Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-12-08
Continued.

with a superb suite OF rubies.
'T have whole boxes of precious
stones at Brentwood" he said; "and
you must choose from them, Leah.
Most of them were spoils, believe,
once in possession of Sir George Bour-
goyne. My wife left them all to me-"
'"That has a magnificent sound,
uncle" she returned" whole boxes
of precious stones"
''My DEAR" he said, simply, cit is
true. I could not enumerate the
treasures that my wife possessed. I
do not care about them myself. I dis
like the sacking of cities, but Sir
George did not My wife had shaWls
worth any money, jewels of every
kind, the finest satins, the rarest lace.
She had embroidery and silk, orna-
ments of gold and of ivory, en-
broideries of silver and of gold.
have never known what to do with
them, but now I give them all to
you"
ITO me-" she exclaimed-"all those
treasures to me! Uncle, you must
think over it; perhaps you may want
them some day. You might marry
again"
Never replied the general calmly.
81 have the greatest respect and
veneration for all women; but I shall
never marry again." He was about
to add that he had not intended to
marry at all, but he stopped himself.
"They are all yours" he repeated.
"They have not been Unpacked even
yet; but when we reach Brentwood,
they shall be put in your possession.
India was land of treasure, Leah
"My life grows more like fairy-tale
every day." she said to herself; and
from the depths of her heart came a
great sigh that she could not share
her treasures with Hettie.
Sir Arthur soon provided his beauti-
full young niece with a magnificent
wardrobe; no marriage trousseau pre-
pared for a princess could have been
more elaborate, more costly. A clever,
bright Partisan maid was also found );
and Sir Arthur purchased for Leah
one of the handsomest hacks in Lon
don, engaging at the same time a
staid and dapper groom.
When all was ready and provided,
they went down together to take pos
session Of Brentwood. 1t was a bright
beautiful day, and the park looked
lovely; the grand old hall, in the daz-
zling sunlight, was strikingly pic
tureSQue.
'Is this Brentwood, unc1e?" asked
Leah, her face growing pale with
emotion as she gazed upon it.
eyes, my dear; and it is fitting
home for the Hattons. 1t is mine
now; it will be yours when I die"
"Mine!" she exclaimed; and a
solemn sense of heavy responsibility
came over her.
eyes, yours, Leah; have no
relatives but YOU
'It must be fairy-tale," she said to
herself; but her heart beat fast when
her uncle led her into the magnificent
abode that was to be her own in the
years to come.
Though so grand and stately, there
was something home-like about Brent
wood. The room were all light and
lofty, full of sunshine, and from most
of them there was an uninterrupted
view of the green undulating park;
the corridors were long and spacious.
In the whole mansion there was not
one gloomy spot; the windows were
large, the perfumed breeze from the
gardens seemed to sweep through the
place. It was very ancient-rich in
grand oak carvings, priceless oak
pannelled walls with every kind Of
pretty nook and corner. Just where
one least expected it was some bright
little room, some f1oWery corner,
some deep bay-window overlooking
beautiful scenery, some pretty quiet
nook seemingly made for tete-a-tetes.
There were a large picture-gallery and
a fine ballroom.
eve shall be happy here, Leah -
said the general; eve have everything
to make us 500
And she smiled in the fulness of
content. But when she had taken pos
session of the suite of rooms prepared
for her, when the magnificent dresses
had Teen put away in the wardrobes
made of cedar-wood, when the superb
store of Indian treasures had all been
examined, when she had grown &C
customed to the luxury of a lady's
maid and a groom, Of horses and car
riages, her heart turned with a great
and wistful yearning to Hettie. She
had loved her; and that love, checked
by the rebellion against her fate, re-
turned with double force now that her
fear and dread were gone. To her
proud, sensitive mind, it appeared a
species of cowardice to leave her
sister to fate she could not bear
herself. Yet Hettie had elected to be
so left; she would not come away with
her. Her remembrance of that loving
sister was the only drawback to her
perfect happiness.
She was alone in the coy morning
room one morning when Sir Arthur
came to seek her his face full of de-
light.
EFT cab - bo rriA5 Hcan Won o11acc