Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-02-22

friend, Lady Station, was staying
there.
II To those who cared only for a beau
tiful sea, picturesque scenery, pure
bracing air, and quiet it was the finest
spot in England. Those who wished
for society would find none there.
The rooms were large and lofty. the
corridors broad and light; the hotel
as a whole, was quiet and peaceful as
any gentleman's house. Ethel could
not help liking the aspect of the place,
although the silence and loneliness
somewhat dismayed her.
Il thought" she said to Miss Digby,
that hotels were always full of peo-
pie; this seems quite empty"
at was for that reason selected it,
replied the elder lady 'I have been
here several times, and have enjoyed
as much privacy as though I had been
in my own home. I hope you will not
dislike the quiet, Ethel"
at is matter of little moment to
me-all places are alike" returned
Miss Gordon.
life not unpleasant. Miss Digby left
her very much to her own devices.
She had wished. at first, that they
rshould have the same rooms, but
Ethel's manner convinced her how I'M
pleasant she would consider such an
arrangement so. separate suites were
ordered---one for Miss Gordon. and one
'FR.s nse.I.
were close to those occupied by Lady
Station.
It was not an unpleasant life, but
coming there at all was mistake.
Ethel was young; she had been accus-
toned to a life of constant activity,
to plenty of society, to the occupation
and excitement always attending the
management of large house; now she
had nothing to fall back upon. nothing
to distract her thoughts, nothing to do
but muse by night and by day on the
injury she imagined Helen Digby to
have done to her.
1t was hardly the life to have chosen
for young. beautiful. gifted, imagin-
alive girl; for once clear calm-judg-
ing Helen Digby had made a mistake
She would have done far better to
take Ethel to some seaside resort
where the world would have reused
her from her morbid thoughts, and
have restored to her her gayety, hel
animation, and high spirits.
For the first time in her life Ethe
Gordon found herself alone; for she
stunned and avoided Miss Digby as
much as possible. She had been ac-
customed to the homage and attention
of large household to the tender love
of a father who never neglected her;
now she was alone. with strange faces
around her, strange voices in her ear
She had been accustomed to be first,
everything and every one had depend
ed ON her; now 1t was otherwise She
had no power and no influence. No
one consulted her; her opinion was
never sought.
Lady Station had given Helen Digby
what she considered sound advice.
II see exactly how matters stand >
she said. "and my counsel to you is,
leave the young girl alone. With a
naughty disposition like hers, the best
way is to treat her with kindly indif-
ference. rhe time will come when
she will seek you, not you her"
And Helen. hoping 1t would be for
the best. watched the beautiful face
in silence, looking day by day for some
little mark of affection, but never re-
ceiving it, hoping that all would end
well, yet turning away with a shudder-
ing dread lest evil might follow.
1t was something like hatred that
Ethel felt for the lady who was to
take her place. 1t was hard enough to
lose her father, to be away from Foun-
tayne: but II was harder still to know
that when he returned he would be-
long to some one else-that he would
give all the love- the care, the thought,
that she had valued so highly, to
another
III something would but happen e.
prevent the marriage, Yet she wished
no particular harm to Miss Digby. II
by raising her finger she could have
injured her. she would not for worlds
have done SO; but she longed for
something to something that
should lower Miss Digby in her
fathers estimation-that should make
him think less highly of her prudence
and her discretion.
Self-engrossed as the visitors at the
hotel were. they could not fail to no.
tice the beautiful. wistful face of the
girl, with its listless, weary expression
She appeared so young-she was onl,
just seventeen-yet her features had ,
tired look as though she had no
found life very bright.
The sweet summer days glided on
Ethel and Miss Digby met always a
breakfast, which was served In IN,
ladies room. At first Helen Digby Ia,
made an effort TO spend the days will
her young charge Ethel would no
have Ii so: she would either retreat t
her own pretty sitting-room. or sa,
distinctly that she was going out ant
wished TO be alone.
II the place had been more frequent
ed. Miss Digby would never have al