Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 36, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 December 1899 — BETWEEN TWO LOVES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

BETWEEN TWO LOVES

BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.

CHAPTER XIV. Sir Basil walked slowly up the *Teeoe; be looked tired and pale—not at all like « gay or eager bridegroom. Shadows in lila eyes told of sleepless nights, of weary days, of sad thoughts. Yet be bad In his something of the man who baa fought a good fight and has overcome. He reflected, as he walked between tine long Hues of leafless trees, that after all he was more fortunate than most men. He bad known the rapture of true love, even though it had lasted so abort a time. How fcell he remembered the first morning he came to Brentwood, and the beautiful face shining in the midst of the passion flowers! What a fatal morning it had been for him! He could recan the peculiar expression of Leah s face the first moment her eyea met his; and she had told him since that in that first moment «s*e had loved him. How loving and faithful die had been to him ever since! How many men would give their lives for the love she lavished on him—and he was so cold! „ “I will make it all up to her, ae thought; and then through the leafless trees he saw the terraces and the pretty balustrate where the peat dusters of passion flowers grew in summer the very spbt in which he had first seen her; and, unless he was mistaken, she was there now.„ Yea, he could see the folds of a long blass dress on the white stones of the terrace; he could see one white hand, lying idly on the ledge where the brown tendrils looked withered and dead. She was looking toward the house. He would go to her noiselessly and take her in his arms; he would kiss her. and say loving words to her. One arm was half round her and his dark, handsome head bent over her before he perceived that the beautiful masses'of hair were of gold. Tbe next moment the fair face seemed to flash into his own, a cry came from the pale lips, a great shock overwhelmed them. There was a terrible moment of fear «w< pain, of bewilderment and surprise, followed by a deep silence that was fail of agony. Then, faintly, from him came the name “Hettie!” —so tremulously spoken that it was like a sigh. •‘Hettie," he repeated, “is it you 7” She shrank back with a little, wailing cry that seamed to go straight to his heart.

Could it be Hettie? Was that the g©Men bead which had lain for a few happy minutes on his breast? Was that the fair, pale face which he had cowered with kisses and tears? Could it be the girl whom he had left by the sea, newer to meet again? “Ia it really Hettie?” he said; and he laid his hand upon hers, aa though he half fancied she would melt into thin air, “I cannot trust my own eyes, Speak one word to me. Are you really Hettie Ray?” “Do you not know me?” she said, reproachfully. “Stfbely I am Hettie Ray, just as surely as I am the most miserable girl in the wide world.” “Hettie. Hettie, what brought yon here?” He made no attempt to caress her. He drew back from ber, and looked at ber with wild, troubled eyes. “What baa brought you here?” he repeated. “I hare tried my best; I hane fought a fiercer fight with my heart than any man ewer fought; and now, when I had begun to hope for peace, you riae from the wety ground, as it were, before me. Hettie, in hetvev’s name, tell me what brings yon here?" The face before him wan miserable enough; there was the wary anguish of woe in the blue eyes. “Do you not know,” she said, slowly, “who I an?’ “You mo Hettie Ray,” he replied. “Alan 1 alas!” she cried, wringing bar hands. “I begin to see now; I begin to understand. Wbat have I done that heaven should punish me so? What have I doner “Hettie,” he said, gently, “I do net understand. What ia the matter?” “Who are your she cried. She stood before him with her hands Hasped, her pale face raised, hanging, aa it wen, an the words that were to fall from his lips. “Who axe you?” she repeated. “Do not keep me in suspense. Tell me, quickly.” Still no glimmer of the truth came to him. He l wondered at the intense anxiety of her manner. “I forgot,” he said; “yon never knew my name. I am Sir Basil Caritoa, of Glen." She repeated the words after him, her white lips trembling. They brought no memory to her. “Sir Basil Cariton!” she- repeated. “I do not mean that. Who are yon? Tell me, for heaven’s sake, are yon leoh's fiance? They said that Leah’s lover Was coming to-day. Heaven cannot he to cruel—you cannot be Leah's fiancee?” “I am Leah’s lover, my poor dartiafc” Ite mid s iftdly. “And she loves you so! Oh, how has It happened? We were talking about ytes the other day—no, this morning. It seems to me long since she told me about tor lover, and how she loved him. Oh, heaven! how it all comes back to am! I told her such a great love could never be a' happy one; but how little I thought r She paused, and then, after a minute's alienee, she looked at him again. “Toq” she said, “are Leah’s lover. She lowa you so dearly she said she should die If she were parted from you. And yon—l remember you told me that yon did rW love her, that it was circumstances that led to the engagement. And she loans you so! Oh, hapless Leah! oh, miserable, thrice-wretched me!” She shrank back against the withered ■prays of the passion flowers. All tor simS youth to he drew nearer to her. ” ®« l toair» “Hettl* 99 he said, “what Is Leah W „|-v . » *m, _ .. ■- - ■ you not anow r aaa saw*. Htw nr ' \*p<- , j ■. V> .■ v' : v.. . ■ * . •

