Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1907-04-11

ed to your wife
Your wife? You are married
man."
No, no." was the laughing re.
spouse
''oh, see you are engaged. And
waiting for practice. What's her
| name?'
The doctor hesitated at that. The
atmosphere seemed reeking with
crime; he hardly liked to utter her
name in it,
"Out with itg' commanded Mr. Os-
Ter, explosively
Elena Blythe
A singular tremor shook the old
mans lips just then. But under the
circumstances that was not remark
able. He was silent for few mo-
ments.
When you can go east" said Mr.
Osler. after tie brief silence, "go
straight and marry your Elena Blythe
out of hand. Don't wait for money.
That will come. 1t always does
come
With other things, to those who
wait said the doctor lightly. "Ah,
here comes your bulwark of Defense
the legal gentleman
well, after you have told him all
you have told me of this precious af
fair, | will not detain you from your
dinner. And | think the sense of
Inf n1 of having
saved an old man from two black
hearted sinners, will give you good
sauce to Appetite, said Mr.. Osler.
All that was some months ago. And
now DR.. Ballantyne was back from
California spending brief vacation
in his old home town. Just from
palm and orange, the rough airs, the
bare boughs, the hurrying folk, made
a contrast that warmed his heart even
If his blood were chilled. Everything
was pleasant, and his soul was buoy
ant, for he was going to see Elena.
There was curious humility
about him for an instant, as he stood
at the entrance of the Blythe drawing
room, and the thick curtains fell be
hind him. There was a proud lift
ing of the splendid head and fash
of the proud eyes, and an apparition
in the palest green fioated toward
him, radiant, smiling-as if a star had
She was holding out both hands to
him, as he had seen her so often in
his dreams.
The next moment she was in his
arms.
But directly he released her, partial
ly released her, holding her off and
gazing at her.
81 must tell you" he said, hoarsely,
that | am not altogether what you
have thought me"
81 don't know what you meant" she
exclaimed.
This While | was gone a great
temptation came to me that would
have put wealth into my hands. It
would have given me power to speak
to your father. 1t would have made
our marriage at once possible. And
and | hesitated. To think that the
man who had your love could hest
tate"
rs that all?" she cried joyously,
"You quite frightened me! You are
human and mortal, then, like the rest
of us
You are mott" he cried "You are
an ANGEL"
Dear mel" she said, smoothing her
lovely disheveled hair. IF you had
said Yes to your temptation,
might have had-well, no respect for
you But then if you had not hest
tated, I might have had less. Iwant
to marry human being, not god
But | could have-should have loved
you just the same"
"Elena!"
ooh, yes. And then as for wealth
in your hands-why, you don't know
OF course you don't know! | only
knew myself yesterday. Cousin Mat
thew Osler, poor man! He is not a
cousin at all, but my mother was his
first love, and he has always had an
interest in me, though he lived 5000
miles away and / have seen him only
BucG. put tuqL IlllS uE Sdlu WdS
my mother come to life. The dear
man is dead; and he has made me his
heir. And don't you think that will
be enough for you and me? He was
immensely rich. Millions, many mil
lions! SO rich that | can't compre-
bend i'll"
The world was swimming and
whirling around DR.. Ballantyne If
the sofa had not been beside him he
would have fallen to the floor. He
felt as if fate, fortune, heaven itself.
had been trying and testing him, he
had been weighed in the balance, and
he had just missed having been found
wanting.
and as for speaking to my father"
her voice was going on like a silver
bell a long way off though she sat
beside him, and his arms were about
her, II heard him say this morning
that he would rather give me to an
honorable American than to a royal
prince"
Thank God, then! Thank God!
l have been through the fire." he ex-
claimed but l came out of it
Hpnscathed!" she said.