Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1902-12-15
Continued.

stately wife so deeply impressed.
"Was her mother lady?" asked the
duchess, suddenly.
Eyes; her mother was Sir Arthur's
sister. She married, believe, beneath
her"
Then why is she called Hatton?"
asked her grace.
Because Sir Arthur has adopted
her. It is perfectly natural that she
should take his name" And the
duchess never gave the subject
second thought
Sir Artnur had been equally pleased.
He had watched the duchess face
when she first saw Leah, and noted
the flash of delighted admiration.
Your niece is most charming" she
had said to him in her gracious way
Bring her over to Craig, tomorrow"
He congratulated Leah; and she
smiled with wondering eyes. ct must
be fairy-tale, uncle" she said "a
few weeks since, Het-'' She
stopped abruptly, for she was on the
point of pronouncing the name she
had promised never to mention. The
very effort to check herself blanched
her face and lips. The general ap-
peared not to notice it. But a few
weeks SINCE she said, Il had but one
pair of gloves-and they were 50
mended and darned that I was
ashamed to wear them-and not five
shillings of my own in the wide world.
Now am mistress Of Brentwood,
your adopted child and heiress; |
have a fortune in the treasures you
have given me; a duchess takes me by
the hand and asks me to be her
friend; am promised all that this
world can give me-the loveliest,
brightest, happiest life. Now, is it
not like a fairy-tale?"
Eyes" he replied, looking at her
face.
He wondered if, in the dawn of that
rich, passionate loneliness, there was
the beginning Of sorrow or of joy.
In the course of a few weeks, Leah
was quite at home amidst the luxury
and magnificence of Brentwood. AS
time passed on, the memories of the
old painful life grew weak; the love of
1C1 1CI1I JOulIS o1OCC1 w ctS CuS SI1OuS-
est passion that remained. She
thought of her father with dread
that was strangely mingled with re-
greet and love; but she thought of him
as little as possible her heart and
her reason were at war with each
other over him. She was grateful for
her escape from what she termed "a
furnace of fire"
She was warmly welcomed at Craig,
the duchess even grew attached to
her; and when, after a gay autumn
and innumerable shooting parties, the
time for the projected tour to Rome
came, she invited Leah to accompany
her. At first the general was inclined
to refuse. He had just learned, he
said, that he could not live without
her and it was cruel to wish to take
her away. But when the duchess
showed him all the advantages to be
gained, he yielded at once.
"YOu have asked me to complete
your niece's education" she said; Gin
no way can it be done better than by
taking her abroad. A few weeks with
me in Paris and in Rome will change
her altogether; she will be different
girl"
He fixed his eyes lovingly on Leah.
'Do you think it we'll to change
herr" he asked, slowly. ''She seems
to me perfect"
eff you intend to make her a woman
of the world, she must change in some
respects" said the duchess, a little
impatiently. Leave her to me, Sir
Arthur; I will promise that you shall
be satisfied with the result"
And after that Sir Arthur offered
no further opposition.
CHAPTER XII.
The Duchess of Rosedene was de-
tanned for a considerable time on the
continent by a severe illness of her
husband, and in reply to her anxious
entreaties the general allowed his
beautiful niece to remain with her.
Although his heart yearned for her,
and his eyes Ionged once more to be-
hold her, he knew that the care and
training which the duchess could
bestOw were invaluable, and were
such as he could not have found else
where. He was content to wait.
During Leah's absence he purchased
q magnificent mansion in Belgravia,
to which, in loving memory of his
native town, he gave the name of Har-
bury House. The decorations were so
magnificent, the furniture was so ele-
CANT and costly, that public attention
was drawn to the house, and it soon
became known that Sir Arthur had
made this purchase for his adopted
niece and heiress, who was now in
Italy with the Duchess of Rosedene,
and who was-so rumOr said-as
beautiful as a vision.
People looked forward with interest
to the time when the brilliant young
beauty should be presented and take
her place among them. 1t was pity,
certain spinsters and widows declared,
that win such vast wealth and so
many places to keep up, Sir Arthur
did not marry himself; his beautiful
b.