Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-03-30

Did she die also! salu Slr basil,
pityingly.
No. she is worse than dead-a thou
sand times worse than dead. Ii l could
weep over some green grace contain
ing her | should be happier"
Not dead.'' said Sir Basil, wonder
ingly.
mo; she deserted me; she cast me
off, much as you would throw away
your old gloves. l swore that l would
| never mention her name; but, if
do not speak, my heart will break.
have thought of her all night against
my will-quite against my will"
1T is only natural that you should
think of her." rejoined the baronet.
mo; you do not know what she did.
had these two daughters, Hertie and
another. Hettie is a loving, gentle
girl; the other was a genius, bright,
! beautiful, gifted girl, who would have
been a prophecies among the people.
Ny heart was wrapped up in her.
People say that a father should make
no difference in the love that he bears
his children. How can he help it? To
me one was as a magnificent imperial
eagle, the other like a gentle white
dove. loved the eagle best. | wanted
to make her a heroine, to teach her
to go among the people, TO teach as
| had taught She was so beautiful,
so full of fire and spirit, grand soul
shining in her eyes! / told her what
| wanted. | asked her for her life's
service. What is the service of a life
when one loves a cause? On the very
day that l unfolded my plans to her
stranger came among us-a man re-
lated to my wife. He was rich-bah,
how | hate to speak of him!-and he
wanted to adopt my children. L re-
fused his offer; he appealed to them.
All! Heaven, when l think OF the
scenel She. the daughter whom |
loved best, left me, and went up TO
him. this stranger, and chung TO him.
Take me away she cried. I have
been praying to Heaven to send me
deliverer from this furnace of fire.!
She went away with him, and | cursed
her.
AS he finished speaking, Martin
Rays arms fell nervelessly by his side,
and his gray head dropped upon his
breast.
"And the other-Hettie-what did
she do?'
"Abi good, faithful Hettie! She
came to me. l see the picture now,
Glen. She put her arms round my
neck. 1 will love you. and serve you.
and be true 10 you until I die, she
said. And so we four stood looking at
each other. Then the other two went
away. Hettie and have been alone
ever since; we have never uttered her
sisters name since the day she left us,
and we never shall. III Hettie ever
hreather it; ! would send her from us.
Yet today I grieve that cursed my
child. What do you think" added
Martin. after a short pause, "of the
choice my daughters nader
81 think Miss Hettie one OF the
most devoted. most unselfish girls in
the world answered the baronet.
"And what do you think of the
other?" asked Martin Ray.
What can Think said Sir Basil.
What could any man think of girl
who deserts her own father and cliRge
10 a stranger?
you condemn her them CUES
toned Martin Ray, eagerly,
1T is not my place Ia Judge or con
denim. Perhaps she could put the mat
ter in a way which would make it APP
pear differeatj bat, so far as l can see,
| should say that Miss Hettie was by
far the more noble OF the two. |
should think her sister selfish, and
certainly wanting in nobility of char
acter-wanting, too in natural affec-
ton, if she could desert her father and
cling to a stranger"
Il have never been the same man
since" said Martin Ray, with sigh.
Il should hardly have thought that
two sisters could have differed SO
greatly" remarked Sir Basil, quite IN
conscious that by his own words he
was condemning the girl he had asked
to be his wife.
Il should like to know" said Mar
tin Ray, with a haggard face, IF
curses ever really cause evil; | should
like to know if that proud, beautiful
head viii bend under tRe curse | laid
upon it,
Il hope not" answered Sir Basil,
quietly.
Ma. tin turned to him suddenly.
Promise me-" he said, that you
will not reveal one word OF what /
have told you. Hettie believes that
have forgotten her sister. / wish her
still 10 think So
Il shall never speak of il" promised
Sir Basil "YoC may rely upon me.
But as he went home he thought
much of the story he had just head.
What a strange thing that two sis
tiers should differ sd greatly-that one
should be so noble. so full of self
sacrifice and that the other should
leave her father and go away with