Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1900-03-01

that idea, in the end helped her to he
sorrowful fate
Early in August letters came from
Sir Leonard. There was one for Mis-:
Digby, whose kind. calm face flushed
with pleasure as she read it; and one
for Ethel, who put it quietly away
she would not read it in the presence o.
her rival. Helen opened hers at once
Ethel" she said, looking up with
bright eyes, I am so pleased-Sil
Leonard has reached Vienna, and i:
both well and happy"
Not to the rival whom she detesteG
would Ethel condescend to say how
glad and happy such news made her
She returned some Indifferent reply
which Miss Digby quite understood.
She is too proud. and dislikes me
too much even to say that she is
pleased" thought the lady.
But Ethel's exhibition of her un-
conquered feelings did not prevent Miss
DISDy from saying kindly.
viii you not read your letter now.
Ethel? 1t may contain some news of
interest"
Thank you, I will watt" and Ethel
finished her breakfast Ieisurely
Helen Digby sighed deeply as the
young girl left the room.
IF she would but be less proud, less
reserved with me; if she would but
learn to like me, even ever SO little, l
should not have a cloud in my sky
Ethel went out that she might read
her letter without interruption, and the
spot she chose was a lovely little nook
at the end of the avenue of lime-trees.
where the clover grew thick and fra
grant, where wild roses and harebells
stirred sweet blossoms in the signing
wind, and where the thick foliage of
the trees met overhead and formed an
arch beautiful as that of any cathedral
aisle. One of the trees had fallen long
years ago; it lay now stretched across
the path, moss and ivy covered it,
sprays of wild flowers clung to it, and
this little nook, beautiful and solitary
as though it belonged to some other
sphere, was Ethel's favorite resort.
Thither she went now to read Sir
Leonard's letter. She kissed the seal
that bore his crest, the place where she
thought his hand had rested, and then
opened the missive.
A deep shadow came over the beauti-
full face as she read. The girls heart
was hungering for love, for sympathy.
She had hoped her father would write
of both, but the letter was one long ex-
hortation, one long piece of advice, and
all concerning Miss Digby
He hoped she had learned to love
her, to obey ner, to look forward with
pleasure to the happy life he antici-
pated they would all spend together.
He hoped she profted by Miss Digby's
teachings, by her constant intercourse
with one so amiable, so well-bred, and
so ladylike.
A bitter smile curved the proud lips
as she read bitter scorn and anger
flushed her face
Does he expect that | find her per-
feet as he does-the woman who is to
take my dead mothers place-who is
to usurp my own"
Bitter, angry thoughts surged
through the girls heart, which
ached with keenest pain. So, although
he was away from her, although for the
first time in their lives they had been
parted, his thoughts were all with this
stranger, who was henceforth to stand
between them. 1t was one of the most
miserable hours of her life
Il had thought so much of his writ
ing to me-" she said to herself, with
something like sob; and, now that
[ have his letter, there is no pleasure.
no comfort in tit is full of her. She
darkens the world for me-
Then, as though in condemnation of
such a thought, the wind seized one of
the sheets of paper and whirled it from
her hands.
The next morning pair of dark
eyes were looking into hers, and Laurie
Nugent, standing with her lost sheet of
paper in his hand, was bowling before
her
Il must thank this letter, Miss Cor
don" he said, for an opportunity 1
have long sought-the opportunity of
speaking to you"
To be Continued.