Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-05-28
A Broken Wedding Ring
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By Bertha N. Clay.

she loved him. O, Heaven, how 1t all
comes back to me! | told her such a
great love could never be a happy
one; but how little / thought"
silence, she looked at him again.
YOU" she said-"you are Leahs
lover. She loves you 50 dearly, she
said she should die if she were parted
from you. And you'll remember You
told me that you did not love her, that
It was circumstances which had led
to the engagement. And she loves
you SO! o, hapIess Leah, oh, miser-
able, thrIce.wretched me-"
She shrank back, crouching against
the wthered sprays OF the passion
flowers. All her strength and youth
seemed to leave her; her white face
and wild eyes were terrible to see.
Half frightened because of her de-
SPAR, he drew nearer to her.
"Hettie" he said what Is Leah to
you? Tell me who you are"
DO you not know" she said.
"Have they not told you?"
"rod me WHAT" he cried. What
Is IT,"
A sckening sense of insecurity
came to her. If neither Leah nor Sir
Arthur had said any thing to him,
what could she say? Was he to know
she was LEANS sister, and that they
were both daughters of Martin Ray,
what would happen?
Her heart grew faint with dread
ana pain. She held out her hands to
him with an imploring gesture.
do you not know" she said, Can
you not guess who ann"
How can |? Why, Hettie, what
need Is there for mystery? You can
have nothing to fear in telling me-
What brings you, Martin Rays
daughter, here to Brentwood and
what are you to Leah?"
you cannot guess?" she said
you have no idea?"
None. cannot guess. What arc
you keeping from me, Hettie?"
My story and Leans" she re-
Piled "and cannot tell 1t to you
You must ask them to tell It,"
In his sudden surprise and com.
plcte bewiIdermont he never thought
Of what Martin Ray had told him Of
his two daughters all power OF
thought and memory had gone from
him
"Hettic you have lost faith in me!
he said
NO II Is not that l-See, there
Is some one coming, DO not let me be
seen"
The quick footstep of one of the
mcn-scryants was heard ON the ter.
race Without a word, Sir Basil went
to meet him,
Sir Arthur would be glad to see
You IN the library at once, Sir Basil,
said the man. II he felt any curiosity
about the figure crouchIng against the
balustradc he gave no sign.
say that | will be there in a few
minutes was the reply; and the man
went away.
Sir Basil turned to Hettte.
Let me take You to the house. Het.
tic, he said You must not remain
here"
Il cannot go You must leave me
here. ! cannot walk" she said 81
cannot stand. DO you not see how
trembIe? You must leave me"
He looked terribly distressed.
My darling!" he began.
But she held up her hand.
Hush, Basil!' she said. "Remcm.
Der. you are LEANS lover"
Il will not leave you. Hettie," lie
said, You will faint"
mo- do not fear; listen TO me It
Will be all for the hest You go now
No one will know that YOU have seen
me, and they will tell you the story.
We must meet after that as strangers.
Go"
Heaven knows that no man was
ever more puzzled or more unhappy
than l." he said
Her eyes were dim with tears as she
watched him~Leah's lover: and then
as he went slowly down the terrace
u mist seemed to rise before her; she
| sway"d to and fro, staggered, and
helpless, fell suddenly to the ground