Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1903-04-13
CHAPTER xxxV.

CHAPTER XxxV.
Hettie Ray was watching the amber
light. The king of day was setting in
royal splendOr. He had donned new
colors this evening; he had dispensed
with crimson and gold, and had sur
rounded himself with clouds of deep
amber and pu-ple-kingly colors that.
falling upon the sea, gave a weird
CLEAN TO the waters. The light of a
daffodil sky was there in fun perfec-
ton, but the green earth looked
strange under it; a curious glow lay
upon the hills, upon the trees and the
grass. To Hettie's loving eyes 1t
seemed as thought nature were wait
ing, and that, when the sun had set,
something would happen. The sun
was sinking lower and lower; the
amber clouds seemed to touch the
waters edge. From the waves on
the shore came a musical murmur.
from the birds in the trees an even
ing hymn. Hettie, in her old seat
by the UNCOVERED wall. was tran
gully watching the lovely scene.
Her father had fallen asleep. He
was very i'll, and she was anxious
about him. She had decided that If
he we're not better on the morrow
she would call in a doctor. She had
been up with him all night, and she
had been hard at work all day; she
was tired and anXious-yet there was
look of happiness on her fair face
In the midst of the gloom AMI the
darkness there was a ray of light
for her-the handsome young
stranger whom her father calico
Glen" loved her; she felt sure of It.
She was so shy, so modest, so COM
pletely without vanity or coquetry.
so simple and sweet; in her busy life
she had had but little time TO think
OF love and lovers. Deep in her
heart lay a dim vague knowledge,
half hope. half fear, that some day or
other this beautiful dream would
come to her.
She could not be unhappy while
thoughts of Glen" pierced the gloom.
All the fatigue of the night and the
labor OF the day had been as nothing
to her, because of her thoughts of
him. She did not own to herself that
she loved him and was ready to give
her love unsought; but she knew that
IL he loved her, as she had now some
reason to believe he did, she would
be the happiest girl on earth. How
hn hnx
good, What a knightly face was his,
what a courtly manner! She could
understand now the true meaning of
the word gentleman" And, while
she was thinking of him, while the
amber clouds rested on the water, he
stood suddenly by her side. No rose
ever blushed more sweetly; her
whole face changed; her eyes
welcomed him, and said what her
lips could not utter.
How strange," she said. Il was
just thinking of you"
He longed to tell her that there
was no moment. night or day, in
which he was not thinking of her,
but he restrained himself. He was
there TO say gOOd-by. He might wait
a few moments. He was on the
brink: let him pause Acre, let him
stand by her in silence for the last
time and watch the waves breaking
on the sands.
Il was thinking of you" repeated
Hettie. 4 knew that you woulo
come"
Il have a motive in coming" he
said. 4 will tell you presently what
it is. Let us watch the setting of
the sun together"
He knew that the sun OF his life
would set with Il: he felt somewhat
like a soldier who, condemned to be
shot for some act of characterization,
stands by the side of his own open
grave. When the sun has set,
shall have told her. and / shall have
gone too" he said TO himself He
bent is pale, troubled face over the
glossy ivy.
Hettie looked more fair and
seraphic than ever. feeling sure that
he had come 10 tell her that he loved
her-she had seen it in his face on
the previous night. She folded her
white hands, and they stood side by
side in perfect silence while the sun
set. As IL seemed to touch the
waters edge, the clouds turned
crimson. The change was so quick
and so marvellous, it was as though