her. iuw^LrLeab f MwSr I Jjrttarh»d said anything to bins what coaid she say ? Was he to know nil a boat her? If she toU him that she eras Leah's sister and that they were both daughters «t Martin Ray. what woaM happen? Her heart grew faint with dread and pain. She hxvd ant her hands to meet him with an imploring gesture. • “Do jos not kaowr* she said. “Can yss not pass who I am?" “How can I? Why. Hettie, what need is there tor mystery? Yon can have nothing to fear in telling me. What brings yon. Martin Ray's daughter, here to Brentwood, and what are job to Leah?" “Yon cannot guests?" she said. “You have no idea?" “None. I cannot guess. What are yon beeping from me. Hettie?" “My story and Leah's.'* she replied; “and I cannot tell it to yon. You must ask them to tell it.** The quick footstep of one off the men servants was beard on the terrace. Without a word Sir Basil vest to meet Mnu “Sir Arthur would be giad to see yon la the library at am. Sir Basil,** said the man. Iff he ffeit any curiosity about the figure croaching against the balustrade he gave no sign. “Say that I win he there in a few minutes." was the reply; and the man went away. Sir Basil turned to Hettie. “Let me take yon to the house, Hetties," he said. “You moat not remum here." “I cannot go. You must leave me here. I cannot walk," she said; “I cannot stand. Do yon not see how I tremble? You must leave me." “My darling." hr began. “Hush. Basal!" she said. “Remember, you are Leah's lover." Her eyes were dim with tears ns she watched him—Lew Vs lover; and the*, an he went slowly down the terrace, a ■io seemed to rise before her: she swayed to and fro. staggered and. helpless, lifeless, fell saddenly to the ground.

