Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-01

A Broken Wedding Ring

By Bertha n. Clay.
: -. llEIZzANtzENnlN0k .sGHlx.y<zAyXGy


she loved him. o, Heaven, how II al
comes back TO me! l told her such a
great love could never be a happy
one; but how little l thought
She paused, and then, after a minutes
silence, she looked at him again
YOU" she said-"you are Leah's
lover. She loves you so 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, hapless Leah, oh, miser'
able, thrice-wretched me-"
She shrank back, crouching against
the withered sprays of the passion
towers. 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-
spair, 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 your"
Told me what?" he cried. "What
lis it?"
4 sickening sense of insecurity
came TO her. If neither Leah nor Sir
Arthur had said anything TO him,
what could she say? Was he TO know
all about her? If she told him that
she was Leah's sister, and that they
were both daughters of Martin Ray,
what would happen?
Her heart grew faint with dread
and 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 1? 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 10 Leah?'
"You cannot guess?" she said.
"You have no idea?"
None. / cannot guess. What are
you keeping from me, Hettie?"
My story and Leah's," she re-
piled; land / cannot tell il 10 you.
You must ask them TO tell it"
In his sudden surprise and com
plete bewilderment he never thought
OF what Martin Ray had told him OF
his two daughters; all power OF
thought and memory had gone from
him.
"Hettie, you have lost faith in me-"
he said.
No; it is not that. See, there
is some one coming. Do not let me be
seen"
The quick footstep OF one Of the
men-servants 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. If he felt any curiosity
about the figure crouching against the
balustrade, he gave no sign.
Say that / viii be there in a few
minutes" was the reply; and the man
went away.
Sir Basil turned TO Hettie.
Let me take you TO the house, Het.
tie" he said. You must not remain
here"
Il cannot go. You must leave me
here. l cannot walk" she said; Il
cannot stand. Do you not see how
tremble? You must leave me-"
He looked terribly distressed.
My darling!" he began.
But she held up her hand.
Hush, Basil!' she said. "Remem-
Der, you are Leah's lover"
Il VIII not leave you, Hettie," he
said. You will faint"
mo; do not fear; listen 10 me. II
will be all for the best. 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 T. he said.
Her eyes were dim with tears as she
watched him-Leah's over; and then,
as he went slowly down the terrace.
a mist seemed TO rise before her; she
swayed to and fro, staggered, and.
helpless, fell suddenly TO the ground.