Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-01-26

tell her he was there.
For ten minutes there was almost
complete silence. He could hear the
sound of LEANS pen. She was writ
ing rapidly. Then suddenly the
door opened, and Sir Arthur's
smothered groan was lost in the voice
of the speaker.
Shall I disturb you Miss Hatton ?''
It was Sir Basil who put the question.
81 am in trouble, from which a lady
alone can release me-
81 am glad you sought me-" she
said. And for the first time the gen
eraI was struck with something
peculiar in the tone Of her voice as
she answered him. What can 1 do
for you? she asked.
There is an old proverb which says
that a stitch in time saves nine Will
you make that first stitch now, and
save the nine hereafter, Miss Hatton?' p
"Of course l WILL" she replied.
where is the stitch needed?'
I'm this driving-glove," he replied;
, ''the button is nearly off. Would you
be so kind as to fasten it?''
Leah laughed blithely.
Certainly" she said, as she took
the thick yellow driving-glove that he
held out to her. Twill you excuse me
one minute while 1 find needle and
thread?" she added.
She went away, leaving Sir Basil
looking over an open volume that lay
upon the table.
81 hope" thought the general to him
self, that this good fellow will not
find me out and begin to air his ideas
on Indian politics to me-
But Sir Basil was in happy ignor-
ance of the generals proximity. He
read few lines in the open volume,
hummed favorite air to himself, and
then Leah returned.
''I am sorry to have kept you wait
| ing" she said. Il will release you
now in few minutes"
The slender fingers soon accom-
plished their task She held out the
glove to him, and as she did so, her
eyes fell on the spray Of stephanotis
| that he wore in his coat.
| your flower is faded" she said;
LET me give you another. | have a
superstition that it is unlucky to
wear faded flowers"
"By all means replace it, if you will
be good enough he responded.
She took the spray Of stephanotis
from him. and laid it upon the table
From one of the vases she chose
beautiful moss-rosebud fresh as the
dawn and fastened it in his coat for
him.
He thanked her briefly, stood talking
to her for some few minutes, and then
went away.
Sir Arthur, looking over the screen,
was gone; but no word came from his
lips-he was stricken dumb.
What was he doing-his proud,
beautiful niece-whose love no man
had been able to win, whose smiles
had been sought as priceless boon?
She had never seemed to care for love
or admiration, for lovers or marriage.
She had moved though the brilliant
world like an ice-maiden. What was
she doing?
She had taken the withered flower
in her hands, and was kneeling down
by the table and covering the faded
spray with kisses and tears.
ooh, my love-" she sighed, my
love, if you only loved me! But |
am less to you than the withered
flower you have thrown away"
The general would have spoken
then and have let Leah know that he
had overheard her but surprise and
wonder kept him silent. He saw her
kiss the open volume wnere Sir BasiPs
hand had rested.
II shall die" she sobbed, "just as
this flower has died, and just as far
from his heart! Oh cruel world!
have asked but for one thing and it
has been denied me. I wish I had
never been born. Oh, my love, why
can you not love me? am fair enough
for others, why not for you? can win
other hearts, why not yours? I would
give my life tor your love-!
/ The low smOtbered sound Of her bit
ter sobbing mingled with the song of
the birds and the whisper Of the wind;
, it smote the heart Of the old soldier
with unutterable pain. He had rescued
her from what he thought a shameful
life, adopted her, and given her his
love and protection; he had made her
heiress of his vast fortune; and this
was all that had come of it, this was
the end of all his hopes for her. She
was wearing her heart and her life
away for love that could never be
hers, or at least that was not hers.
From the sight of the kneeling figure,
the clasped hands, the proud head so
despairingly bent, the general turned
with tears in his eyes.
"If I could but die" she said to her
self, land be at rest; if I could but
sleep and never wake; if I could but