Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-07-02


passion-flowers grew-the spot where
she had seen her lover first, and
where her heart had gone out to him
She kissed the bare brown branches
They would live again; they would be
Oenone, recalling every word that had
flowers when leaves and flowers
should gladden. her eyes no more
She kissed the picture face OF
Aenone, recalling evrey word that had
been spoken between Sir Basil and
herself on that day when they had
stood in front Of 1t. 1t was like part
ing with living friend She stretch.
ed out her hands with a great cry
room where she had spent such happy
hours. All earth and air seemed burn.
Ing fire. oh for rest, for change, for
the coldness even OF the grave?
Those who saw Miss Hatton's face
when she left Brentwood never forgot
It,
II was strange journey to Dover.
Sir Arthur was the only one who
talked. Hettie avoided either looking
at or speaking to Sir Basil, and Leah
could have laughed in bitter amuse-
ment at the scene Sir Arthur spoke
Of his niece return, of the mar
rage, Of Glen. of Basil In parliament
and saw nothing wrong,
They stood together on the deck at
last, a blue sky above them, the sun
shining on the white cliffs of Dover
and on the sea, which was almost as
smooth as a mirror.
! Sir Arthur took Hettie to the other
side Of the vessel
/ "They will have so much to say to
each other: lovers always have We
Will leave them alore, Hettie"
SO they stood side by side, the
deathly pallor CT LEANS face hidden
by her veil. A terrible calm had
fallen over her, She loved Sir Basil
still with her whole heart; she could
have knelt down there, and have
covered his hands with burning kisses
and burning tears. She held them
for u moment In n close grasp. while
she looked in his face for the last
time. The solemn shadow of eternity
lay over her.
He was telling her something about
Glen and about parliament She did
not hear the words To her the
moment was solemn, as though her
soul were ON her lips. and her eyes
were fixed ON his with strained,
lingering gaze. How well she had
loved him, And he had cared moth
Ing or her; he had preferred
some one else He was asking her
II she was sorry to leave him, and
she was unable to answer him. The
white lips were quite stiff and cold.
Then there came shout from the
sailors, All was In readiness; those
who were for shore must leave, The
moments were numbered; her eyes
never left him, her hand stu held his.
Il must go" he said. "Goodby,
Leah"
He bent down and kissed her lips.
He started to find them so cold
"Goodby," he repeated, "A pleas
ant, prosperous journey, Leah, and
happy return
"Goodby. Basil; goodby, my love,
she said; and the next moment she
was looking over the waters alone.
The rest Of the Journey was like a
from 1t until she stood In the salon
of the villa at Mentone, and saw the
duchess regarding her with fearful
eyes.
Great Heaven" she cried this is
not Leah; this is a shadow. ! thought
II was Hottie who had been III"
80 1t was, | have not been Ill,
said voice which the duchess hardly
recognized as LEANS, Il am we'll;
hut my Journey has tired me-
".What can be the matter? What
has gone wrong in the girls life?"
thought the kindly woman, "The
only thing that she reminds me Of is
n flower broken by tempest"
when chance gave her few
minutes alone with the general, she
turned to him with an anxious face,
"Sir Arthur" she said abruptly
What has happened to leah?"
ITO Leah? Nothing he replied
Nothing" said the duchess, Are
You blind, that YOU cannot see2 She
has death In her face.
My dear duchess. you exaggerate,
answered Sir Arthur, laughing, she
has not been we'll lately; she has
tired herself by nursing Hettie Re
sides, the Journey has Leen trying
one"
Nonsense" said the duchess,
THAT will not account for the change,
TELL me-for | am her best friends
ALI right between Leah and Sir
Basil9"
Yves, The wedding has been de.
ilayed on account Of Hotties illness,
hut Leah does not mind II, Basil
would have been with us now but for
the parliamentary business
| And YOU are quite certain that
there has been no misunderstanding
Ihetweou them" pursued the duchess,
"Certain9 Most assuredly' Basil
came with us as far as Dover. and
you should have seen the lovers part,