Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-05-11
A Broken Wedding Ring

By Bertha II. Clay.

E ana suOuAuGASs 11GllAb was Ola Nha1
was most sweet and winsome. Men
would probably admire Leah more,
/ but love Hettie best.
1 Sir Arthur wished with all his
heart that his sister had lived, that
( she might have seen these TWO fair
women. How proud she would have
/ been of them! How she would have
/ loved them! And now they were
both alone in the world and quite de-
! pendent on him. In her way, Hettie
was as deserving as Leah. He would
give her a handsome fortune; he
could do that without injury 10
/ Leah's interests. She might marry
/ well; or, when Leah had married Sir
Basil, this girl, who had been so true
and so loving TO her father, might
prove a comfort to him. Had IL been
! the generals wish alone to make her
home at Brentwood, Hettie would
have refused; but she could refuse
nothing TO the beloved sister whom
she had loved so well and had lost so
long.
The general said all he had to say,
and then went out TO smoke a cigar
by the sea-wall where Martin Ray
and Sir Basil had often stood, ieav-
ing the sisters to finish the debate
alone. When he had gone, golden
haired Hettie went up to her stately
sister.
"Oh, Leah" she cried, lis there no
other way in which we could be to-
gether? After all he said TO our poor
father l feel that l shall hate to live
under his roof and eat his bread. II
you would come and live with me, l
would work so hard TO keep you, and
you should never work at all"
Leah laughed. How little this good
sister of hers knew to what luxury
she was accustomed! She kissed the
sweet face.
you must not forget, Hettie," she
said, "all about our mother Re
member that Sir Arthur represents
J her. If she were living, if she could
speak to us. l am quite sure that she
would tell us both that he stood in
her place. l can never leave him.
/ Instead of asking me 10 do that,
make up your mind TO come and live
with me. He is SO kind; We shall be
very happy. oh, Hettie, can you un-
derstand how much l have always
wanted your"
YES, can, for l was never happy
without you"
And then Hettie told her sister
how she had watched Harbury
House, and how she had seen her
once at the theater, and how she had
purchased from the footman the
! bouquet that she had held in her
hands.
Leah's face softend and frightened.
Did You really love me so much?"
she asked. Il wish had known you
were so near to me, Hettie; | should
have risked a great deal TO speak to
you. How strange we should be
parted as we were! l could not have
stayed. could never had been what
my father desired. oh, Hettie, do as
Sir Arthur wishes-come home with
Ius! You must have suffered terribly.
/ will make il all up to you" She
caressed the golden head that lay
upon her breast; she kissed the
l1ower-like face. You are so fair,
Hettie." she said so graceful, so
sweet! long to see you dressed in
handsome silks and laces. You will
be a queen of beauty. | know few
women In London so fair as you"
Il do not care for that; want only
to be near you, Leah, where l can
see you in the morning and at night,
where can listen TO your voice and
hear what people say to you. l could
never live away from you again, now
that / have found you, Leah"
There is no need for it. Hettie, if
you will but listen 10 reason" said
Leah.
II was touching to see those two
fair women, the lovely faces so near
together, the slender arms entwined,
the dark head bending over the fair
one. Hettie looked up at Leah.
81 should not like" she said, ito
interfere with your prospects, Leah.
! You are Sir Arthur's heiress, and it
- quite AAEnAs MOhAh AAANA SNNA4NA
have shared my fathers poverty
than my uncle's wealth. ] had my
choice, and il does not seem fair for
me TO interfere with you"
"Our uncle is rich enough, Hettie
darling. to adopt half dozen nieces,"
her sister replied. TRANQUILITY. There
caa be no question of interference
with me. Even If there were, and
/ had TO share my fortune with you,
believe me. l should be only too
I happy. You are more TO me than any
money, Hettie. | imagine that, be-
cause you saw me leave a poor
] father and transfer my affections to
/ a rich uncle, you argue l love money.
/ You are wrong. Had my uncle been
poor and my father rich. | should
have done just the same. l do not
want TO speak of il; but it was the
1 teaching, the life that / disliked.
would have done anything 10 escape