Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-06-18

me, quite suddenly and silently, the
handsomest young man | had ever
beheld in my life. Handsome is not
the word; he had a grand, noble
beauty, the like Of which | had never
seen. He came to me and said that
he was looking for the house OF
Martin Ray. He was frank, princely
young fellow, and he spoke as though
he rather admired Martin Ray. |
talked to him. 1t was infinite pleasure
to converse once more with one who
believed in me. | spent a pleasant
hour with him. He told me that he
had been educated abroad, and had
but just returned to England, where
he was anxiously studying politics,
and that he wanted to understand my
political views.
/ of you desire it, said to him 4
will eXpound them to you. If you are
an aristocrat, do not say so, for /
should hate you;' and he never told
me his name.
] 'He came once when | was out, and
|, returning home, found him talking
to Iettie He said that he was wait
ing for me; but, if ever | read pas
sionate love in mans face, it was in
his. And then only did begin to care
about who he was, for Hettie was
had gone out to the stranger | made
inquiries, silently, cleverly, and | soon
knew all. found that his name was
Sir Basil Carlton, and that he was
staying at Dene Abbey with my foe.
the Duke Of Rosedene | found that
my mortal enemy, Sir Arthur Hatton
with the girl VINO had disowned me-
was with him; and once, in all your
magnficence, | saw you, Leah. You
passed me on the highrOad; you were
in carriage with the duke and
duchess, smiling, proud, beautiful
was on foot, and you did not know
that you had Whirled past your
father, without sign or recognition
without even the paling of your face
or the trembling of your lips. | heard
too that Sir Basil was your lover; it
was whispered to me, whether truly
or falsely | could not tell, that you
cared much more for the young
baronet than he lid for you, my proud,
disdalnful child. | decided that
would watch events and see for my.
self Of they were true.
cone day, when we were talking
was growing languid and feeble then
i told Sir Basil the outlines of our
history--how the aristocrat, bOasting
of his birth and his wealth had come
to take my child from me. told him
made-hOw one had gone to the
stranger. giving up home, sister. me
her father, how the other. loving and
faithful had chung to me. | uttered
no name, | said no word which could
lead him to think Of you, Then |
asked him frankly what he thought of
the daughter who had deserted me
and given up her sister. He did not
know of whom | was speaking, he had
no clue; he simply heard the story,
and he Judged you from his own heart,
He said the daughter who had so de-
serted me, who had abandoned her
sister, was selfish; that was his word
selfish Is it true, Leah? If it be
so, | give you an opportunity of re-
trleying yourself, of making a
sacrifice that will prove you are not
snnsh.'
Suddenly the blaze of the fire seem
cd to die out, and the light faded,
Leah could not see the letter: they
swan in u mist before her eyes. She
rose mechanically and went to the
fire; She stirred it again, The flames
nickCred this time ON face white as
the face of the dead; and she sat
down again where, when she raAed
her eyes, they must fall on the dreary
desolation and beauy of Oenonc.
CHAPTER L.
The freight fell ON the passages
.or the letter when Leah opened it
again, and it seemed to her as
though tho words were written in
blood, the scarlet flames lcaping aud
playing in mockcry over it. 1t was
death-warrant that she held in her
hands, Sh went on reading
Il cannot tell what steps should
have taken or what | should have
done but that was seized then with
u serious Illness Hottie was most
devoted to mo; she nursed me Ivy day
and niEht No man had ever a more
devoted child. | contrasted my two
daughters tho one living at the
great house away over the green hill,
IN the midst of luxury and magnfl-
ceuco, beautiful dainty, and prond,
ignoring my existence, not knowing.
caring, or inqutring whether | was
living or dead the other working for
me 10y day and by might, dcyotmg her
whole lite to me. The contrast was
mot in your favor, Leah. was i'll for