Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1900-03-01
With such love. there was litae
chance of escape for it's object
CHAPTER XI.
The Meeting

i dearest WISH Oh ner HedTL-lne WISH 10
win the confidence of Ethel Gordon
She had not even won from her the
least portion of liking. Day by day
as she felt deeper regret at parting
from her father, at losing her position
at home, Ethel felt e. cater dislike to
Helen Digby-She was not even just to
her
But for her." she thought, my
, father would not have been so anxious
to make money; but for her he might
have remained in England, and we
should have been happy for long years
in our old fashion. | shall never be to
him again what l have been; my love
will never fill his life as it used'
AS those thoughts gained upon her,
her dislike to Helen Digby increased !;
and the unfortunate idea returned to
her that, If Sir Leonard could only be
brought to think less highly of his be-
trothed, he would very probably aban-
don all thought of the MARRIAGE and
that idea, in the end, helped her to her
sorrowful fate.
Early in August letters came from
Sir Leonard. There was one for Miss
Digby, whose kind calm face flushed
with pleasure as she read it; and one
for Ethel who put it quietly away
she would not read it in the presence of
her rival. Helen opened hers at once.
Ethel" she said, looking up with
bright eyes, Il am so pleased-Sir
Leonard has reached Vienna, and is
both well and happy"
Not to the rival whom she detested
would Ethel condescend to say how
glad and happy such news made her.
She returned some Indifferent reply,
which Miss Digby quite understood.
"She is too proud, and dislikes me
too much even to say that she is
pleased" thought the lady.
But EthePs exhibition of her I'M
conquered feelings did not prevent Miss
Digby from saying kindly:
will you not read your letter now
Ethel? 1t may contain some news OF
interest"
Thank you, | will watt" and Ethel
finished her breakfast leisurely.
. Helen Digby sighed deeply as tho
young girl left the room.
IF she would but be less proud, less
r reserved with me; if she would but
4 learn to like me, even ever so little,
should not have cloud in my sky"
/ Ethel went out that she might read
= her letter without interruption, and the
e spot she chose was lovely little noob
5 at the end of the avenue of lime-trees
/; where the clover grew thick and fra
( grant. where wild roses and harebells
h stirred sweet blossoms in the signing
d wind, and where the thick foliage OF
the trees met overhead and formed an
S areh beautiful as that of any cathedral
e aisle. One of the trees had fallen long
D years ago; it lay now stretched across
e the path. moss and ivy covered it.
sprays of wild flowers chung to it, and
this little nook, beautiful and solitary
= as though it belonged to some other
= sphere. was Ethel's favorite resort.
rhither she went now to read Sir
Il seal
that bore his crest, the place where she
thought his hand had rested. and then
opened the missve.
deep shadow came over the beauti-
I ful face as she read The girls heart
was hungering for love, for sympathy.
She had hoped her father would write
or both. but the letter was one long ex-
hortation, one long piece of advice, and
all concerning Miss Digby.
He hoped she had learned to love
her, to obey her to look forward with
pleasure to the happy life he antici,
pated they would all spend together.
he hoped she profited by Miss Digby's
teachings, by her constant intercourse
with one so amiable, so well-bred, and
so ladylike.
A bitter smile curved the proud lips
as she read, bitter scorn and anger
flushed her face.
Does he expect that find her per-
feet as he does-the woman who is 70
take my dead mothers place-who is
to usurp my OWN"
rftter, angry thoughts surged |
through the girls heart, which
ached with keenest pain. So, although
he was away from her, although for the
1rst time in their lives they had been
parted. his thoughts were all with this
stranger, who was henceforth to stand
between them. II was one of the most
miserable hours of her life.
Il had thought so much OF his writ
ing to me-" she said to herself. with
something like sob; "and. now that
! have his letter there is no pleasure.
no comfort in Tit is full of her. She
darkens the world for me-"
Then. as though in condemnation of
such a thought, the wind seized one of
the sheets of paper and whirled il from
her hands.
The next morning a pair of dark
eyes were looking into hers, and Laurie
Nugent, standing with her lost sheet OF
paper in his hand, was bowling before
her. n vr1
Il must thank this letter. Miss Cor
DON" he said, for an opportunity