Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-05-07

A Broken Wedding Ring

By Bertha N. Clay.

Leah's was proud Hettie's was ten,
der. Leah was brilliant with the
dark beauty of her face, the statu.
esque grace of her magnificent neck
and shoulders; Hettie was all that
was most sweet and winsome Men
would probably admire Leah more,
but love Hettie best.
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 to
LEANS interests. She might marry
well; or, when Leah had married Sir
Basil, this girl, who had been SO true
and 50 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 seawall where Martin Raw
and Sir Basil had often stood leay-
Ing the sisters to finish the debate
alone. When he had gone, golden
haired Hettie went up to her stately
sister
on, Leah" she cried, rs there no
other way in which we could be TO.
gethcr? After all he said to our poor
father ! feel that | shall hate to live
under his roof and eat his bread. If
you would come and live with me,
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 tho
sweet face.
You must not forget, Hettie," she
SAID, "al about our mother Re.
member that Sir Arthur renrasants
hcr' II she were living, If she couId
speak to us, am quite sure thar she
would tell us both that he stood in
hof place can never leave him
instead of asking me To do that
make up your mind to como and live
WIN me He is 50 kind; we shall no
very happy Oh Hcttic, can Won m
"'rSland how much have ALWAYS
wanted your"
Yes, eau for | was never happy
without you"
ANA then IIettic told her sister
now she had watched Iarbury
House, and how She had seen her
once at the thcatcr. and how she had
purchased from the rootmnp tbn
bouquet that she had held in her
hands
Lean s face soltend aud lrightoned
INA YOU really love me SO much"
sue asked, u wish | had known Won
Wero SO near TO me, lIotte; | should
nave risked "A great deal To- sneak ~
- INV SIhllb' we should he
parted as we were | could not have
stayed, could never had been whol
my father desired OH Hettie, do as
Sir Arthur wishos--come home with
us! You must have suffered terribly,
VIII make 1t all up to you" She
raresSed the golden head that law
upon her breast; she kissed the
Hower-Itko 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"
u do not care for that; want only
I" be near YOU. Leah where can
see YOU in the morning ana AT nirhr
where | can listen to your voice ana
near what people say To YOU, could
never live away from YOU again. now
that | have found YOU Leah"
Fherc is no need for It, Hottie, II
you VIII but listen to reason" said
Leah.
II was touching to see those two
tar women, the lovely faces SO near
together the slender arms cntwincd
the dark head bending over the fair
one, Hottie looked up al Leah.
II should not like" she said. TO
Interfere with your prospects, Leah.
You arc Sir Arthur's heiress, ana il
Is quite right | would much sooner
have shared my fathers poverty
than my unclc's wealth had my
choic aud Il does not seem fair for
mo to interfere with You"
Our uncle Is rich enough Hcttie
darling, To adopt half a dozen nteces,
her sister replied, TRANQUILITY There
ea@ De no question of interlureuce
with me, Even if there were and
had to share my fortune with YOU.
believe me- should lie ouly too
happy You are moro to nc than any
money llcttte ! imagine that he.
cause YOU saw me leave a poor
father aud transfer my affections Is
q rich unciv. YOU argue | love money
You are wrong Had my uncle Icon
poor and my father uch should