Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-07-25

seen all that would arise from the
fact OF her daughters wearing that
ring, she would have risked her life
sooner than have given it to her.
Goodbye. Magdalen," said Lady
| Hutton. Il trust you will have a
prosperous voyage. Never let a
fear for Hildas welfare cross your
mind; she will be to me as my own
child. Bid her farewell See, the
sun Is setting; we must CO."
/ She turned aside while the un-
happy mother held her child in that
last close embrace. In that minute
Magdalen Hurst died as loving, suf-
fering women die. Death, when it
came, held no pang half SO bitter as
that which rent her heart now. She
covered the little wondering face with
eager, passionate kisses; she pi.lowed
the golden head on her breast, and
bent In untold agony over it.
"Hilda," she whispered, my own
little child, | shall never see you
again. Say goodbye and God
bless you, mother"
The child repeated the words. then
clasped her arms round her mothers
meek.
Let me stay with you" she cried !;
Il love you best"
In one moment it seemed as though
the mothers soul must leave her.
Then she clasped the child, murmur-
ing words that Lady Hutton never for
got. To the last her mournful eyes
followed the little figure, drinking in,
as 1t were, every movement, every
action. The child passed forever
from its mothers home She gazed
after it, watched the sunbeams shin
ing on the sweet face and golden hair,
watched the stately lady take the lit.
tie one in her arms and dry her tears,
watched the child as it smiled. and
then knew herself forgotten. With a
cry that rang out in the clear sum-
mer air, startling and shrill, Magdalen
Hurst fell to the ground, and the sun
beams played upon her white, un-
conscious face; while the child from
whom she had parted slept softly and
sweetly in Lady Hutton's arms.
CHAPTER II.
Five years before the opening of
our story there was not happier or
more beautiful girl in Scotland than
Magdalen Burns. Her father was
head gamekeeper to Sir Ralph Frs
kline. Her mother had been Lady
Erskine's maid. They married, and
lived in a pretty cottage close to the
woods of Brynmar. They had one
little daughter, called Magdalen, to
suit some fancy of her mothers. On
the same day that little Magdalen
was born at the cottage, daughter
and heiress was born at the hall.
Lady Erskine was, however, danger
ously i'll, and her babe was nursed by
Mrs. Burns. AS the heiress Of Bryn-
mar grew up she retained a great at
lection for her foster-sister. Lady
Erskine offered to send little Magda.
len to school, but the sturdy game
keeper refused. He was quite will
ing. he said, for his daughter to learn
reading and writing; but he did not
want useless fine lady about the
house. Magdaien must learn to
wash, to brew, and to bake; then, at
some future day, she would make a
good, sensible wife. What, for in
stance, could be better for her than
Ito marry one of the young game
keepers. who might perhaps in time
succeed him? He was not ambitious,
this honest Donald Burns. Education
was all very well for Miss Erskine !;
she would perhaps marry lord; but
his Magdalen had nothing to look to,
except succeeding her mother in the
management of the little household
SO Magdalen learned to read and
write, and nothing more; but Nature
allows of no interference, and she had
originally intended Magdalen 6arns
for something more than the sspde-
wife" of poor, honest Scotchman.
The girl had dowry that sometimes
a princess lacks; she was gifted
with wonderful beauty-beauty not
common with those of her class-re-
fined. delicate, and sensitive. Her
face was lovely. spiritual and full of
poetry. Her violet eyes were clear
and true: the sweet sensitive lips
were charming in their sunny smiles.
The little hands. trained to brew
and to bake, retained their white
ness; the tall, graceful figure was not
spoilt by the life of almost rude la
Dor. Nature does strange things;
and she had given to this daughter of
Scotch peasant beauty and grace
that might have been envied by a
queen.
Miss Erskine, Magdalen Burns
foster-sister. in noway resembled her.
She was perfectly well bred. with a
cool, calm, stately manner. somewhat
dignified and naughty. and a clear,
fair patrician fare. but No one ever