Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-04-05
| Repented at Leisure. |
BERTHA M. CLAY.
BERTHA M. CLAY.
ElG@lGlIGGIEl@lElIElIlI lIslTEElIElIETllDlElIl

Ethel love you so dearly! Could yot
live for thousand years, you would
never know such love again. Ny
darling, will you CONSENT"
Still she hesitated; but she was
young, and the passion Of his words
was beginning to influence her. Her
face softened and grew tender her
voice became a sweet musical murmur;
she left her white, jeweled hand in her
lovers clasp, and he wooed her with
such eloquent words, with such pas
sion, such poetry, such romance that
it would have been hard for her to re-
sist.
Had 1T been in the broad light of
noon, in the garish light of day, per-
haps it would have hardened her
heart against him, and she would
have said NO. but the hour
of night had its own witchery, it's own
| glamour; the air was so fragrant with
rich perfume, the light of the stars so
tender and SO pure, the whisper of the
western wind so sweet and low, the
silence of the summer night so beauti-
full, that the place and its surroundings
mastered her. She did not resist when
he clasped his arm round her, and,
bending down, kissed her fair face, his
heart beating as he thought that the
proud young beauty would so soon be
all his own.
you are willing, Ethel?" he whis-
pered; and she replied:
Eyes, am willing, Laurie"
you have chosen wisely, and, be-
lieve me, my darling, you will never
repent your choice You can Imagine
what life you would have had II your
father had returned and married Miss
Digby. There would have been no love
to spare for you. She would have made
herself complete mistress Of your
fathers house. and you would have
been compelled to submit to her as
little child. You woC'd shave found
such life intolerable. Now you will
have freedom, liberty, brightness-all
that you value most"
Yet, even as he spoke, he knew that
he had bound her in heaviest chains.
II ought to go In now" said Ethel
Suppose that l should be missed?"
Nay, no happier hour will come to
us. Ethel, than this. The grand shore
OF the golden land is shining before
us. We may not be happier when we
reach 1t than standing, as we do now,
; gazing upon 1t. Stay just little
longer. Oh, Ethel-my beautiful.
proud Ethel If could linger here
with you while life lasted"
There was somewhat of pain. of re-
greet, of remorse, of unhappiness in his
voice which touched her generous
heart more than all his love had done.
Are you not happy, now, Laurie?"
she asked; and he thought her voice
had never been so sweet.
Happy, my darling? | am frighten-
ed at my own happiness. find myself
wishing that i were richer than a mill
honaire, so that might surround you
with everything most precious and
bright. l find myself wishing that |
had the goodness of saint. that l
might be more worthy of you. Happy?
All, Ethel. wonder II you will ever
know the keen rapture OF such joy as
mine"
As they walked beneath the fragrant
lines, and he told her, in the most
tender and eloquent words he could
command. over and over again, the
story of his love. she saw how mighty
IL was-how It filled his heart filled
his soul; and she was touched by the
strength of such mighty affection.
She~was nearer loving him In that
hour than she had ever BEEN and. for
the time. she almost forgot her desire
for revenge.
The silence of the summer night
deepened; one by one the lights in the
windows of the hotel were extin-
guished, and Ethel suddenly remem-
bered how late 1t was.
Il must so, Laurie" she said.
He dared not ask her to remain. He
must be prudent for few hours long
err and then she would be his own
he could take her away over the wide
seas. where there would be no more
| httu III ~ uNNhNN VI ANSNl aAhN. rs
, had deceived her; for. in his own mind
he knew perfectly well that he had nc
idea OF taking her to Vienna. or of ever
allowing her to see her father again
he best knew why. He knew, too, thai
} the imaginary incident he had amused
her with-the interview between Miss
pigby and herself-would never tak'
place.
He meant to marry her on Tuesday
. They would be Obliged TO part for
= few hours. While those few hour
p lasted. he intended to bind her over &
Z secrecy. and for the rest he trusted L
r his own ready wit Let him once max
, sure OF her--once marry her-and h
r would ask no more.
= Ethel. before you 80, will You liste
r to my arrangements for your"
! She stopped, and he never forgot he
" rs he saw her then, the starlight fal
l. ing on her appraised face. shown
every exquisite feature in the sol
so light. the dainty head held proudly NJ