Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-06-22

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 a 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
hut Just returned to England, where
he was anxiously studying politics,
and that he wanted to understand my
political views.
"1f you desire it, l said to him, l
will expound them to you. II 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 Hettie. He said that he was wait
ing for me; but, if ever read pas
sionate love in a mans face, it was in
his. And then only did begin TO care
about who he was, for Hettie was
changed, and l knew that her heart
had gone out to the stranger. ! made
inquiries, silently, cleverly, and soon
knew all. l 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
magnificence, l saw you, Leah. You
passed me on the high-road; you were
in a carriage with the duke and
duchess, smiling, proud, beautiful. l
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: il
was whispered TO me, whether truly
or falsely I could not tell, that you
cared much more for the young
baronet than he lid for you, my proud,
disdainful child. I decided that l
would watch events and see for my
self of they were true.
"One day, when We were talking-I
was growing languid and feeble then
II told Sir Basil the outlines of our
history-how the aristocrat, Boosting
of his birth and his wealth, had come
10 take my child from me. ] told him
OF the choice which the two sisters
made-how one had gone 10 the
stranger, giving up home. sister. me
her father. how the other, loving and
faithful had chung 10 me. l uttered
no name, I said no word which could
lead him 10 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 I 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, I give you an opportunity Of re-
trieving yourself. of making a
sacrifice that viii prove you are not
selfish"
Suddenly the blaze of the fire seem
ed TO die out, and the light faded.
Leah could not see the letter; they
swan in a mist before her eyes. She
rose mechanically and went 10 the
fire; she stirred it again The flames
hickered this time on a 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 Oenone.