Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-05-11

Hettie. if / had not accepted his
offer; and, remember, it was not my
father, but his teaching and his be
lief. that Sir Arthur hated. .,
Hettie! now that we have found each
other, do not let us part! l will bury
the past; you do the same. We are
alone in the world; let us live tor
each other. There is nothing but
pride between US. Hettie, if you love
me. you will let that pride die"
1t is not pride, Leah. Do you not
understand? 1t seems 10 me that il
l go to Sir Arthur, / am disloyal to
my father"
That is only a fancy-a morbid
fancy. Your path seems to me clear
enough"
But, Leah"-and the blue eyes
anxiously sought the dark ones"
have not had your advantages. l do
not see how can. You and are
quite different now. You are a lady
of fashion and rank; am only a
poor music teacher"
What nonsense, Hettie! We are
sisters! Can anything undo that? Ii
you come to regard the matter in its
true light, which of us two has led
the nobler life-yOu or 1? If there
is any unworthiness, it is on my side,
not on yours. My pretty Hettie, Tor
months after l had left you, /
dreamed of those golden ripples OF
hair. How strange it was-our uncle
coming so suddenly and putting be-
fore US so terrible a choice"
Il have never repented mine," said
Hettie.
Nor have l mine," declared Leah.
we may be happy together, if you are
willing Hettie."
She prevailed at length, but it was
after a long struggle. Hettie prom
ised TO make her home with Sir
Arthur and her sister; and Leah knew
that she would keep her word.
1t was arranged that they should
go first to London, where a fitting
trousseau and mourning could be
provided; and the two sisters left
Southwood with their hearts full OF
love for each .other, but each keep
ing her secret. Leah had not told
Hettie of her passionate love, her APP
preaching marriage, or the pain
which weighed at times so heavily
upon her; nor did Hettie tell Leah
of that episode in her life which was
to her like a fair sweet dream.
CHAPTER XII.
There was a long animated dis
cussion between re general and
Hettie. She was % firmly resolved
not to relinquish her name, and Sir
Arthur was as fully determined that
the name of Ray should never be
heard in his house. 1t was Lean
who decided the matter. She repre-
scented to Hettie that, if she lived in
her uncle's house, if she accepted
fortune at his hands, she was bound
in honor to accept it on his con-
ditions. Again Hettie would have
held out, and have left him; but Leah
prevailed. Hettie could not resist
her for my sake" She could re-
fuse nothing to the beloved sister
from whom she had been parted so
long.
There was nothing of obstinacy in
the tender heart of Hettie, but there
was always a quick loving sense that
she must DO nothing that would seem
disloyal to the dead. Had she met
the brave, simple old soldier else
where, had he been any one except
her uncle, she would have liked him
at once; but between her and SIR
Arthur stood the memory of the
had denounced.
The more the general saw of Hettie
the more he liked her. He thought
she was possessed of an ex-
traordinary combination of brilliant
qualities. She was loving, gentle and
tender of heart, without being weak
and undecided; she was firm and
self-reliant, without obstinacy. She
lack the touch of genius which Leah
had, but she was the very ideal of
true womanhood. Every hour the
general grew more charmed with her.
There was no restlessness, no pas
sion in her fair, calm face.
"Any one on seeing you would
think, my DEAR" said the general to
her, that you had gone through a
great deal of trouble"
"Why?" she asked, with a smile
they were driving then from the
station home to Brentwood.
II should be puzzled, Hettie, to say
why; but your eyes have a strangely
calm expression"
Leah's dark eyes were fixed
anxiously on her. Hettie's thoughts
went back 10 the hour when, under
the twinkling stars, she had hidden
her lover good-by-back to that pain
which had been so great that it had
stunned her. Now she would have
time to realize it all.
The lovely face grew a shade paler
as she answered.:
my life has been like all other
lives, I suppose, uncle" she replied,