Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-05-04
Continued.


Il must 90" she said, more 10 her
self than 10 him. He is my father
II must 90. Let me see what
Hettie says. uncle. have longed TO
speak Of her. Il eases my heart even
20 utter her name"
Silently the general placed the
letter in her hands. and watched her
face as she read.
Simple and pathetic were the
words addressed by HetJie 10 the
general She seemed TO think that
the presence Of death Ievelled all dis
tinctions. She addressed him as
Dear Uncle" and went on TO say
that all through the summer her
father had been very ill, but that
lately he had teen much worse. Ten
laws since the doctor had thought
him dying. Since then he had been
in a terrible state-dying, yet could
not die. Last night" he had called
her to him. and told her that he
could not die until he had seen Leah
once more. Il cursed her, Hettie,
when she left me-" he had said. and
/ want to take the curse from her.
I cannot die until 1 have seen her.
Write TO the general, and ask him to
bring her hither."
Il must go" Leah repeated, vita
white lips, turning 70 the general.
How horrible. uncle. Ny poor
father did curse me, but they were
only words. I have never been
frightened about Il; have your"
I have never liked even to think
OF il, my dear" he replied. If any
one was TO blame in that terrible
business. il was myself. / was too
harsh. but I thought I was carrying
out my dead sisters wish-that was
all. Everything looks different in
the presence Of death; and yet I do
not see how I could have acted
otherwise. VIII you 90 at once,
Leah =
DO you really believe that he is
dyingg" she asked.
YES" replied the general; Il see
no reason for doubling what Hettie
SAYS. / 10 not think he would ask
TO see you. Leah, IL he had any
chance of life"
Then we must 90 at once" she
said. But was there every anything
so strange, uncle? IL looks TO me
more than a coincidence that they
should have lived at SOuthwood and
we at Dene Abbey, so near them,
yet never once have met. Is II fate
or Providence?"
Providence" replied the brave
soldier. 4 do not believe in fate. 1
remember. when we were at Dene,
hearing the duke speak OF some worn
out old p0nucian who lived at South
wood. I need hardly say that I never
for one moment dreamed that 1t was
Martin Ray"
Leah shranE back with a shudder
at the sound OF the name.
do not think me unfeeling,
uncle" she said, hut I suffered so
terribly in my early life that can
not bear even TO recall II. And TO
think that have been so near
Hettie and never knew it,"
Sir Arthur took out his watch and
looked at IL.
We can catch the midday ex-
press" he said, IF we lose no time"
But Leah seemed hardly conscious
Of his words.
Uncle" she said, there was
time when Hettie and had but one
heart and one life between us. How
strange that we were so near, with
only the great green hill dividing us!
l.
'She was a very sN ct girl" said
the general. Il wish she had chosen
20 come with US: but I admired then,
as do now, the faithful, tender
heart. We must not lose time,
Leah" he added.
But there was something in his
nieces face that made him stop and
draw her closer to him, that made
him kiss her again and again, while
he said
You are the child Of my heart,
Leah: and you, who came with me,
are the one I shall always love best
I'm this world. Go now to your room
20 dress. and will get ready at once.
Stay-we must think OF Basil. Write
a note TO him-one Of the grooms
shall take IL overland tell him that
we have been sent for quite suddenly
TO the sick-bej OF a relative, hut that
we expect 70 return in a day or two.
Do not say where we are going. l
viii tell him the whole story on my
return. intended TO tell him in
the course Of a few days; It is time
he knew. How surprised he viii
be-"
So they parted; but, for the first
time since he had adopted Leah,
there was in the generals mind
slight sense Of disappointment-he
could hardly tell why or wherefor.
He would have felt happier had she
shown more pity, more affection for
Martin Ray. more anxiety to be with
him; and yet Il was by his wish that
she had left him. And In Leah's
heart there was something like a
faaffwr ~ resentment or feafOusv