Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-07-05

q WeuulUB-FlnS. fOT the UTSL Time IOF
many long months she opened her
heart to the sunshine of happiness.
She let her sorrow and her despair fall
in the background, and the effect upon
her was marvellous.
She felt dazed and giddy, as one
who, having been long Gagged in dark
ness and gloom, is suddenly brought
into the full, clear light of day.
For the first time she took an in
terest in the pleasure offered to her,
and went so far as to ask Lady st.
Norman about dress for the fete.
| 1t was very beautiful day; the sun
was shining, tie air was warm, soft,
and full of fragrance. Sir Oscar ac-
cording to arrangement, was to drive
down to Richmond with Lord st. Nor
| man.
Ethel looked more beautiful thaa
usual; the fresh, fragrant air brought
a soft flush to her face, and frightened
the lovely eyes. Her dress, too, was
perfection-a pretty blue and white
and she wore one of the most
coquettish of bonnets. The beautiful
ly-curved lips were parted with smile
such as had not fingered there since
she had been mistress of Fountayne.
She did not know why she felt SO
happy, so light OF heart, unless it was
that she had made a friend. She
smiled to herself as they drove along
| the sunny road.
Friendship Is supposed to be one Of
the great joys of life" she said, land |
have completely overlooked it. can
never have lover, but thank Heaven
that have found friend"
The evening, when dinner was over
and the elders of the party were dis
cussina some excellent wine, Ethel
went out on the balcony. The purple
cleaning lay over the land, the sky
was growing more darkly blue, and he
stars were beginning to CLEAN. The
river ran lightly and swiftly by; the
pleasure-boats were Fastening down
the stream; the trees were all
luxuriantly green; the perfume of
flowers reached her.
That balcony was a favorite resort OF
hers. They had been twice to Rich
mond, and each time she had spent the |
soft, sweet twilight hours in watching
the beautiful panorama of earth and |
sky which could be so pleasantly seen |
| from there.
A beautiful. holy calm seemed to |
pervade the whole of nature. and Ethel
felt that she could enjoy 1t. Hitherto |
she had been prey to her own bitter
thoughts. her own despair; now she |
had found friend. Heaven and earth |
| seemed falrer for this, that she had |
found a friend
Her beautiful face was softened into
| tenderness as she sat there in the star
light. Was there really any bright
ness, any music left on earth for her?
Yes, for she had found a friend.
Ethel was pure of heart and guile
less of soul as a little child sleeping IN
It's mothers arms. There was not the
fGintest idea of wrong in her mind;
and, even as once before she had mis-
taken fancy for love, so She now mis-
took the dawn of love for friendship.
1t was no surprise to her when Sir !
Oscar, parting the heavy hangings that
screened the windows, came out to her
He stood in silence by her side for
few minutes. and, in some vague wayl
that she could not understand, 1t
seemed as though his presence made
the beauty of the scene complete.
you are looking brighter and better
today, Miss st. Norman" he said. Il
am so pleased. think you have been
following my advice"
II have" she acknowledged, freely. |
II have read the book you mentioned
to me. and 1t has done me good"
IL knew II would. | shall never be
able to understand, Miss st. Norman,
what 1t Is that has given you. in the
brightest part of your youth, such
gloomy ideas of life"
He saw her beautiful face grow pale:
he saw in the starlight how suddenly
the shadow came into her beautiful
eyes and he FASTENED to add:
Il am so glad that you permitted me
to advise you. To use a figure OF |
speech, you seemed TO be drifting down |
a stream. My hands are strong; let
them pull you back"
Il was drifting" she confessed,
Slows.
And now that is checked: you are
learning to take pleasure where you
can find It," he pursued.
Yes" she assented, with little low
laugh that fell like soft music on his
ear, Il find pleasure here tonight"
He watched her in silence, thinking to
himself that earth had nothing one
half so fair as this beautiful. graceful
girl. Rousing himself from tue
glamour that seemed TO be falling over
him, Sir Oscar began to talk to her
poetry of the hour seemed to animate
him
II wonder" said Oscar. slowly, how
many people have sat in this bacony.
happy as we are, and what has become
of them?"
THAT is rather a wide field for
speculation" she said.
Yes; but think the place is rather
celebrated. You have heard of Lord
Draybrook, who murdered his wife in
a fit of Jealousy, and afterwards killed
HIMSELF"