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

W0dT0Q. IL duy OAS p4CASu VI
sympathzed with her, she would say,
with her sweetest smile, my poor
father. he has had so much to bear!"
She was utterly unselfish.
No words could tell how she had
thoug-- of her teautiful sister-hoW
she dreamed of her. longed for her
how she tried to fancy what she had
grown like and what she was doing.
Going to London made her think Of
Leah more than ever. They had been
living in small country town, for
Martin Rays health was failing.
There could be no hope of seeing her
sister there; but here, in London
there was a possibility. Hettie
watched the newspapers, and soon
found that General Sir Arthur Hat
ton, with his beautiful niece, lived at
Harbury House. Some time, when
her father was out, and she had a
leisure hour, she would go to Har-
bury House; she would pass and re-
pass it-she would stand opposite to
it. She did so, but never once did
she see Leah. Though both were
living in the great city, they were far
apart as the poles. In her heart all
day she cried for Leah; on her lips
trembled always the name Of Leah"
She read in the newspapers of Leah's
triumphs that she was one of the
most admired and popular queens of
society. She read of Leah at court
with the Duchess of ROsedene, of
Leah at state hall and concert, of
Leah at the most exclusive and
recherche entertainments in London;
and she longed with all her loving
heart to see her in her grandeur and
magnificence, to gaze once more at
the beautiful face and into the dark
eyes. Her own eyes grew hot with
burning tears when she thought of
them.
The desire of her heart was I'M
expectedly granted. She went to the
theater, little dreaming that her
sister would be there on that same
evening in all her brilliancy and
magnificence. Hettie and her com
panion were in the pit-and even
that seemed a great thing to the girl
The landlady had apologized; she
would have liked to take Miss Ray to
the dress circle but it was not pos
sible. Simply, kindly Hettie pro
tested that the pit was the very best
part of the theater-it was cooler and
one could see the stage better; which
view of the matter largely helped to
com fort h0r Communion
While the curtain was down Hettie
amused herself by looking round the
house The scene was a complete
novelty to her. She enjoyed seeing
the fair faces. the rich dresses, CLEAN
ing jewels, and exquisite bouquets.
After a short time she noticed that the
attention Of many people was directed
towards a box on the grand tier. She
wondered what was the source of at
traction and she looked herself in the
same direction. Her eyes frightened
and her beautiful features assumed
an expression of wonder. 1t could
never be-and yet--She saw a lady
dressed superbly in satin of the color
of the most delicate heliOtrOpe, with a
suite of magnificent opals-a hand
some woman with a stately graceful
bearing, her face a charming cOmbi-
nation Of refinement and happiness.
She carried a fan, the handle of which
blazed with jewels, and before her lay
& bouquet of costly flowers. With
her was a younger lady, so beautiful
that Hettie's eyes were dazed as she
looked at her She wore some soft
shining material shrouded in rich
black lace. Her hair was fastened
with diamond stars. Before her lay
a bouquet of scarlet passiOn-fOwers.
The grceful arch of the neck, the
cleaning white shoulders, the proud
carriage of the head were all Leah's.'
A cry rose to Hettie's white lips,
which she repressed; her heart beat
FAST and something like a mist came
before her eyes. This magnificent wo-
man, in all the splendor of dress and
jewels, surrounded by all that was
gorgeous was Leah. her sister. Could
it be possible that that beautiful head
had ever rested on her breast, that
night after night she had slept with
that figure closely clasped in her
arms? Was that the face that she
had kissed in such an agony when
they parted? She gazed at it long and
earnestly. Leah's face had always
been to her the fairest object on which
the sun shone; now it was as fair, but
there was change in it. Leah's face
had been restless, had always worn a
wistful look, as of one whise desires
were not granted; now it was both
calm and bright, while infinite love
shone in the happy eyes. That was
Leah, her friend, companion and sis
ter. She thought of the pale face
when her sister had gone to Sir
Arthur's side; she remembered the
voice trembling with emotion which
had said, Il asked Heaven to help me,
and it has sent you to deliver me from
this furnace of fire" This was the
same Lean, but calm and self-pOssess-
ed. She moved her fan with Ian
enid grace She looked more at