Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-10-31

ardent and passionate grew her long
ing for this moment.
She was tortured by the most vary
ing feelings. If he was gay. she was
sure he was in love with some one
else and had hopes of speedy en-
gagement; IL he was out of humor, he
must be suffering from the faithless-
ness of some one whom he tenderly
loved. Then again. II he gave her a
book or flower, if lie paid her some
compliment on her beauty, u his shin
ing eyes sought hers, she was in per-
feet tumult of happiness. On these
days she walked home as though she
had invisible wings. She wrote alb
surdly merry letters to her sisters.
she Rugged and kissed Aunt Polly till
she nearly strangled her, and tor
mented the poor woman with increas
ing questions about her picture
whether it was really beautiful,
whether it was like her, and If she did
not think it was admirably painted
And on another day when he had a
certain line between bis brows, When
he was pale and out of temper, and
stopped painting every few minutes
to stare out of the window so he need
not see her eyes or answer her re.
marks, then she conceived the picture
as beneath criticism, called hum mere
dauber In her own mind, broke OFF the
sitting before the time was up, and
then cried her heart out in her room
at home. Then she resolved to write
To him the next day that she was
sorry. but she should not be able to
sit to him; and she did write some
thing with trembling hand, only to
tear ii up again, and after all she went
with pale face and smiling lips
Then when he asked why she looked
so Ill, IL anything was the matter with
her, she replied in tone of surprise:
What should be the matter? never
was better, and am as gay as lark"
Then she forced herself to laugh
till the tears ran down her cheeks.
She at length comforted herself
with the thought that when the por-
trait was finished 1t must be settled.
She had hoped he would speak today;
she dreamed of it, that to-day Z"
And then deep flush covered her
face. and all her pride was in arms.
She heard again his Indifferent tone of
the morning, when to her lf-jesting
words, 81 thought II would be finished
to-day" he had replied: "You will
have TO come several days between
Christmas and New Year. | will tell
YOU the days by and BY do not
know yet when | shall be back in
town.
Are you going away" she inquired
u am going into the country"
'When?"
To-day"
A half-sob escaped her. and she put
her hand instantly to the string of
pearls that was fastened about her
slender throat. 81 have a little cough;
| think the stove smokes" she said in
excuse. and looked at him with such
proud eyes that he thought he had
better put dagger into her hand In.
Yes. she was proud; she would
never show him that she loved him
never! But she could not bear Il;
that she felt sure Of She was so
changed, she cried so easily, she was
not so strong as he used To be. she no
longer felt such faith In her future,
she felt so poor so small, so disheart.
ened.
Suddenly she started up 10 get her
hat and cloak; she would 20 to
church. But as she stepped out into
the hall Aunt Polly was just throwing
open the door of the best room. and
the brightness of the Chrlstmas.tree
blazed out in the darkness.
Come. quick" cried the old lady
and there was in her voice the delight
that even the eldest people feel az
this moment. of blessed civ
ing and receiving Come, Hilda YOU
win find all sorts of things fromh home
too"
And the next moment Hilda was
standing before the tree holding a lit
eiN ptVhaSS IN hSr nanu.
That is from Herr Jussnitz." ex.
claimed Aunt Polly, triumphantly.
Open IL: ! am curious to see what is
in It. What should 20 say. Hllda.
she continued in lower tone. III
there should be ring inside. little
plain gold ring"
The slender fingers had quickly torn
on the thin paper and opened the little
etui-three jewels flashed out their
colored rays before her. A brooch!"
she said in a disappointed tone, while
her aunt almost shrieked with delight.
"The note" cried the old lady:
there IS note too" But IL was only
n card: LEO Jussnitz. with kindest
regards, the girl read with angry
eyes.
Hilda threw the etui and the card
On the table. caught her hat and cloak
III the hook in the hall AID ran out in. I,
o the street
She had forgotten her prayer-book, |
he no longer remembered the church. 1
he only wanted to get out. Outside. I
ha wind had cnnc down tho cl.x ,xas