Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-06-11

A Broken Wedding Ring

By Bertha III. Clay.

was in the presence OF both sisters.
Never did man utter a more vehement
passionate prayer for strength and
calmness than he. One terrible mo-
soft silken robes as they crossed the
room Then, with a desperate effort
he raised his head, and looked at
them-hrst at her whom he had loved
and lost, her sweet face white as the
leaf Of a lily, her golden hair shining
like an aureole round her head-the
woman to whom his heart flew, at
whose feet he would have laid his HE,
the only woman who had ever stirred
his soul with the fire and fever and
ecstasy Of passionate love. Tall, slen.
der and graceful, her dark rich dress
trailing, her rich laces failing in a
fairy shower" she seemed to float to-
ward him. Her eyes did not meet his;
and no CLEAN Of recognition came into
the sweet coIoress face. lie looked
from her to the radiant girl by her
side, lin whose dark eyes was the
light of the setting SUM-" her face
bright with beauty and love, her color
vivid and exquisite as that Of a wild
rose, her every movement replete with
grace and harmony. they differed as
does tall white lily from n queenly
red rose yet there was something of
n esemblance--they were alike In
grace and subtle elegance OF figure,
and in the queenly carriage Of the
head.
Leah led Hettle by the hand. She
brought her to where Oenone, in her
eternal sorrow, bewalled faithless
lover where the exquisite tragic face
looked out In It's unchanging despair.
Leah had never appeared nor felt so
happy as when she laid Hettle's white
hand in that of her lover. She did not
notice that one was cold as death and
the other burned like fire. She did
notice that, when she, with happy eyes
and smiling lips, went through the
ceremony of Introduction, those two
shrank from each other as though the
cold and darkness of grave lay be-
tween them.
'IIettie Is 80 shy" said the elder sis
ter looking with smile at her lover.
"She has been III today; that makes
nor quiet Hetlie, look nj the picture.
! persuaded Sir Arthur to buy 1t.
think the last lines In Tennyson's poem
Of 'Oenone' are the finest ever writ
ten, and they are expressed in her face
that beautiful young face which is
never to smile again"
II do not remember them. What are
they?' said Hettie, more to gain time
than anything else.
"a sound
Rings ever In her ears of armed men
What this may he ! know not, but |
That, whorcsoor am by night and
That, wheresoor am by night and day,
All earth and air seems only burning
fire."
Hette turned away with shuddcr
which she could not control
Il can understand those words"
Leah added, musingly; "a passionate
misery must be burning pain"
The dnnerbell rang AMI the gen
oral offered his arm to Leah.
I'VE will leave these two to make
friends" he said. And Basil in
silence went to lettie.
I'VE shall never be able to bear 1t"
he thought u must retire. or she"
llettie laid her hand timidly upon
his arm, He seized II with vehe-
pnu1InnaiA
heart was on fre-and then as sud
denly let II so
How many hours Of this torture
would there be to pass? he thought.
The blood ran like fire through his
veins; every nerve and pulse thrilled
with the sense Of her presence; vet
he must ait there as the happy lover
of Leah, smile and talk aud laugh un.
conccrnodly.
what, in Heavens name, shall
do with my lile," he cried to himself,
IF | find one day SO hard to boar?"
Hottio was excused from all effort,
and her pale face was accounted for
by the fact that she had boon III.
Tho dinner passed, and Leah was
dimly conscious of somthing being
wrong, something she did not under
stand She was just little disap-
pointed that Sir Basil was not warmer
in his manner to Hcttie, He spoke to
her but seldom, and 1t was always
with ayerted eyes. She wondered IL It
were his great love for her which
made him SO Indifferent to the charms
of her sister
The ordeal was over at last When
the two girls had left the dining
room. Sir Arthur turned with laugh
ing face to his companion,
1t Is not of much use for you To
remain here" he said. Your heart
has gone into the drawng,room, and
you may as fell follow It."
THAT Is true" assented Sir Rash.
Il told YOU" continued the general,
what difference II makes To have
Two nieccs instead of one, though
Hette looks Ill, | suspect her life
has been harder than we know
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