Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-22

Identity been INTENDED lot hellle.
There were numerous other papers
Invitations TO political meetings, re-
views of her fathers books, articles
written in his favor, and articles that
held him up to ridicule and contempt.
She found some letters which she
placed aside for Observation-Disclosures
the contents of which she well knew
and shudderad to remember. There
were account books showing how
Martin Ray had spent the peoples
money: she turned from them with
'loathing. All, what was this? a
letter in a square envelope, on which
was written, For my daughter Leah,
written now that 1 know ! am dying,
to be sent or given TO her after my
death" She looked at it again, mis-
trusting her eyes while she read the
words.
A letter from her father, written
when he knew that he was dying!
How was il that it hadnever been given
TO her? Plainly no one had known any
thing about IL. He had written It,
meaning, without doubt, to give it 10
NLlEAAAEs AdA put II III HIS AG1ht oAAA
had either forgotten it or his sudden
relapse into danger had put it out of
his mind. She recognized the bold,
free handwriting that had been so
characteristic of Martin Ray. She
never doubted but that it would be
loving letter, written TO take from her
the horrible curse which had preyed
so heavily on her mind. She put it
into the pocket Of her dress; she
would read it when she had finished
her search. She would be all the
happier If that letter were a kind and
loving one. 1t had been a sore
trouble TO her that she had reached
her fathers side too late, and that he
had died calling for her, AMI she was
not there.
\ few minutes later she had gone
back to Hettie's room, with many
little mementoes of home that she
thought would interest her Then
visitor arrived, one of the ladies of
the neighborhood, TO make special
Inquiries after Hettie. Leah went 70
the drawing-room TO receive her, and
found that the general and the young
baronet had driven over 10 Glen. She
was slightly disappointed. She would
have enjoyed a few minutes with Sir
Basil: Il was her one source of
pleasure when she could leave Hettie.
She entertained her visitor, Lady
Drake, with all the charm Of manner
natural to her. Then, when she left,
more charmed than ever with the
beautiful chatelaine of Brentwood,
Leah remembered the letter
It was rather early TO have the
lamps lighted, though the rooms We're
gloomy with a miserable yellow light.
The drawing-room was bright and
gay with flowers. a fire burned In
the crate; the vivid flames rose and
fell with a dazzling light. The rudy
glow almost overpowered the pale
yellow light: it fell with a weird effect
on the beautiful picture of "Oenone,"
and Leah was irresisubly attracted 20
Mr.. She drew an easy-chair between
the fire and the picture, and looked az
it with wistful eyes. The freight
fell on the vale of Ida. on the desoiate
figure. and the beautiful face so fun
OF despair. Then she bethOught her
self that she would read her letter.
She rose and stirred the fire. rousing
&c into a yet deeper glare; then she
drew ner chair nearer TO the picture,
watching the rUddy glow as IT lighted
MP the desparing face of OenCne. AS
She looked then. with rest and repOse
in her dark eve with tranquility on
her beautiful face. she never looked
again.
She opened the envelope; TT was a
long letter and she half wondered
what her father had 10 say 20 her
She was lost 20 everything when she
had read a few lines. Her letter ran
as follows
"3Iy dear Leah: I had swcn an
oath that I would never look at yOu.
speak TO you. or address you again. /
cursed you-yCu, the child of my
heart, whom 7 loved better than ell
the world. You disappointed me in
my dearest hopes. The refusal 20
fulfil the mission for which 7 had al
ways intended yen, has been the bane
and the blight OF my life In my rase
and anger / cursed you. I give YOU
the opportunity of evading that curse
by the noblest act Of selfden,al any
woman can perform. Years ago,
when the choice was given YOU be-
tween a wealthy stranger and your
poor father, you gave up father,
sister, home, and chung 20 the
stranger. 1t was a selfish and
'mercenary proceeding. viii give
you a chance of redeeming IL " an
heroic act of self-sacrifce. Tou left
your young sister in a desolate home;
you left her motherless, fr!endless,
almost helpless; you went to a bril-
liant, luxurious life. You can atone
for il now by giving up for her sake
that which you value most in the
wide world.
Il have a story to tell you, Leah
one that no one in the world knows