Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-07-13
Continued.


hands. II you could get rid Of this
care, IL you could prevent yourself
from breeding over IL, II you could
rouse yourself, you might live a little
longer"
4 could not" she said: the re-
straiut has been too great ana too
persistent VIII you tell me what the
end viii be like?"
II wish you would not ask me" he
answered, locking pitifully at the
fair face.
Il viii be the greatest service you
can render me" she said. 1T matters
so little TO me. II have some months
To live. 1 shall carry out an intention
which / have formed: If not, shall
. f0reEo it, Tell me, doctor"
You viii not live for months" he
said--''the greater the pity"
TIE greater the joy" she cried.
eWfIi il lie weeks?"
Weeks in all probability" he re-
piled
And the end?" she asked again.
The end viii be sudden and peace
full" he answered. 1t may be at any
time. ANY sudden sorrow or Joy
might prove fatal. Calmness, peace,
resignation, are your greatest helps.
Poor child" he said, in an Outburst
II sudden. tender pity-~pOor child!
Life has been hard for youi"
Very hard" she declared.
Il wish" he said, that you would
follow my advice. / could not save
your life, but I might prolong It."
No" she replied. 4 am staying
here az MentOne; ] shall die here,
and, when die, they viii be sure to
send for you. You will not say that
you have seen me?"
4 viii not" he promised.
Accept my lest thanks" she said,
holding out her hand 10 him. 4 knew
there was something radically wrong;
7 am happier and easier, now that
understand what II is. You have
done me a service. FAREWELL"
He thought OF her a hundred times.
He wished that he had detained her.
that he had forced her TO send for
her friends. He reproached himself
until the end Of his life, and yet he
had not been 20 blame.
You look better tonight, Leah"
said the duchess. The deadly pallor
had left the fair face. and there was a
smile in the dark eyes. 4 feel more
al ease about you"
Leah smiled 10 herself. She was
better because she was drawing
nearer to the golden shore.
There followed two quiet, peaceful,
and happy weeks, OF which Hettie
liked to think afterward. II struck
her az times that Leah locked weak
and gu, but she made no complaint.
News came from England that Sir
Basil had Eee1 returned member for
the county. The duke and duchess
were delighted. Hettie was pleased,
and talked more about it than she
talked OF anything else.
Leah went 10 her room; the sun
shole bright and warm. and the air
was full of the perfume of flowers.
Ehe was tired. with a peculiar feeling
of longing for rest which was new TO
her and her senses had been suddenly
sharpened. She could see further;
she could hear with almost painful
distinctness. She had a letter 70
write. but the feeling OF fatigue was
so strong upon her that she was
hardly inclined 20 commence her task.
Il viii DO Il at once, and then il
viii not trouble me-" she said 10 her
self. She went 20 one OF her jewel
cases which was kept locked, and
which opened only with a peculiar
key. From II she took the small ring
case that Sir Basil had given her, and
drew from t- the Old-fashioned we'd
fing-rinz with which she was 20 have
Teen married. But. as she lifted IL
from the case. IL snapped and fell in
two in her hands. whether il had
been put away in 1me awkward
fashion. or whether some one, in
looking over the iewel-case. had taken
the ring out. accidentlly broken IL,
and replaced il without mentioning
the fact, she could not tell She was
not sunerstitiOus. she did not think IL
an omen or augury Of evil: but IL gave
her a terrible shock. She tremhleG as
though some great disaster had Oc-
CURED. She had intended 10 write 10
Sir Basil. and return him the ring,
leaving the letter 10 be handed 10
him Now "a lay broken in twO-the
ring that had been worn by so many
faithful wives, that had been given
by so many loving husbanjs-the ring
that she had received with such loving
trust and conference.-the ring that
she had hoped 70 wear until she lay
dead and Basil took IL from her.
Il was broken now. ike her love,
her heart. her life. What would Basil
do7 she wondered. Would he have IL
meuded? Would Hettie ever wear ii?
She had never shed a tear since she
had found that Basil did not love
her. but her eyes grew dim as she
looked al the broken ring. She kissed
it as though it had been a living thing
and understood her action.
A broken wedding-ring is never a