HliutltS, anu lltl
! went away.
Sir Arthur, looking over the screen. was
about to thank heaven that he was gone;
| but no word came from his lipS-he was
| stricken dumb.
What WAS she dOing-his proud, beauti-
| full niccc-whosc love no man had been
able to win, whose smiles had been
sought as priceless boon? She had new
or seemed 10 care for love or. admiration.
| for lovers or marriage. She had moved
through the brilliant world like an ice
| maiden. What was she doing?
| She had taken the withered flower in
her hands, and was kneeling down by
the table and covering the faded spray
with kisses and tears.
oh, my love" she sighed. my lo7e,
| if you only loved me! But | am less TO
you than the withered flower you have
| thrown away
The general would have spoken then
and have let Leah know that he had
| overheard her, but surprise and wonder
! Kept him silent. He saw her kiss the
/ open volume where Sir Basil's hand had
rested.
Il shall die" she sobbed. ''just as this
! flower has died. and just as far from his
/ heart. Oh, cruel world, l have asked
/ but for one thing. and it has been denied
me. | wish | had never been born Oh,
my love, why can you not love me: | am
/ fair enough for others, why not for you:
| can win other hearts, why not yours?
1 ! would give my life for your love-.
/ The low, smothered sound of her bitter
/ sobbins mingled with the song OF the
/ birds and the whisper of the wind: il
/ smote the heart of the old soldier with
unutterable pain. He had rescued her
! from what ne thought shameful life.
| adopted her, and given her his love ana
/ protection; he had made her heiress Of his
| vast fortune; and this was all that had
! come of it, this was the end of all his
/ hopes for her. She was wearing her
heart and her life away fot love that
could never be hers, or at least that was
/ not hers. Frem the sight Of the kneelin-
( figure, the claSpcd hands. the proud head
IVY r-l1- Ha 1