Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-02-23
Continued.

But, my dearest Leah, we must
presume that every husband does
love his wife"
Yes, at first" she said, slowly.
mo honorable man would ask a
woman to marry him unless he loved
her"
She spoke very earnestly, her face
slightly flushed, holding the old
fashioned wedding-ring in her hand.
Something in her words struck him
with pain; yet she did not doubt him.
He thanked heaven at that moment
that she would never know her her
uncle's affection for her had caused
him to interfere in her behalf.
IF this ring could speak," she said,
"if it could tell the history of all the
wives who have worn 1.-THE happy
and the unhappy, the loved and the
unloyed-it would fill a volume,
Basil. And some day-it may be
soon or many years may pass first
when l lie dead, it will be drawn
from my finger. If you, Basil, should
be the one to remove it, you will
think of the hour when you first gave
it to me-"
She raised her face for him to
caress her, and he kissed the teaut1-
full lips He drew her to his breast
and said,-
MY darling, l hope it will be many
long years before that time, and
hope l shall die first"
He knew how much she loved him
then, for she chung to him with pas
sionate words and bitter tears.
"Ah, MOI" she cried. eff ever you
offer up a prayer for me, Basil, let it
be that when Heaven calls you,
may go with you. I-ah me, you
know, Basil, I could not live without
you! | could not even try"
Because you love me so, my
Leah?" he asked tenderly.
Yes, because I love you so. Do
you not feel so as regards myself? If
l died, could you live? Would not
the world become a dreary blank to
you? All, Basil, I am sure that if
you died l should never eat, never
sleep, never smile again."
He was greatly touched by her
words,
you love me so much?" he said
again.
yes, 1 love you so dearly" she
replied-"you will never know how
dearly. There are times when l
think that men never appreciate or
never understand the great love of
women"
81 will try to understand yours,
Leah he said, gently. Il hope" he
added, with genuine earnestness, 81
shall make you happy, Leah"
Happy" she repeated, as though
the word surprised her-"happy.
You love me, Basil, do you not?"
Yes" he replied.
Then how can I help being happy?
l could not be anything else. Many
people live with divided loves; they
share their affections; they have
mothers, brothers. l have only you.
l mean that all my love is concen-
trated on you. The other lesser loves
are absorbed by it, as the river
absorbs the waters Of it's tributary
brOoklets. All, Basil, I shall always
be SO pleased that you brought this
wedding-ring to me! 1t seems to
have made it easier for me to talk
to you about my love-"
HAS it not always been so, Leah?'
he asked.
She had half hidden her face
against his breast. She raised it
now, bright with unutterable tender
ness.
mo, not always" she replied.
Sometimes my heart is quite full,
and l try to tell you, but | cannot.
Sometimes, when you are away from
me, I think of all that l shall say
when I see you next; a thousand
thoughts come to me, a thousand
words that | long to speak. And
then, when you come, am mute; my
fanc1es leave me in the sweet
reality of your presence. You know
what Shakespeare says, Basil?-
ooh, sweet love, I always write to
you,
And you and love are still my argu-
ment!
So all my best is dressing old words
new,
Spending again what is always
spent;
For, as the sum is new and old,
So is my love still telling what is
told!'
Are they not noble lines Basil?"
Eyes, very. How well you under
stand all this wonderful science Of
love, Leah"
And your" she said, looking up at
him "Do you not understand it,,
too?'
81 have had the sweetest teacher
the world ever saw" cried Sir Basil.
st can understand men losing the
whole world for the love Of one
woman"
Would you lose it, dear, for me?"
she asked, putting her arms around