Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-08-09
BERTHA M. CLAY.
@EElIElIIIElEElCIETEIEllEI
Continued.

Ouly heaven knew HUN great HeF
relief was when Lord Leighton said
that it was time to return. The party
was divided into laughing, merry
groups. Some one vas talking to
Ethel, and she saw the keeper coming
toward her with something white in
his hand.
He is coming to claim me-" she
thought, and the fame of true courage
seemed to fash from her heart to her
face She stood proudly erect to meet
the blow. 81 will die hard" she
thought to herself, with bitter smile.
He was standing before her, hat in
hand, bowling low, as slave before an
empress. He held out small, folded
paper
Il beg our pardon" he said, but
this, / think, belongs to you"
She looked at him steadily and his
eyes fell before her proud, serene gaze.
For one half-minute she was tempt
ed to defy him-to say 1t was not hers,
and then turn proudly away; but
something like a CLEAN of pity for him
came over her, and she took the paper
from him, He turned quickly away.
At last she was alone in her room At
Holmedale Park. She never re-
membered returning; but she was
there, holding that folded paper in ner
hand. A mist swan before her eyes;
proud indignant flush rose to her
face.
The words on the paper filed her
with Undesirable loathlng:
II have found you, ethel, my wife, at
last. after looking for you long months
| have found you and have once more
looked upon that face which contains
all the beauty of earth for me. Ethel,
l must speak to you. / never thought
when the sun rose that should see
you before 1t had set Ethel, l must
see you. VIII you walk tomorrow in
the Holme Woods. as | will be there?
/ have so much to say to you; but
can think of nothing now except that
have seen you, Ethel. my beautiful
. Mfee.r
She tore the paper into a thousand
shred..
II will not meet him." she said 20
herself. "He Is a released felon. He
has deceived me once, but he shall
never deceive me again. He may do
what he pleases, but | will not meet
him.
Her anger and Indignation were
most violent; they outriyaled her
despair. Then the requirements Of
society had to be met. She was oblig-
ed to go down to dinner, and look as
composed as could be. She would not
go out at all on the day following, lest
he should be waiting and see her.
"He must understand once and for
all that there can be no word between
him and me-" she said to herself. IF
he persists in claiming me, my friends
must shield me, or will go away aud
hide myself"
4 So she spent the whole day in the
house. and would not leave It,
Three days passed, and she heard no
word of him. She never forgot the
slow torture of those days, the miser-
able suspense. the uncertainty. Every
noise alarmed her; every voice
startled her. She was every moment
! CAptIliASt ltdlihS Nudt w
would make some sign, yet from him
none came.
She heard from him at last. As
they stood one morning, just after
luncheon. discussing some oharades
that were to be acted that evening
Ethel saw footman coming toward
her with beautiful basket of ferns in
his hand. The man bowed and held
them out to her.
1.-THE keeper has sent these, miss,
and he says you will find a list of ferns
inside"
She was compelled to take II be-
cause so many people were looking on,
but her face flushed proudly. Lord
leighton smiled.
''Smith told me yesterday, Miss St.
Norman, that he was looking for some
ferns for you. You wished for some,
supposed?"
She would not have told an untruth
TO save her life. Fortunately Lord
Leighton did not wait for a reply.
Holme Woods have always been
famous for their ferns" he said; 81
am glad you have so beautiful a col.
lection, Miss st. Norman"
md ethel, with a smile, turned
Ay.