Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-08

A Broken Wedding Ring

By Bertba II. Clay.

my poor father; but can never bear
10 think of the past, dream of ii, recall
il. You know that | am Martin Rays
daughter; you love me none the less
for that; | am content. You are very
good TO me, BASIL" she said; Il will
try to repay you. My uncle felt sure
of your good faith; he understands
you well. He told you all about my
dear sister," Her face was trans
figured in its tenderness as she spoke
of Hettie. "You will love her, Basil,
know: she is so fair, so sweet and
good. / think her most beautiful, too.
But you love dark-haired women best,
do you not?"
Il love one dark-haired woman"
said Sir Basil. Il shall not plead
guilty TO more than that"
She laughed the happy, quiet laugh
he was not often to hear again, and
looked at him with Frightening eyes.
How happy we shall be together"
she said. Il could lot have believed
that so much happiness existed on
earth. All! Basil, Row much ! missed
my sister I could never tell you! In
spite of all the luxury and magnificence
that surrounded me, was desolate in
heart until you came. ! have known
no desolation since"
He would have given worlds to re-
turn her kind, loving words, but he
could not. His lips trembled, his
voice faltered, as he tried to frame
some question about Hettie.
Il am sorry TO hear" he said,
that your sister is i'll. Is it true?"
She tainted. l vas talking to her
on the terrace when my uncle came
for me; he wanted TO speak to me.
left her well enough. When l went
back, she was lying with her face to
the ground"
He strangled the bitter. cry that rose
TO his lips.
she has had a great trouble in her
life" said unconscious Leah, "and !
am afraid it will be some time before
she will get over it.
The words smote him like a blow. II
was impossible that she could have
bold Leah. Yet what did this mean?
"Trouble?" he said. Il am sorry
to hear it. What trouble is it?"
Il cannot tell you" she replied,
gravely. Il do not know much about
it; but ii is a sorrow that has spoiled
her life, and we must be doubly kind
and gentle TO her because of it. Out
of the greatness Of our own happiness
We must be most loving to her"
Heaven be merciful 10 mel" he
cried TO himself. 4 am sorely tried"
Il know you will be like a kind
elder brother TO Hettie; will you not,
Basil? And in time / hope she will
forget this trouble and love some one
very much-some one who will marry
her. she is so sweet and beautiful.
look forward to such a happy future,
BASIL"
"And she shall have one" he vowed
TO himself. Il would rather die than
see her made wretched."
He could not by word or look destroy
the happiness that shone in Leah's
face; yet the other face, more loving.
If less fair, was a thousand times dear
er to him.
"Hettie will be down TO dinner" con-
tinued the unconscious girl, and then
shall introduce the two people love
best TO each other. You will be all
that is most kind and loving to her,
Basil, will you not. for my sake?"
4 will DO everything you WISH" he
replied.
He knew how we'll she loved him,
and he knew also that, If ever she
guessed at the truth, her life would
end with her happiness. She was
looking up at him with glad eyes in
which tears were shining.
Il will be so good" she said. Those
whom Heaven blesses should always
be good-and Heaven has blessed me.
Sometimes think I might have been
selfish had been less happy"
He could net help thinking how,
without knowing that it was her story
he had heard, he had judged her sell
Ash.
Strangely enough, her thoughts
went in the same direction.
Basil" she said gently, there is
one more question I should like to ask
you-only one. When you heard my
stoTy-when you were told Of my
choice-did you think me selfish? It
was as though had TO choose between
poverty and wealth. between my love
and duty TO my father and the luxury
OF a fashionable life Ii was not SO.
Had my uncle been poor and my father
rich, should have done the same. II
was the life sketched cut for me that
frightened me. Did you think me sell
fish? Tell me-"
He was silent for some minutes. He
could not say NO" for had he not al
ready condemned her? He could not
say Yes, because he could not wound
her.
4 think" he replied, that the cir
cumstances were unusal, and that no