Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-08-16
CHAPTER Xiv.
A Dying Mans Request.

A Dying Mans Request.
They met once more-the two who
had parted in such sorrow and pain.
Ethel happened to be with Lady Leigh
ton when the visitor arrived; she could
Lot hasten away without drawing more
attention to herself than she desired.
She saw Sir Oscar before he had time
to notlce her; she stilled the terrible
beating of her heart, the trembling of
her limbs.
ct has to be borne" she said to her.
self; "let me bear it bravely."
While he spoke to Lady Leighton,
she looked earnestly at HIN. He was
greatly changed; the face that she
remembered as so bright and hopeful
was careworn and sad. He looked like
a man who had passed through great
and bitter trouble.
She was still gazing earnestly. visit
fully at him, when, turning suddenly,
he saw her.
She never forgot the startled shock
of pain that came over his face; he
was like a man who had received a
sudden blow and could hardly recover
from it. With grave courtesy he held
out his hand in greeting to her.
She made her escape as soon as
possible. The pain of meeting him
again, of meeting him so colby, so
soberly, was greater almost than the
pain of parting had been; she wept
bitter tears over it. OF course sne
knew it could not be otherwise; they
had parted years ago; they were to be
only as strangers. But she could not
endure it; it seemed harder to her than
any sorrow she had borne. She said to
herself that she would ask Lord st.
Norman to leave Holmedale; he would
not refuse her. he must not refuse her,
for she could not bear her present trial.
She saw but little of Sir Oscar that
day. They met at the dinner-table
but he was next to Clarice Leighton.
who was trying to make conquest of
the man whom all other men honored.
After dinner he talked again to
Clarice; and Ethel, with an aching
heart, sat and watched him.
They were parted. Never, while life
lasted, could they be anything to each
other. They wereto be strangers. Yet
she could not bear it. She sat for a
short time. and then went to her own
room. Perhaps that night was the
longest and saddest that Ethel ever
passed.
1t was two days before she saw Sir
Oscar to speak to him, and then she
was in the conservatory alone. When
he entered and saw her, his face light
ed up for few moments, and then the
careworn expression returned He
went over to her.
Ethel" he said, gently, Il have been
longing to see you alone. I want to
speak to you. Will ysl listen to me
for a brief while?"
= cs." she replied.
Il want to tell you that II had
known you were here. l would not
have come. l would not have given
you or myself the pain of meeting
again; it is too hard to bear. l came
for some weeks, but l shall not re-
main. shall go away in few days"
She bowed her head, but made no
answer.
Ethel" he continued, hurriedly,
tell me one thing. 1 am unchanged.
My love for you has increased, not
lessened; it is the greatest happiness,
yet the greatest torment of my life
If l repeated my question, if | prayed
you again to be my wife. what would
your answer be?"
She was silent for some short time,
and then she raised her eyes to his
face.
''It must be the same as before" she
replied. 1T is not more possible for
me now than it was then to be your
wife"
81 feared it." he said, sadly. "Ah,
me, how full of sorrow life is, Ethel!
cannot remain here and bear the
torture of seeing you, knowing that
you can never be mine. must go.
There can be no pretext of friendship
for us. hardly dared to hope, yet my
second disappointment is harder than
the first"
II am very sorry" she said, gently.
81 know. Ethel; I know. Would to
Heaven things could have been other
wise! / should have
But he never finished the sentence.
Lady Leighton came in. and he could
say no more.
Ethel did not go down stairs again
that day. If she could have had her
own way, she would have seen him
again; it was only useless pain.
"He will be gone soon" thought the
desolate girl; "and then / shall suffer
no more
Sir Oscar made a desperate attempt
to leave Holmedale, but Lord Leighton
would not hear of it. In vain the
baronet pleaded pressure Of business.
you promised to remain several
weeks" said Lord Leighton; "you
must at least. stay for one"
Reluctantly enough he complied.
1T will soon pass" he thought; and |
| will take care that do not see her
again" q.
Three days elapsed. ana then ~