Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-10-03
Lady button's Ward
Continued.
BY BERTHA N. CLAY.

Hush! said Lady Hilda gently;
what is it? You will make your
self worse. What can l do for your"
The woman held out thin white
hand, and clasped the soft fingers OF
the young girl; she held them up to
the light, looking at the costly rings
that glittsred there.
Let me see your other hand" she
said
Lady Hiida gave it to her, and she
glanced eagerly at it. On the third
finger shone a plain gold ring When
the sick woman saw it, she pressed
1t eagerly to her lips.
Who gave you that ring?' she
asked.
Lady Hutton" was the reply.
She placed 1t 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.
L could not die until had seen
you" she said. II have hungered and
thirsted for one look at your face, for
one word from your lips. My Heart
craved for you, SO that / could not
die. / am breaking my oath, but it
was cruel one; besides, must
know what answer to give when |
stand before the great white throne.
God gave me a precious jewel. and /
left 1t with another. He will ask
what / did with It, What shall |
say?"
Lady Hilda thought the poor wo
man was raving, and she laid her hand
upon the hot brow. Still those sad
eyes seemed to drink in every change
on her face.
When | gave my jewel away" she
continued, 81 swore that would never
reclaim it; but | can not die until it
is mine again. She will know, per-
haps, in the other world that | have
broken my oath 1T 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; II have seen something like
1t in my dreams"
Nothing more?" cried the woman,
wild sob bursting from the pale lips.
rs there no memory of the long
sweet nights. when that golden head
was pillowed on my breast, of the
1nnV lnUc xybpn l..
arms of the hot tears | have shed
over you,--is there nothing that tells
you of my love, my sorrow, and des-
pair? All, how many years is it
since | clasped my child in my arms.
and took what | believed to be my
last look at her! Hilda, should rise.
I should kneel there at your feet and
ask you to pardon me, but | did all
for the best.
Lady Hildas face had grown very
pale, her lips quivered. and her eyes
grew dim.
Il 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.
Il have hungered and thirsted for
you" she continued: my heart
burned within me, parched and with.
cred for one glance at that face. oh.
darling, bend over me, lower still
look at me, pardon me / am your
own unhappy mother--you are my
only child"
my motherl" said Lady Hilda gen
tly; lis it possible? Can 1t be true?"
ut is true" said the dying woman: ,
eighteen years ago my heart broke |
when | gave you, my only child my
love, my comfort, to another. could |
not die until heard you call me
mother once again. Oh, darling.-my
own, 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 gently;
II do not understand"
Then, by the gray light of winter
morning, Magdalen Hurst told her
story told of her simple, beautiful
girlhood 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 its 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 child.
at 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 |
had nothing to give you but shame.
misery, and reproach. the burden OF
n tainted name. poverty and toll. She
gave you wealth. honor and all that
the world esteems. knew that YOU