Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-05-07
CHAPTER XII.


Ray when alive, who had indeed de.
tested him, now that he was dead,
showed due honor and respect to his
memory He remained at the cottage
with Leah and Hettie, he attended
the funeral, and then the little
council was held which decided the
fate OF so many
There was no sensation when the
quiet funeral procession wound its
way down the green hill to the pretty
churchyard Few knew that the once
popular Voice OF the People was
laid to rest here, that the man who
had taught sedition and treason,
whose voice had been as a flame OF
fire, slept his last long sleep in the
,churchyard. The waves sang his
requiem.
Martin Ray had left nothing but
his name. In one sense his daughters
were pleased that 1t was so. 1t dis.
proved they thought, most con
clusIvely many of the charges
brought against him. He had not
made money out of his starving ad-
mirers.
The funeral was over, and the
general and his two nieces sat in the
little parlor, where the blinds were
still drawn and the gloom Of death
still fingered Now that the last
solemn rites had been performed, the
general was anxious to return home;
IL was OF no use spending even an
other hour In Southwood. But he
wanted to take Hettie back win him.
At their first interview he had been
so enirely captvated by Leah that he
had not taken much notice OF Ecttie.
He remembered only that she was
fair, sweet, and winsome and that
although he was angry and irritated
with her, he could not help admirinS
her faithful love and devotion to one
of the most unprcpossessng OF mon.
He had taken her sister away, and
had forbidden all mention OF her
name; but his anger had been
against the girls father, AMI not
against herself, Now that her father
was dead 1t seemed to him the most
natural thing In the world that he
should adopt her.
He asked her to return with him,
to live with him rs his daughter, and
not to leave them again. He liked
her all the better because she was In
no hurry to accept the invitation
. The girls heart was atIll sore with
the old pain. She could not forget all
at once that this man who was win
ing now to make her his adopted
daughter had denounced her father
In most unmcasured terms; she
could not forget the scene In the
gloomy little house IN Manchester.
IN death, rs In life, her heart was
faithful to her father Had hc lived,
she would have refused every over.
turo from Sir Arthur, as il was, she
was with difficulty pesuaded even to
listen to him
On the day of the funeral he asked
her what she intended to do. She
told him that she should live ON
there at the cottage and continue her
teaching. She could always earn
enough money for her maintenance
Sir Arthur looked at her, so young
SO fair, so refined. and he vowed to
himself that IT should never be
Then he talked to Leah. He would
do nothing without consulting her
Her eyes filled with tears when she
heard of his generous proposal.
IT Is tho only thing wanting To
make my life perfectly happy" she
said, II love ilette SO dearly! No
ono Will ever know what II cost mo
to leave her"
Yet II did not seem sure that
Hettie would consent. TO live in
grand houses, to wear costly Jewels
and rich dresses, to have every
luxury that the world can give, was
not much to llettio. The world could
really give heu nothing, for she knew
II had nothing to give. The generals
offer would have boon no temptation
To her but for her great love for
Leah, Sir Arthur was perfectly
frank
Leah, he said Il look upon as
my adopted child, MS my own daugh-
ter, From the moment she turned To
me, acknowledging her mothers
wish--lrom that moment she has
been to me my own You Hottie,
can never take her place, nor cvcn
stand near her in my affections"
To which Hottie. with slight
flush on her fair face, said that she
had not the least wish to rival Leah,
that she had chung 70 her father, ana
that, II tho choice were offered to her
again, she should do the same thing
Sir Arthur was not in the least
offended at her words; he seemed to
like her all the better for them lie
Kissed her, and her face flushed
little al his carcss,
Come with me Hcttte," he said.
You shall be my daughter. Leah Is
my heiress but will give you
fortune"
Il do not wish any fortune she
answered, simply; u have no use for
money, But | do want Leah. would
be Loah's maid in order that might