Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-12-22
CHAPTER XIV.

CHAPTER XIV.
During the next three years Leah
Hatton was the very queen Of fashion.
She was more popular, more sought
after, more admired, more beloved,
more enVied than any other woman Of
her day. Her beauty grew with her
years. She was twenty-one now, and
the magnificent promise of her girl
hood had been fulfilled. Her love
liness had grown richer; the CLEAN in
her dark eyes was brighter; the dainty
bloom that had been faint as the hue
of a blush rose had deepened; the face
was radiant in it's own loveliness-
men found it more than fair. During
those three years she had presided
with infinite grace over the large es-
Enlistment at brentwood and the,
magnIncent house in town. At Brent
wood she had received party after
party of guests, including some of the
greatest statesmen of the day, and
she was considered one of the most
attractive hostesses in the land. In
wonderfully sort. time she acquired the
art Of entertaining, knew who was
who," and, in fact, was equal to all
the requirements of social life. She
never made any mistakes. After
few weeks the general found that he
could with safety leave everything to
her. The servants worshipped her;
one word from their beautiful young
mistress was law She was
WOrshipped, too, by the poor around
Brentwood, for she gave with a
liberal hand she was beloved by all
her dependents, for she was both just
and generous-by all who knew her
for her beauty and talents and win
some grace. At Harbury House dur
queen. The best dinners, the best
balls, the most successful private
theatricals were given there There
were many other debutantes, but no
one ever approached her; the throne
she held was entirely her own.
Season after season the beautiful
Leah Hatton came back to the gay
world with fresh graces and charms.
She was singular in many respects.
She made many acquaintance, but
very few friends. She had no girl
friend to whom she could speak Of
her thoughts and feelings; her heart
grew sa>, when she thought Of any
one else in. Hettie's place. Among
the faces of the girls around her she
saw not one so sweet and fair as
Hettie's; and, remembering this, a
GOODNESS came to Miss HattOn which
added to the effect Of her proud young
beauty. She was cons ldered every
where as the most eligible, the most
desirable match Of the day. It was
well known that she was the generals
niece; no one cared to ask whether
she was the child of sister or broUne-.
It was also we'll known that the whole
Of the generals vast fortune would be
hers. She was at the very height of
her popularity: people spared them,
selves no trouble to obtain even a
glimpse Of her fair face. When she
went - the opera, more attention
was paid to her than to the stage.
Beautiful Leah Hatton." What
more in life could she desire than she
had-Wealth, popularity, affection?
Yet she was not happy; her soul lad
found no rest. Brilliant and gay as
was her life, it did not satisfy her.
It was but as a dream to one who
has infinite longings and infinite
desires.
If Martin Ray succeeded in moth
ing else, he had done this for his
daughter-he had taken her out of the
common groove he had made her
think, he had filed her mind with
thousand ideas Of life. These were
always puzzling her. She had the air.
the manner, the look Of one whose
thoughts and aims were higher and
loftier than those of others. This
added much to the charm Of her
passionate, proud beauty. The men
who danced with her admired her the
more because no flush of vanity
it the far-off look, the restless longing
that nothing could crafty.
LAS for lovers the duchess of
Rosedene cried, holding up her hands
in horror, there is not an eligible
man in the land who has not sought
her! Such offers, and all refused!
Refused too, without rhyme or reason!
Leah has some notion that she must
love some one, that love is the great
end and aim of each ones life-lOve
not wealth, pleasure, or gayety, but
love; and, with such ideas, what can
one do?" The duchess shrugged her
shoulders as she spoke. Love, with
such prospects as she has before her!"
Some of these offers Miss HattOn re-
ceived were dazzling ones. The young
Early of Burberry was handsome,
talented and passionately fond Of her.
No; she would not be Countess of
IOnrh nn,.,r rrh nrn 1-nC tho I011lZn Of in