Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-05-02
BY CHARLOTTE N. aaAsMs

l have to write the issue must lie in you,
bands entirely.
In the summer time was standine
before the cottage looking over the wall
at the sea which washes the foot Of the
green hill There came upon me. quite
suddenly and silently. the handsomest
young man mad ever beheld in nv ure.
l talked to him. 1t was infinite pleasure
10 converse once more with one who be-
beved In me. spent a pleasant hour
with him. He told me that he had been
educated abroad and had but Just re
turned to England, where he was anx-
Ousiy studying politics, and that he want
I'd to understand my political views.
he came once when l was out, and l,
returning home, found him talking to
Hettie. He said that he was waiting for
me, but II ever I read passionate love in
a mans face 1t was in his. And then
only did l begin to care about who he
was, for Hettie was changed. and I knsw
that her heart had gone out to the stran-
ger. I made inquiries. found that III
name was Sir Basil Carlton and that b
was staying at Dene Abbey with my foe,
the Duke of Rosedene. l found that my
mortal enemy, Sir Arthur Hatton, with
the girl who had once been my daughter,
but who had disOwned me, was with him:
and once, in all your magnifcence, saw
you, Leah. You passed me on the high
road; you were in a carriage with the
duke and duchess, smiling, proud, beau
tiful. / heard that Sir Basil was your
over. I decided that l would watch
events and see for myself if that were
true
Suddenly the blaze Of the fire seemed
TO die out. and the light faded. Leah
could not see the letters; they swan in a
mist before her eyes. She rose mechan-
ically and went to the fire: she stirred it
again. The flames flickered this time on
a face white as the face Of the dead.
The freight fell on the pages Of the
letter when Leah opened 1t again, and it
seemed to her rs though the words were
written in blood, the scarlet flames leap
ing and playing in mockery over it. 1t
was a death warrant that she held in her
hands. She went on reading.
Leah, give heed to my words. l do
not know why Sir Basil asked you to
marry him. l am sure that 1t was not
because he loved you. l am sure. 200.
that he acted in all loyalty. He came
quite accidentally: he fell in love with
her without knowing it. Hettie loves
him with her whole heart, and will love
no one else while she lives. They parted
in sorrow and tears. both honest, both
true. Whether they will meet again l
know not-I leave that with you. The
doctor has told me to-day that have not
many weeks to live. and that nothing
can change my fate. Leah, l cursed you;
do this which I ask, and that curse will
fall harmless to the ground. When l am
lying shall end for you, and may be
able to tell You this. When l am dead,
ask Sir Arthur Hatton to take Hettie
home; it will be safer, far better for her;
I can see it now. And. Leah, if you
would be truly noble, truly generous, if
Tou would make glorious atonement for
.rour selfish choice, if you would rise far
above the level Of ordinary womanhood
il you would change a curse into bless
ing, if you would do that which will
bring music and beauty and brightness
into two lives, give up your love to Het-
tie, and let her wed him.
Now, Leah, from your head, every
hair Of which was once so dear to me.
raise the curse laid upon it. Whether
heaven gives the power to mortal man
to draw down a curse upon another
cannot say. If had that power with
draw the words uttered. Your sacrifice
will outweigh your selfishness; the good
you may do will outweigh the evil you
have done. And now, Leah, once the be-
loved child Of my heart, once the center
Of my life and hopes, farewell"
She had reached the end Of the letter,
but her senses were confused. Her brain
was dazed; she could not think or realize
her position. Her whole soul was steep
ed in the horror Of full despair. S.ow.y
she again turned to the letter and re-
read it. line by line. word by word.
1t was her sentence OF death: it was
the warrant that cut her of from ali
that was bright and beautiful in life.
The two whom she had loved and trusted
had betrayed her. Granted that Basirs
betrayal had been uncOnsciOus-that he
had fallen In love without knowing it
he should have told her. He should have
trusted her. and have let her decide.
II should have given him his freedom" !"
she said, with a great, fearless sob. 81
should have set him free"
And Hettie. the fair young sister whom
she had nursed back from the very arr.
of death? All. well, she could not IN,
that Hettie had betrayed her. for she had
learned to love him without the faintest
suspicion as to whom he was; but. when
she saw him here. when she knew that it
was Leah's lover for whom she had learn
ed to care, she might surely have trusted
her then! Lover and sister had betrayed
her. Her head dropped: the fire flame
died. 1t seemed to Leah as though her
soul was leaving her body: a cold chill.