Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-03-29


up the burden of life again. with the
added responsibility OF the tiny daugh-
ter she had left him.
"Wanted-A lady to superntend the
education of little girl. Apply be-
tween the hours of 4 and at"
Ii was in answer to this advertise
ment that, six years after that mem
orable afternoon upon the beach,
lady stood waiting in the drawing
room of the house to which she had
been directed.
Her veil was drawn, and the room
was half in shadow from the heavy
curtains which draped the window;
but, for all that, she started precep-
lively when a step crossed the hall and
a gentleman, his hair slightly tinged
with gray, entered.
She had sunk back on the sofa, and
her frame quivered with emotion
You have come madam. in an
swer to my advertisement" he asked,
cautiously.
No, no." she answered There
are reasons why it will now be inn
possible for me to accept the situation
offered"
fhat voice! Had it not too long
haunted him TO be thus easily for
gotten? Would he not know it, even
though 1t sounded above his very
grave?
Sydney! you here?" he exclaimed.
All, Mrs. Clayton pardon me; for
the moment forgot"
Then she threw back her veil. six
years had made little change, 1t was
the same beautiful face, but grown
very pale, and the lovely mouth uuiv-
cred as she spoke.
Believe me, | would not have in
truded myself upon you had dreamed
it was you who had inserted the ad-
vertisement. ] had not even heard OF
your marriage
My wife is dead" he answered.
But stay" as she rose to go. Tell
me how ii happens that you are In
necessity. Is Mr.. Clayton dead?
You mistake she said. II did not
marry Mr. Clayton. am Sydney
Vernon still"
You did not marry him?"
mo. 1t is woman's privilege. Won
know, to change her mind, but my
aunt was very angry and at her death
she left me nothing. Your advertise
ment attracted me. ! thought might
learn to love little girl"
And you will not learn to love my
little motherless child?" he asked.
Accept this position, / beg OF you,
Miss Vernon. 1t is only that you
should see she is not left to the mercy
of nurses and that she has some re-
filming care"
So 1t was at last decided, and Sydney
found the old emptiness of life fled,
since her heart and hands were full.
she rarely saw the master of the
house. One day, when she had entered
on some errand into his study, she
had seen hanging over his desk the
fair, pictured face of Mabels mother.
How soon he learned to love
again" she thought And IL
whom he so cruelty condemned
threw aside ambition and wealth for
the idol could never grasp"
But one evening Mabel stole to the
side of the lovely lady who had won
all her loyal little heart.
Papa is ill.," she said. did you
know it, Miss Sydney? Won't you go
nurse him, like you do me when | am
in?"
Certainly darling, II / can do any
thing.
And with trembling steps she de-
seended the stairs and entered his
room.
For hours she sat beside him, chang
ing the cooling bandages upon his
brow. and tanning his fevered cheeks.
Mabel had come softly in for her
goodnight kiss: then he had fallen
asleep, and she had feared to stir, as
she might waken him
Sydney, why did you not marry Mr..
Had he really spoken, or was II her
own thought which formed the ques-
ton? No he was awake now. his eyes
resting upon her.
You have no right to ask me-" she
said, imperiously. Let the dead past
bury its dead"
NO right, perhaps that | admit;
but answer me all the same. For the
sake OF all these starving years. let
me know the truth"
Because ] did not love him" sba
answered because found nv
self weaker than ] knew"
oh. sydney. II we had known--ir
we had known! My darling, was
there another reason? Was il be-
cause you loved me?"
In his voice there thrilled the truth
In that moment she knew herself en-
press OF his heart all these years. and
gliding from her chair. until she fell
on her knees. by his side. with her
beautiful head close pressed against
his heart, while his kisses rained up-
on her hair, she whispered:
Because J shall love you while life
lasts"
A month later ther was a quiet we'd
ding, when, after six years cruel wait
ing, Sydney made the life happiness
OF the man to whom she gave herself