Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-09-15
CHATTER VII

the home of their relative, Mr.. Charles
Rogers, in Charles street, Liverpool, and
hidden the handsome young physician
farewell, who had cared for them both
50 tenderly during their passage across
the Atlantic
1t need only be said, in reference to
that farewell, that the tears rushed to
the hazel eyes of Ethel as she saw him
disappear in the distance, and a great
and lonely void seemed suddenly to have
dropped into her heart.
She knew not why she had taken such
a deep interest in this grave and often
pre-oecupied stranger, but from the lrst
word of kindness he had spoken to her,
the first glance into his earnest eyes, she
had felt towards him as she had never
done towards any person of the opposite
sex before.
But now it was all over. he had gone,
and henceforward she can but learn to do
without him. For a day or so it had al
most seemed an impossibility, but with
the rapid failure of her aunt's strength
her thoughts were forced into another
channel. and her own lonely feelings had
to be pushed aside for the more moment
GUS and important one of their impend-
ing separation
The third week was drawing to a close
and the young girl had thrown herself
upon her knees by the bedside of the
invalid to catch the last words that she
had TO speak in her ear. At her request,
she had beo~ left alone with har child,
and now, with her hand in hers, she muir
INJURED:
Ethel, darling, / feel that l have but
few hours more to be with you, as my
strength is fast waning; but while l may,
l wish to tell you what / thought might
be kept from your ears until your TWEEN
ty-hrst birthday; but as l shall not be
with you then, | must impart to you now
an important secret, and give into your
charge some documents not to be opened
until chat day. My dear will you take
these papers, and promise me that you
will not break their seal until that time
arrivesT"
Il will, dearest aunt; rest assured l
will do exactly as you wish"
H'The papers | speak of, then, are in
my trunk, inside a small wallet. Take
charge of them Immediately. and be sure
to aottend to them at the time l mention.
Now, / must tell you fact that l nave
withheld from your knowledge for the
best of reasons, and in order to keep
father when babe | took you, as you
are aware, when a child of few weeks
old, as my own had died. as we'll as my
husbands sister, who was your dear
mother.
You were so young, and to be so en-
tirely ours until your twenty-irst birth
day, that all thought it best to call you
by our own name. l now tell you, for
re baf hos Eap
Your father still lives, but for various
reasons did not wisi to claim you or be
known to you until that time l have
informed him of M husbands death,
my failing health, aid of my return to
England. | have also given him Cousin
Rogers address, who will tell him where
you can be found when that date arrives
Il Will only add that there is nothing
TO be ashamed of in your birth. You are
a true gentewoman, and when twenty
one will come into possession of
property sufficient for your support but
this fact is not to be generally known
-Four months will elapse before that
time comes, and / can leave only enough
to bury me and purchase suitable
mourning apparel for yourself.
II dare not leave you without a pro-
tector and guardian, and as our present
host is poor and has a struggle to pro-
vide for his own six children and wife,
/ have written to hay brother, Sir Regi-
maid Glendenning, asking him to take
charge of you. / told him unless he did,
you would be obliged to earn your own
living, and / hated to send you out into
the world alone for such a purpose. l
asked him if you could not be of use in
some way to him, until the fifth of Oc-
tober, when you would be otherwise pro-
vided for This letter must be sent af
ter my interment. Let him be notified of
my death and invited to my funeral:
then, after all is over and your mourn
ing garments are made, send him the let
ter
Now. my love, wish you to promise
me that you will go to him if he sends
for you, and assist him in whatever ca
pacity he offers, even though it may be
distasteful Will you do this for your
dying aunt Ethel, my child?"
Il surely will" was the low reply, sob
bed out almost with a wall; but l can
not think of your dying. o, auntie /
have loved you so, how can l live with
out your
be- is all | can say. God will comfort
YOU. ana ii lew uOTe your
father will claim and protect you. But
what is this? l cannot see! I am grow
ing numb-eold, Ethel-Ethel-I am
dying!'
She spoke no more, and as Mr.. and
Mrs. Rogers FASTENED back to the room
at Ethers hurried call. they saw that
abe was indeed breathing her last
Ethel mourned, as one with such
Loving heart would naturally do over
her great loss, but amid all her grief
she remembered distinctly every direc
ton she had received from those loved,
dying lips. The package spoken Of was
hidden tstantly amid her own posses
sions, an a message dispatched to the
baronet.
The next day telegraphic dispatch
summoned the young girl Immediately
10 the presence of the baronet, saying
'that he was III. and needed her at once. "
An hour later saw her seated in rail
way train on her way to the Hall. Poor
girl: she little knew what awaited her
there
CHAPTER VIII.