Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-11-10
By Bertha IA. Clay.

q y
are one with whom no gentleman
could quarrel. have a message from
the dead, and 1 wish to deliver it.
! Show me my sisters children"
"They are here" said Martin Ray,
not without a certain amount OF
dignity-"The good children of a good
mother"
| General Hatton waved his hand
with a gesture Of scorn. No word
about his dead sister could he tolerate
from the lips Of man whom he
thought utterly vile and base.
He went to the girls, who stood,
with fear on their faces, hand in hand.
The composed, well-brsd manner, the
low bow, and the courteous bearing
were something novel to them. He
looked into each sweet shrinking face.
'.My sisters children" he said,
''have you any word of welcome for
me? I bring a message from your
mother
Leah freed her hand from her
sisters clasp and held it out to him.
He drew her to him and kissed the
pale young face. She found that he
was trembling with agitation and
emotion. Then he took Hettie in his
arms and kissed her also.
81 was quite young man." he said,
when l left home, and your mother
was much younger than l. She was
my beloved sister, playmate, and
treasure. 1t was great grief to me
to be obliged to part from her when
went abroad. l remember her face,
and in yours 1 see some trace of it.
What word of welcome have you for
me?'
Impulsive Leah threw her arms
around him and raised her face to his.
welcome home, uncle" she said.
What is your name, dear child?''
he asked.
Leah" she replied.
Leah! 1t is a beautiful, sorrowful
name. Why did your mother give it
to you? Did she foresee a shadow in
your life? You look like Leah; no
other name would suit you. And your
age?''
II shall soon be seventeen" she re-
piled with unconscious pride in her
voice.
"And your" he continued, turning to
the younger sister.
81 am Hettie,'' she said, "and I am
nearly sixteen"
Heaven bless you, my dear! You
have a sweet face of your own. Your
mother babe me-here is the letter.
! oh T.
returned home, seek you, find you,
and save you"
Save u.s." cried Lead. From
what?"
"She must have known what she
was writing" replied the general
"She was sweet-tempered, and never
complained to which men could give
name. She was not happy, and she
asked me to save you"
Martin Ray stepped forward.
! II will not allow you to speak in
that fashion," he said. "Their mother
, loved me, and they love me; you will
never set my children against me-"
II have no wish to do SO" said the
, general coldly. knowing your true
character, as I suspect my sister
! knew it before her death, I can
imgine you to be quite unfit to have
the charge of young girls; therefore I
bring their mothers message to them,
and they can make their choice
"Why am I unfit" cried Martin
Ray, his face white with rage Gin
what way?" -
81 Judge you from your public
character. You are without honor,
honesty, and loyalty. You are the
very ringleader of sediton; treason IS
a natural atmosphere to you. You
live on the hard earnings of the peo-
pie whom you misled. You spread
disaffection, rebellion, ruin, misery,
and death wherever you CO."
A low cry came from Leah's lips.
1t seemed to her that these words of
her uncle's gave life to a horrible
spectre that had always haunted her.
'If," continued the soldier, you
were honest, / should have some
respect for you. But you are an i'm
postor. You, and such as you, live on
the hard-earned pence of the men you
deceive. If you gave to the people,
instead of taking from them, one
might have some little faith in you"
II have given my life to the cause
have at heart" rejoined Martin Ray.
'"The cause of anarchy and rebellion
the cause of revolution, which you
would spread like a firebrand all
over the land. How many mems
lives have you to answer for, Martin
Ray? You have kept yourself safe;
but how many men have you slain by
your teaching? You have found men
vain and weak, ready to listen to any
thing which appeared to tighten their
burdens; and what have you taught?
Did you ever teach man to be
patient, to rest content with the con-
dition in which Heaven had placed
him, to work soberly, honestly, and
justly? No. You taught him to long
for his neighbours property, to rebel
AGAINST riohtfT1 aTth Ori+v 70 look