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

By Bertha N. Clay.

The general looked at II, end found
that there were ten packages from
SOuthwOOd. Then he remembered
that, when leaving there, several
things in the cottage were packed up,
and left at the railway-station to be
forwarded to BrentwOOd-Martin
Rays writing-desk, his favorite books,
one or two things that the girls priced,
Hetties music, and what few
mementoes remained Of the dear dead
mother. IL occurred TO Sir Arthur
that any knowledge OF the arrival of
these things would be hurtful to
Hettie; SO he tore a leaf from his
p0cket-bOOk. and on 1t wrote a note TO
Leah, telling her that the packages
were from SuuthwOOd and that they
had better be put away in some re-
mote corner of the house until Hettie
had quite recovered, and the sight Of
them would nOthurt her. He gave
directions that the wagon should not
90 near the hall.
NO one can tell" he said. what
harm the sound might do to Hettie;"
and Basil was struck by his kindly
consideration.
Leah read the note and FASTENED TO
give the necessary orders. The pack
ages were slowed away in one Of the
unused rooms Of the western wing.
one or them, a square packet, at
traCted Leah's attention. She un-
fsstend the canvas in which II was
folded. and found that It was her
fathers writing-case. Heaven only
knew what burning. bitter words had
been written on it, How well she re-
membered the case! How often she
had seen her father seated at It, with
frOwning brOws and flashing eyesi 1t
lay ODen before him on the day that
she had left him-the day he had
cursed her. She thought Of Hettie's
words. that the curse must have
fallen on her By mistake, and she re-
fieCted that il was indeed true that
everything hal gone wrong with her
hapIess sister. II Leah could but have
known what the desk contained, she
would not have looked at it with such
careless eyes.
She forgot al about the packages.
Hettie. though weak as a little child,
hardly able 70 see or hear. was out
of danger. and the doctors agreed that
she had taken the critical turn which
leaIs 20 health. The terrible strain
Of anxiety was ended, the great
mental stress over. Every one in the
house Lreathed more freely. During
her illness Hettte had endeared her
self tC al. Her sweetness AMI
patience. the severity of her suffer
i1cs. her thought for others. her
loving gratitude. were things to be re
membered: and. when It seemed GER
tain that she would not lie OF this
terrible fever. the rejoicing was great.
Once more the cheerful sound of
merry voices was heard. Hettie. half
amused. half alarmed at her own
feetIeness. slowly traced the path that
leads from sickness TO health. IL
would be some weeks yet. the doctor
said. before she could be taken down
stairs cr allowed Co see any Cne-even
the general 1t was five weeks since
trr evening when she had cried ont
Co Sir Basil that she could rot bear
Che PAIN. ard the overwrcught brain
had suddenly given way; &c would De
some weeks more before she saw him
eeur. When. she was strong. when
her brain was rfeTr. and she could
rEr- -I-Ecv. hundred faucios weav-
ING themselves lu her thoughts. she
would make ur her mind with. regard
q. - future
H..... ...e.. ---r... 49,. r.-.s 80 Gas.
recovered ls Co he able Go take notice
r- what -as passing around her,
Sir ET frF sent her. h~ Leah.
few rr She --cE them without
q word. anil laid slru down IGnsui5IE.
She .F -r- srrv the least desire 20
take care Oh them. and made no re-
ur.sr-Ere when they we're removed
CHATTER XIX.
-Wlat shall i do to r0use her?"
said Leah tc herself. one morning,
after her usual conversation with the
doctor. she Is sweet-temrered, low
ing and grateful; but she seems to
have lest an desire TO live"
Suddenly Leah bethCuEht herself Of
Ha.M ."aa-eHe NOM e-AaAAA w AHNAAs Eaa
among them she would find some
thing that. by memory or association,
would startIe her mind into activity.
Leah went 20 the unused room in
The western wing where the packages
'ay. and the writing-case was the first
thing that caught her attention. IL
was probable there would be among
her fathers papers something which
would remind Hettie Of her old home
and arouse her into a more active
state Of mind She opened the case
and found Il filed with documents.
Martin Ray had evidently arranged ii
before his death. there, all yellow
with age. the thin edges all worn with
folding. were her mothers love-letters,
written many years before! They
we're tied with blVe ribbon, and with
flowers that had soon died. He had
lover her fair young mother well 10