Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-03-12
=
A Broken Wedding Ring
81 y a|s 81
Continued.
By Bertha N. Clay.

teeth drawn. He Is old and infirm;
he will never do any more mischief
In this world. | hear that through
ill.health and failure in means he has
come to Southwood to live the re,
mainder Of his days in peace"
IAN aged lion" said Sir Basil
Exactly So They tell me that he
has good and beautiful daughter
who keeps him by her own exertlons;
but no one seems to think much OF
him or take any notice Of him. II It
is the same thing to you, added the
duke Il would rather that you did not
mention to any one the fact that Ray,
the once famous Voice Of the People,
lives near here"
why" asked Sir Basil more sud.
denly than politely,
But the duke did'not seem at all dis.
turbed by the question.
The man is, and always has been,
mad with morbid vanity and a desire
for publicity ! should not like my
visitors to know anything about him.
He would get up some. kind Of sensa.
tion~~a paper war Of some kind, II he
had the chance. | am glad the hill
shuts us off from SouthwoO. | have
n great dislike for men Of that stamp"
II was In consequence of this thaf
Sir Basil never mentioned the name of
Ray In the presence Of the guests nv
Dene Abbey He would not do any
thing against the dukes wish; nor
had he the least desire to draw any
attention to this man. He never spoke
of the music at SOulhWood church
again; but the less he said the more
deeply he thought on the subject.
Upon one thing he was quite deter.
mmed---he would go and see Martin
Ray. He was In some measure, n
public man, and he would not resent
the visit He succeeded In convincing
himself that his intended visit had
nothing whatever to do with Hettie.
He wanted To see n man who had been
a popular celebrity. At the same
time he determined to be thoroughly
prudent. He would not in any way
compromise the duke. He need not
hllil'hllN' hia iniii' w GOV NH''' Nv
was staying, He was simply about
to call upon man who had once
been famous but who was now forgot.
ten; and Sir Basil persuaded himself
1t was kindly thing to do. to pay re.
spect to fallen greatness.
So one autumn day Sir Basil strolled
over to Rosewalk He told Leah that
no was going for n long ramble; but
he did not ask her to accompany him.
There was In his mind no direct
Clandosntinely. He climbed the
steep Hill once more and there before
him lay the pretty town OF Southwood.
lie saw how 1t seemed to wind up the
hill, beginning ut the foot with humble
cottages, and ending with handsome
villas ms 1t approached the summit,
lie saw near the brow OF the hill
pretty green lane with tall hcdgerows,
and he decided that that must be
Rosowak. In the midst stood u small
cottage, half buried in foliage Ho
did not know why his heart beat fast
WOtH lN saw II, SHNNtH III VI
timidty came over him, What II he
should see the beautiful singer, or II,
from one of those lowel.wroathed win.
dows, he should hear her voice?
After walking SO far his courage had
failed him; he passed through the lane
and did not even look at the cottage
he had come to see,
lie felt ashamed of himself, and
went back again-thc lane was n long
one, When he returned he found
that an elderly man was standing
watching the passage Of n ship at sea,
The scene was SO beautiful that he
was charmed with 1.-THE blue waters,
the whlto-saled ship, the grassy hill
the peaceful green lane. the pctur.
csQue tloworhidden cottage, The
man stood looking over n low Ivy.
hidden wall Some instinct told him
that this was Martin Ray.
This Is Il lovely scene sir" Sir
Basil remarked rs he paused In front
of the old man,
ut is we'll enough" he said
Anu INtn ClE hASll was SllSnIiN us
con, pttod Hc hardly know what next
to say, He stood and looked, first
ut the blue ripping waters, and then
at the stern, worn haggard man It
was better perhaps to be frank,
Il am looking" he said quietly for
the home of MIR Martin Ray. Can
you tell me II this be it,"
Il am Martin Ray" answered the
other, briefly,
And again Sir Basil was nonplussed
The man raised himself from his
leaning attitude. and looked at the
handsome. dark face before him,
You wanted to see my house and
mC--whyp" he asked.
And then Sir Basil's sense of good
breeding came to his aid
MY reason Is very simple" replied
Sir Basil, raising his hat II heart
that YOU were living here. and wishet
to sec one who rightly or wrongly
has been leader among the people
Are YOU of my way of thinlNngs'
asked Martin abruptly.
4 a natt