Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-05-02
Continued.

marry again: she had never looked
such a contingency in the face. She
had never asked herself. II he did so,
what the fate Of that second wife and
her helpless children would be? II
was a view Of the matter that had not
occurred to her. During those long
past years she had thought OF her hus-
band continually, but 1t had always
been Of him as free from an incubus,
rising to high hOnors, mixing in the
society he was so well qualified TO
adorn. For weary years she had
filled her life as best she cOuld-with
prayers. with solemn thoughts, with
active duties and kindly needs-but
never once during that time had
doubt as TO her grand sacrifice come to
her
She had lived in that village Of
SheptOn. never leaving its precincts,
never seeking for news Of the outer
world. controlling with an iron viii her
hungering longing to hear OF her hus-
band and her son. A thousand times
the impulse was strong upon her TO
90 over TO ThOrnleigh. &c linger in her
sad disguise round the hall and round
the church. 10 catch one more glimpse
of the face OF the man she loved so
dearly as 70 die for him: TO look once
more upon the fair son. whose baby
head had nestled on her breast. So
strong had been the impulse, and so
strong the power TO curb It. she paced
Nh and down her little room with great
fearless s0bs. with white. parted lips,
with wild cleaning eyes. crying out
II must GO" then bleaching her hands
and whispering. hOarsely. 4 viii not
for I am dead" She had never, dur
ing this time. opened a newspaper, or
asked one single question Of the world
outside Shepton. She had no knOwl-
edge OF her husbands second mar
riage: she never once even dreamed
OF %. She wondered. with hungry
longing. what her boy was like. and
how he had grown. and If he went
much into the world. where one day he
had 20 take front place in its ranks
other mothers work for their chill
dren. she said. with a great fearless
sob. They toll for them. live for
them. For my son. and his welfare,
have died"
A content. something like peace,
came TO her With so strong a viii,
with such desperate force had she con-
trolled the desire TO see those. her
loved ones. once again, that the strug-
gle grew less at last.
Then the day came when the good
rector. DIT. RawstOn, in speaking to
her. asked her II she would like to
see a newspaper. He had one con-
tanning a most touching story of a
shipwreck-it was that days paper
II she cared To see t. She thanked
him with grateful words. and he sent
the journal 10 her.
She read the story, and then saw the
advertisement for a school mistress at
ThCrnleigh. All answers were to be
sent 10 DR.. Hearne. How well she
remembered him: as she read his
name a vision Of his kindly face rose
before her.
Then came the strongest temptation
she had ever had. Why should she
not apply for this situation? Then
the hungry longing 10 see her husband
and son would be gratified. They
would never know her. never recognize
her. under that disguise. Her heart
beat high; she might do more than
see her son. she might speak to him,
and he 20 her. She must 60. She
told the rector Of her desire to change,
and. though sorry TO lose her, he did
not raise any objection
OF her success we know, but weak
words could never paint the horror of
her surprise when she heard that he
was married % Beatrice Leigh. Bea-
rice. the woman who had hated and
ersecUted her, who had driven her TO
r death. reigned in her place. She
udered i'm after years that she had
died in that moment OF sorrow
pain. Her thoughts since then
leen one tumult Of wonder and
nate pain. and now. as she sat.
fair summers morning. amidst
y lCveliness Of flowers, a doubt
her as 10 whether she had
ia doubt for the first time
light OF the sacrifice she had
e had believed il TO be mag
lism: now she asked her
not rather refined selfish
e had found the burden Of
ltolerable. and, after her own
he had laid II down. Deep
heart rose this question: Had
IL down 10 secure the happi-
her husband and her son, or
ve herself from that which she
I'd no longer bear?
She raised her sweet patient face
90 the morning skies. No answer was
there % her question. She fell upon
her knees among the lilies. and cried
Father. If have done wrong. oh.
pardon me, Thou knowest why il
was done."
Harz, the school bell ringing nine
She has been there for three long
n--#~snn GnTw~rrr, &c