Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-02-08
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VI
J Repented at Leisure.
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u BERTHA M. CLAY.
BERTHA M. CLAY.
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Il pray you, papa, by all your love
for me-by all your kindness to me
l will make it all up to you; l will
give you all the love of my heart;
will study your happiness in every
way; 1 will think of nothing but you;
/ will learn to be the most prudent, the
most discreet, the most careful OF
housekeepers. | will learn to be any
thing you wish. From the very depths
of my heart l pray you, dear papa, to
grant me this grace"
Her voice was so earnest, her face so
eloquent, that Sir Leonard was deeply
moved.
MY dear Ethel, / really cannot ac-
cede to your wish; the arrangement is
made, and it must be adhered to-
II have never knelt to ask anything
of you before, papa, and, if you refuse,
/ never shall again. Out of the depths
of my heart, with all the love and
again before you decide irrevocably."
He was deeply distressed, and, for a
moment, the possibility of acceding to
her wishes occurred to him. Then the
fair face of Helen Digby came before
him, and the warnings that had been
given to him about Ethels untutored
ways and willful manner returned to
him with redoubled force.
Ethel, watching his face intently,
saw there no answer to her petition.
She chung more closely to him, and
laid her hand on his.
DO listen to me, papa. / can see
life before me, as 1t were, and l am
frightened to think of what will be-
come of me IL am made miserable; it
is partly to save myself that am here
now. | cannot brook control. could
not obey a stranger. I could not love
any one who took my dead mothers
place. l could not bear constraint
now"
She paused one-half minute, for the
passion of her words exhausted her.
"No good would come of it, papa"
she cried "The Gordons never bore
control well, and | have a sure pre-
sentiment that evil would follow. My
life would be dark and dreary For my
sake give it up, and trust to me-
Sir Leonard took the young girl in
his arms; he was pale and grave as the
moonlight showed him her beautiful
face, wet with tears, and her lips quiv-
ering.
Ethel, ne said. with grave tender
ness, when you were a little child, il
you had asked me for a sharp sword
as a plaything, do you think | should
have given 1t to you?'
No" she replied; Certainly not"
Now you ask me TO place Ia your
hands that which would be more de-
! structive to you than a sharp sword. |
cannot do 1t. | cannot consent to
leave you alone, and l shall carry out
my plan of marrying. that you may
have the guidance of a good and wise
woman"
The pride that flashed in her face
seemed quickly to dry her tears. She
turned haughtily away from him.
You have refused my first petition.
papa; shall never ask another. I tell
you that evil will come of it. and l will
prove to you that it would have been
wiser and better to have left me
alone"
Il hope you will do nothing rash.
Ethel-nothing in the first impulse of
anger"
1 shall live to hear you say, papa.
that the most unfortunate day of my
life was that on which you left me in
Miss Digby's charge"
Yet she never dreamed how those
words were to be verified, nor in what
manner they would come true.