Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-09-18
Lady buttons Ward
BY BERTnA M. CLAY.


be where virtue and goodness, not
none and position, take the first
place and wear the golden crown.
Only one thing mattered now, and
that was. If the life ebbing so rapidly
away had been wen spent
All night long grave and learned
men had stood by that quiet bedside,
fighting, hanG to hand. with all-con-
quering death. They were foiled at
last; art, sciencs. and wisdom had
done their utmost; and all they could
do had not even caused the closed
eyes TO open, or given strength to
the white lips for one word All
night had the child she loved knelt By
Lady Hutton's side, covering her head
and face with warm tears, calling her
by every endeariRg name, weeping
and calling all in vain. Lady Hutton
was never more to hear the sound OF
the voice she loved best.
Must she die?" cried the p,cr girl
N the extremity Of her terror. Can
nothing be done to save her?
Those she asked turned from DER
with a sorIowing face; they knew,
when Lady Hutton was gone. the
young girl would be alone in the
world
Through the long bright hours OF
that sunny day, while the gay sun
shone and the distant roll of car
riages told Of life and gaiety, Hilda
kneit by that sick bed she was half
crazed with the sudden sorrow. Last
evening hope and love had charmed
her; only last evening a golden light
that came straight, it seemed from
heaven. had f2len over her At the
very momcnt her lover left her, and
thinking only of sharing her new
found happiness with her adopted
mother, she heard a bell ring, then a
startled cry, a rush Of servants. and,
following them, she saw Lady Hutton
lying white and still upon the ground
| Doctors were summoned in haste;
every resource Of science had been
tried: but all IL vain. Since she had
been carried into hel room. Lady Hut
tor. had been lost to all earthly things
It was the long watch by that still
silent figure that changed Hilda from
d child 70 a woman.
You had batter rest" said one OF
the doctors, moved by her face so full
of anguish.
Il cannot leave her" said Hilda
quietly
DO you know" continued the doc
tor, IF Lady Hutton has any friends
who ought to be summoaed?"
Il have never heard OF any" she
replied. Lady Hutton always spoks
Of herself as being without relatives
Has she any worldly affairs that
require settling?" asked DR.. Wells
again.
4 do not know" said poor HiIda
The agent from Brynmar is still here
and the lawyer. who manages al
mammals affairs. They would not
leave the house while she was SO
| ill.,"
When DR. Wells repeated his ques.
ton to Mr.. Abelson, the lawyer, that
gentleman told him Lady Hutton s
viii had been made sixteen years
ago, and he believed ali her affairs
were in perfect order; so there was
nothina left for the lady, who lay so
still and white. to do. The doctors
agreed that, in all PROBABILITY she
would recover consciousness Just be-
fore death; and while the sun poured
the full force of its golden beams
through half-drawn curtains into the
cheering room, they watched for that
minute; but hour after hour passed
and it did not come. The face could
grow no whittier, but the faint, low
breath became more feeble. W 44en
evening came, and Lord Bayneham
called again, he was told that Lad
Hutton was dying; and he never
remembered how he reached home.
Mother he said to Lady Bayne-
han, "you must come with me. Lady
Hutton ID dying. Hilda has no one
near her, and / must go to comfort
her. DO not refuse I ask you as
would ask you for my life
She did not refuse; there was
something in her sons face that
compelled her to obey She went
with him at once, and said not
word save to comfort him in his
sorrow.
The momen. had come; the evening
sun had set in all its glory; the beau
tiful cleaning, halfgolden half-gray,
had begun, when 9ilda, bending over
the white face, saw faint uuivering
OF the closed eyelids and the sealed
lips. Then the dark eyes opened
with a wistful. wondering look, that
pierced the child's heart
'Hilda," whispered Lady Hutton.
what is it, my darling? Am going
to die?'
Mamma" cried the trem ling girl.
'let me so with YOU"
L must tell you" said Lady Hut
ton, "something-le me have more
air, | cannot breathe I want to tell