Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1906-01-18
CHAPTER Xxx.

FORA Udu uEC]lUEu W uIiNe OHI Will
her mother-inlaw She sat in her
room upstairs, looking out into the
garden, and scarcely looked up when
Aunt Melitta came into her boudoir,
every minute or two, to tell her of
something very important, She had
just appeared again with a plateful
of cake.
Really, / cannot understand, Lora,"
she cried, chow it is that you do not
take any pleasure in these prepare
tons You ought 20 see what guam
titles of presents there are for the
poor children. And the treei And
the macaroons have just come out of
the oven--just take one--they are
made after the old Tollen receipt.
Only think how sweet 1t is of your
mother-in-law, she is going to give
Katie new winter cloak. The child
looks quite too questionable in her
old jacket--and all the things there
are there for you, Lora; I shall not
tell you anything about them. only
there are so many; you really have
delightful husband--and so rich.
Won't you take maearoon?"
Lora declined, and drew her shawl
closer round her, shivering as she did
So
We'll, then, will you excuse me? |
must go down again"
The young wife took up her crochet
work, but it soon lay forgotten on the
window-sill She took one of the
books, bound in white vellum and gold,
out of the dainty bookcase.
Ii was Burns" Poems" She
turned over the leaves, scarcely know
ing herself what she read Then her
eyes rested on one place:
20 plight me your faith, my Mary,
And plight me your hly-white hand;
o plight me your faith, my Mary,
Before leave Scotia's strand.
I'VE haze plighted our troth, my Mary,
In mutual affection to join,
And curst be the cause that shall
part us,
The hour and the moment o time"
AS she read the little river the
pilNntS ilit CNtbihsst Nhth
she had plighted her troth to him,
came back before her. Yes, and she
had been cursed from the moment she
had broken her faith, and she would
remain under the ban as long as she
lived. There was no help for 1t, ex-
cept--
She suddenly started TO her feet;
her book fell TO the ground. II Is a
terrible law which chains two persons
together like galley.slaves. A sud
den helpless rage against order and
propriety seized upon her-the gentle
nurtured girl. And in moment she
covered her face with her hands
What wild thoughts would still arise
in her tortured brain. A little while
ago a telegram had come for her, an
lrauncing that her husband would be-
gin his homeward journey on the
twenty-seventh of December, and
that she was to meet him in Hamburg
the eighth or ninth of January.
He would wait for her then-wait
for her in vain, always, always, If
today We're only overl
The dinner hour came nearer and
nearer; Fraulein Melitta kept looking
in at intervals. II can't comprehend
where your mother-in-law can be-" she
cried. Aren't you anxious? She
has boen driving about town ever
since ten o'clock; IL is true she had
twelve poor families to visit, but"
Lora's maid came in.
"a gentleman wishes to speak to
you, madam.
Lora took the card from the silver
tray, and instantly started to her
feet MY uncle she stammered
Uncle Williami"
And the next moment she had Anr-
ried past her aunt and the servant
and they heard a low cry, hair
choked by tears: "oh, uncle, Is II
you?"
When Aunt Melitta got into the
other room, she found Lura's slender
figure lying half unconscious In the
arms Of her eldest brother, who, quite
overcome by the appearance and man
ner of his darling, coald say nothing
but "Child--Lora,-wh has happened
to you?"
She recovered herself by strong
effort, and drew him, with trembling
hand. into her little houdoir. Then
she stood before him, holding both
his hands fast. and looked at him
with the blue eyes that gazed so
anxiously at him from out the small,
pale face.
''Uncle," she said. you have come
too late"
what is II, my Lorchen, what is
-it?'' he asked. much disturbed.
"Ah, let US not speak of 1t, uncle;
am talking nonsense. You could have
done nothing. either. Sit down, uncle
am so thankful. it does give me
some pleasure on this day
He seated himself without saying q
word, and looked fixedly at her.
'I.ora," he said at length, without
noticing the presence of Aunt Melitta
III