Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-06-14
Repented at Leisure. ! !
BERTHA M. CLAY. Ia
III
BERTHA M. CLAY.
JG!fEIGElG@ IElSIElIEIElTEjE1E
Continued.


self, with proud resolve. No muir !
muir against my lot shall escape my |
lips. no words of regret. I will do as
the young soldier advised-set my |
teeth, and die hard
From that day change came over |
Ethel. There was no murmuring, no
more despair She began to look her
life in the face She had blighted and
ruined it at the very outset, but Of
what remained she would make the
best. She would "die hard" she would
bear her pain and her sorrow in such
a way that they would be hidden from
all human eyes; she would endure
without repining; that which a man
could do in the extremity of physical
pain she might Uo in the extreme of
mental anguish.
The young soldiers words and the
lesson they inculcated took hold Of
her; in great measure they renewed
and reinvigorated the heart and mind
fast sinking into despair. They were
always present to her; when her heart
was sinking, her courage falling, her
pride yielding, and she felt ready TO
die in her sorrow, they raised and re-
animated her-they seemed to become
part of herself 1t was only natural,
under the circumstances, that she
should think also Of the man who had
uttered them-that she should wonder
what he was like-that her mind
should dwell in some measure upon
him.
The beauty and grandeur of endur
ance and courage seemed to grow clear
er All people sinned-some in reck-
| less wickedness; others, like herself,
through the ignorance of youth-but
| every one had not the fOrtitude and
patience to endure the punishment OF
| their sin.
A new expression seemed to come 10
the beautiful face-one of high and
noble resolve, one of brave, bright en-
durance. Ethel seemed to recover
| some of the high spirits and animation
that had once distinguished her, and
Lord st. Norman was delighted with
the change. He thought she would in
time be her own self again. He little
dreamed that the improvement, slight
as it was, was caused by the brave re
solve to bear in patience the blight and
ruin Of her life.
In the meanwhile, to his own intense
surprise, the young Duke Of Southmead
found himself, for the first time in his
life, deeply in love. He soon became
like shadow of the beautiful Miss ST..
Norman. He went wherever she went.
II Ethel drove or rode, she was sure to
meet him; if she went to dinner ball,
soiree, no matter what, he was sure to
be among the company present.
Belgravian mothers and chaperons
had grown accustomed to the turn
which matters had taken; they had
given up all hopes Of the great prize
Miss st. Norman had won it. And it
was not to be wondered at that she had
won it, for she was one of the wealth.
est and loVeliest girls of the season. 1t
was first whispered, and then rumor
: grew bolder and spoke aloud, that the
Duke OF Southmead had fallen in love
with the beautiful Miss St. Norman.
Everyone pronounced it a most suitable
and excellent match.
Both had beauty, both were of high
birth, both were possessed of great
wealth So the world agreed that if
was amost excellent match. fitting in
|
better.
FOR some time Ethel found herself
Obliged to be patient. She could not
refuse the young duke before he had
made her an offer; she could not
speak TO him on the subject before he
mad spoken to her. But she did what
lay in her power.
He could not boast of word, or Iool,
or smile that was kinder than what
she gave others. She treated him with
lnalHerence; she received him with
the coolest nonchalance But the
colder her indifference, the deeper grew
his love.
ohe began to feel sorry for MIN. He
inlsnC nave his little faults Of vanity
anu conceIt. Placed as he was, it was
LOU 20 De wondered at He had known
FHoInlng out f1attery. He might be vain.
cut there was no doubt of one thing
ne IoVed her with all the strength of
HIS soul. She began to pity him, know
ing lhat even had no impediment ex-
lsted' she could never have loved him
one IeIt sorry that ne should have con
cenCTated all his hopes on her. He
was not the kind of a man she cou1d
make nero of; even his style of beauty
was not style she admired.
He would not take anv of the vary
PLAIN hints that she gave him; he put
tnem as1de-he would not believe but
mat ne should win her eventually. So
lor some time he became her shadow.
Ne summed himself in the light of her
most faIr and gracious presence, belfev-
ing Ihat his hopes must be realized Al
| las. 81
! One morning Lord st. Norman
seemed unusually pleased with a letter
mat Ne mad received. He read it sew
eraI times with peculiarly bright and
Happy smile; and then, looking at his
/ daughter, he said:
Ethel, should like to speak IN
you. This letter concerns you. VIII
you come into my study after break