Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-02-23
A Broken Wedding Ring

By Bertha M. Clay.


her lips, Il like it better as you
mother wore it. All the new we'd
ding-rings in the world would be
nothing by the side of this"
you must not wear it till we are
married" he said; that would be I'M
lucky
He watched her, as with happy
and then closed it.
A few days after that they we're in
London; and Leah's heart beat more
quickly and lightly when she thought
of the treasure hidden in the jewel
case.'
CHAPTER XIV.
! The season was a brilliant one.
The news OF Miss Hatton's engage
ment was received by some with
plasure, by others with annoyance.
Those who had known her before
saw wonderful change in her; the
restless expression had gone from
her face, and in it's place reigned per
feet calm. No one could look at her
and not know that she was happy
beyond words. In time the crowd Of
''fashiOnables" grew accustomed to
seeing Sir Basil always by her side;
ever her admirers accepted the situa-
ton and resignedly took the seconu
place.
Sir Basil tried by most assiduous
attention to make up for any short
T noh'c oh 1ox
brought her flowers, books, music,
presents of every kind, from one who
externally was the most devoted Of
lovers. There were times when he
almost believed himself to be one of
the happiest men living, when he
was lost in wonder at the prize he
had won, and tried to assure him
self that there was nothing left for
him to desire. Yet he knew that the
depths of his heart had never been
stirred, that he was capable of a
| deeper, far greater love than this;
his heart had never yet beaten the
quicker for any word of Leah's; he
had a kindly affection for her-that
was all. He would have given her
the love of his manhood if he coulu
have done so; but she had failed to
touch his heart. She would never
know it. He would make her happy,
he could crown her life, and she
should never suspect that he had not
loved her with is whole heart and of
his own free will. 1t did not occur
to him that it was dangerous thing
to marry without love, no matter how
great the temptation might be; he
forgot that few men pass through life
without such touch of the great
fever called love; nor did he reflect
that the fever might awake in his
heart when it was all too late. LEANS
beauty delighted him, her grace and
brilltancy fascinated him, he re-
jOiced in the admiration that her
loneliness excited, but it was not
love that shone in his eyes as he
gazed upon her; and she was too
much engrossed in her own love and
happiness to notice any failure IN
him.
One evening, by some mischance,
Sir Basil had been unable to accom-
pany Leah to the theater, and she
had gone with the Duchess of
Rosedene. 1t was to see "Pygmalion
and Galatea.'
By some strange fortune Hettie
was in the theater that night. Martin
Ray had long keen ailing, and had
lived for the last two years in the
country. He had come up to town
on business, and, for his own com
forts sake, he ha dborught Hettie with
him. The landlady of the house
where he was staying happened to
have some tickets sent to her, and
she begged Miss Ray to accept one
Hettie, who seldom had any kind of
enjoyment, whose life was one
monotonous round of duty, was eager
to avail herself of it. Martin Ray
raised no objection; he would be
busy nat evening with his com
panions, and she could please herself
Hettie was delighted She had
grown into a lovely girl, She had
not the brilliancy of Leah; she had
not her fire or passion; she lacked
her spirit and daring. But she was
sweet and loving; her angelic face
told of an angelic nature; her fair,
tranquil loneliness touched mems
hearts as does the strain of sweet
music. One felt the better even for
looking at her; mean thoughts died
in her presence. She was sin the
world, but not of it," patience, self
sacrifice, resignation were written in
each line of her sweet face. Her
golden hair had a darker sheen, her
eyes deeper light than they had on
the night when she lost the sister
who had Teen to her as the half of
herself. She was still in the very
springtide of her grilhood and moth
ing more fair, more loving, or more
true could be imagined.
Her life had not been a happy one
The loss of his brilliant daughter, for
whom he had formed such great
plans, had soured and embittered
Mor+iy TrO,,o 40