Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-06-14
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BERTHA Nj. CLAY.
BERTHA M. CLAY.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IEElIETl[
Continued.

"And | will do it," she said to her
self, with proud resolve. mo muir
muir against my lot shall escape my
lips, no words of regret. l will do as
the young soldier advised-set my
teeth, and die hard"
From that day change came over
Ethel. There was no murmuring, no
more despair. She began to look her
| life in the face. She had blighted and
ruined IL at the very outset, but Of
what remained she would make the
best She would Gle hard" she would
bear her pain and her sorrow in such
a way that they would be hidden from
all human eyes; she would endure
without repining; that which a man
could do in the extremity of physical
pain she might do in the extreme of
mental anguish
The young soldiers words and the
lesson they inculcated took hold Of
her; in great measure they renewed
and reinvigorated the heart and mind
fast sinking into despair. They were
always present to her; when her heart
was sinking, her courage failing, her
pride yielding, and she felt ready to
die in her sorrow, they raised and re-
animated her-they seemed to become
part of herself. 1t was only natural,
under the circumstances, that she
should think also of the man who had
uttered them-that she should wonder
what he was like-that her mind
should dwell in some measure upon
him.
The beauty and grandeur of endur-
ance and courage seemed to grow clear
Ell. All people sinned--some in reck-
less wickedness; others, like herself
through the ignorance of youth-but
every one had not the fortitude and
patience to endure the punishment of
| their sin.
A new expression seemed to come to
the beautiful face-one of high and
noble resolve, one of brave, bright en-
durance. Ethel seemed to recover
some of the high spirits and animation
that had once distinguished her. and
Lord st. Norman was delighted with
the change. He thought she would in
time be her own self again. He little
dreamed that the Improvement, slight
as 1t was, was caused by the brave re-
solve to bear in patience the blight and
ruin of her life.
In the meanwhile, to his own intense
surprise, the young Duke of Southmead
found himself, for the first time in his
life. deeply in love. He soon became
like a shadow of the beautiful Miss ST.
Norman. He went wherever she went.
If Ethel drove or rode, she was sure to
meet him; if she went to dinner bali,
solree, no matter what, he was sure to
be among the company present.
Belgravian mothers and chaperons
had grown accustomed to the turn
which matters had taken; they had
given up all hopes of the great prize
Miss st. Norman had won it. And IL
was not to be wondered at that she had
won it, for she was one of the wealth.
est and loveliest girls of the season. 1t
was first whispered, and then rumor
grew holder and spoke aloud, that the
Duke of Southmead had fallen in love
with the beautiful Miss st. Norman
Everyone pronounced it a most suitable
and excellent match.
Both had beauty, both were of high
birth. both were possessed of great
wealth. So the world agreed that ii
was Almost excellent match, fitting in
every way, and that nothing could be
better
For some time Ethel found herself
obliged TO be patient She could not
refuse the young duke before he had
made her an offer; she could not
speak to him on the subject before ne
had spoken to her. But she did what
lay in her power.
He could not boast of word. or look.
or smile that was kinder than what
she gave others. She treated him with
indifference; she received, him with
the coolest nonchalance. But the
colder her indifference, the deeper grew
his love.
She began to feel sorry for MIN. He
might have his little faults of vanity
and conceit. Placed as he was. il was
not to be wondered at. He had known
nothing but fiattery He might be vain.
but there was no doubt of one thing
he loved her with all the strength of
his soul. She began to pity him. know
ing that. even had no impediment ex-
listed. she could never have loved him.
She felt sorry that ne should have con
eentrated all his hopes on her. He
was not the kind of man she could
make hero Of; even his style OF beauty
was not style she admired.
He would not take any Of the very
plain hints that she gave him; he put
them aside-he would not believe but
that he should win her eventually. So
for some time he became her shadow.
he summed himself in the light of her
most fair and gracious presence. believ-
ing that his hopes must be realized a,
las.
One morning Lord ST Norr,o,,