Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1907-10-09
Continued.

hand, and clasped the soft dngers OF
the young girl; she held hem up to
the light, looking at the costly rings
that glittered there.
Let me see your other hand" she
said.
Lady Hilda gave it to her, and she
glanced eagerly at it. On the third
finger shone plain gold ring. When
the sick woman saw it, she pressed
It eagerly to her lips.
Who gave you hat ring?' she
asked.
Lady Hutton" was the reply.
"She placed it on my finger On my
sixteenth birthday. Why do you ask
me these questions? What do you
know of me?"
For all answer the sad, sweet eyes
looked into her face, as though trying
to read every thought of her heart.
4 could not die until l had seen
you" she said. Il have hungered and
thirsted for one look at your face, for
one word from your lips. My heart
crayed for you, so that l could not
die. I am breaking my oath, but it
was a cruel one; besides, l must
know what answer to give when
stand before the great white throne.
God gave me a precious jewel. and /
left it with another. He will ask
what / did with it. What shall /
say?"
Lady Hilda thought the poor wo
man was raying, and she laid her hand
upon the hot brow. Stlll those sad
eyes seemed to drink in every change
on her face.
When | gave my jewel away" she
continued, 4 swore that would never
reclaim it; but l can not die until it
is mine again. She viii know. per
haps, in the other world that I have
broken my oath--it must be so.
Hilda. look at me- Have you no
memory of me? Have you never
seen me before?"
Your face is familiar to me- re-
Piled Hilda wondering at the strange
address; Il have seen something like
it in my dreams"
Nothing more?" cried the woman,
a wild sob bursting from the pale lips.
Is there no memory OF the long
sweet nights, when that golden head
was pillowed on my breast, of che
long days when nursed You in my
arms. OF the hot tears l have shed
over you,-is there nothing that tells
you Of my love, my sorrow, and des-
pair? All, how many years is 1t
since l clasped my child in my arms,
and took what I believed to be my
last look at her! Hilda, should rise.
should kneel there at your feet and
ask you to pardon me, but / did all
Ior the best."
Lady Hilda's face had grown very
pale, her lips quivered, and her eyes
grew dim.
4 do not quite understand you
yet, she whispered; tell me more
plainly who you are"
The white face turned to her. the
lips trembling the large sad eyes
filed with tears.
I have hungered and thirsted for
YOU she continued; my heart
burned within ne. parched and with
cred for one glance at that face. oh.
darling, bend over me. lower still;
Eook at me. pardon ire am your
own unhappy mother-you are my |
only child"
Ny mother said Lady Hilda gen
tly; is it possible? Can it be true?
at is true, said the dying woman; ,
eighteen ysars ago my heart broke
when gave you, my only child, my
dove, my comfort, to another. could
not die until I heard you call me
mother once again. Oh, darling.-my |
ON. my only child,--do not turn from |
me- Say you forgive me; then can
die in peace"
Lady Hilda bent over the droop- |
ing face so full of wild sorrow.
Tell me about it," she said gert;y |
II do not understand"
Then, by the gray light Of winter
morning, Magdalen Hurst told her
story told of her simple, beautiful
gtrlhood spent in the bonnie woods OF
Brynmar; Of the fate that came to |
her there when she met handsome.
reckless, unprincipled Stephen Hurst. |
She told the sad story Of her married
life, with It's wretched ending. when
the gay, handsome lover of her youth |
stood in the dock, and the fatal SEN
tence was pronounced against him.
how he wanted her to join him in |
that faroff land; and in order to dol
so she had parted with her only chilli. !
1T was not that | did not love you.
darling" pleaded the sweet faint
voice Il died in that hour; life has
only been burden to me since. II
had nothing to give you but shame.
misery, and reproach. the burden OF
a tainted name, poverty and toll She
gave you wealth. honor, and all that
the world esteems. knew that you
would be happy with her for she
loved you. Still, could not face my
Maker until l knew from my chllds
own lips that she was happy ana we'll
cared for. l am dying fast call me
mother once again
Lady Hida laid her face upon her
mothers; she touched the pale brow
with her warm loving lips
Mother she whispered. ~ begin
N yavyg an, Iar ,-,,, 7 l,,... ...... 49,. g, , 80