CHAPTER XY. Sir Arthur was aktar. and to preoccupied with his own thoughts that he did not notice the pallor and agitation of Leah's lover. He shook hands with him, and welcomed him home most heartily. “I am glstd to see yon. Basil.** he said. "T assure yon that some of ns have found the past tea days very long omen. We have had a very nupleasaat. anxious time of it since see parted. lam thankful it Is over. There remains a duty perhaps even more disagreeable, and that ia to toil yon a story which I would faia have boned m oblivion.” “A story!” repeated Sir Basil. This, then, waa what Hettie meant when she said “they” had something to tell him. “Yob will always remember. Basil, that it is I who have kept this secret from you. It waa by my deoire. my wish, that nothing waa said. Leah would have had it otherwise, if I had let her have her earn way. The fault, if there be any fault, lies with me. Ton can Judge when I have told yon. Let me add this— if anything which I tell yon should be adverse to year tastes and opinions, you are tree as air. Leak would not bind yon. Yon have hot to any the ward.” “Nothing can free aae from Leah,** he said; and Sir Arthur, in his satisfaction at the words, did not notice the tone of the speaker's voice. At fimt Sir Basil seemed hardly «o realise the words he heud—they parsi d over him, aa it were; then (key began to strike on his bento. Same faint gUstmer of the tenth came to him when he heard the name sf Martin Ray—enough to turn him faint and diary, to make his heart bent wildly. He never forgot that hoar. From tha mat hills and woods, on the bare branches of the trees, on the white stone terraces and the evergreen; a little robin redbreast flew np and down; the wind Mew the Moan branches of a dead soet-der-tuae against the window panes. He never forgot one detail. The general wondered at his silence, and, when he had finished his story, waited for his young companion to speak. Still Sr Basil sat witk km face to the window, silent and win “Yon are not angry, Basil?” said Sir Arthur, gently. “Too are not vexed at this concealment?” “Not to the least.” he repSed. “I think it was aaoat natural for you to act as yon did in the Hrmsastaacea. Ido not blame yon; oar, as I told yon before, does the disclosure affect me ia the manliest degree. I am only sorry that I did not know the troth from the first.” If he had known it all this trouble would have been avoided. “If yon ate not vexed or annoyed. teO me what makes yon look oo strange*, Basil 7” “Do I look strange? Then it mast he henanse I do not feel quite myself this morning. Perhaps my journey has tired me; awd I wan in a-hnrry to come over hare,” seen Leah?” asked Sr Ar“No, not yet. One of the footmen met me on the terrace, and told me that you desired to oqa me.” Sir Basil was open and honest as the day. He hated deceit, and he paused now to think whether he should teD the general anything of his adventures at Southmood. It could answer no purpose —do no good. -It would only lend to mtoloufale complication Xo harm had Ua; he, ia hia tntn, might surety keep a IMP here at Brentwood, yak I km ' -- .

ffoaad her a very pleasant addition to oof home circle. I like to hear tbe slaters laagh and talk together. King Francis was right when he sail that a court withi ant ladies was like a garden without flowers. A house without women Is q desert. And now, Basil, that I have tol* yon ail, let it die. Let us enjoy out- I selves; let us be happy, and bury the past that has nothing pleasant in it. When you see Leah, tell her that you know all, and that it makes no difference; she will be perfectly happy then.” As he spoke, the general heard some slight coaffusion, a sound of footsteps) a I subdued murmur. “I am afraid there is something wrong." be said to Basil. “What is the matter?" be asked, turning to the servant who had entered. “Mias Hettie is ill, sir,” replied the man. “Miss Hatton found her in a faint m the terrace, and ordered her to be carried to her room.” Sir Basil’s face turned ghastly white. If she were ill, it was his fault. He ought not to have left her; he should have remained with her and risked all. Sir Basil’s thoughts were gloomy ones as he walked home to Glen. What was he to do? This state of things could not last. Even if he could control himself, Leah was so quick that she would soon pereetTe what it was that was amiss with Hettie; and then Well, he thought it would be far easier to meet death in any shape than to meet Leah after she knew his secret. He could pot witness Hettie’s suffering, nor could he bear to think of Leah's despair. He could not understand the difficulties by which he was encompassed; he was like one gropingdn the dark. He determined that he would rest his brain and his thoughts, and then decide. It was easier to plan than to do. No rest, no sleep came to him that night. The slaters seemed to stand on either side of his pilio w —Hettie whom he worshiped, I Leah who loved'him. He told himself that, if this lasted much longer, he should go mad. The morning brought him sad intelligence—a note from Leah saying that Hettie was ill and that the doctor, for whom, they had sent in all haste, pronounced it a dangerous case of brain fever. "Gome over as soon as you can and comfort me, Basil. I cannot endure to think that I have found my sister only to lose her.” “If she dies I have murdered her,” he said to himself bitterly. He went over at once and found the whole household in despair. The general met him with outstretched hand and | grave face. “Brain fever!” he said. “Basil, what can have caused brain fever? 1 cannot understand it. And she is in danger—really in danger! Poor, pretty Hettie! What is to be done?” There was no need for Sir Basil to express his sympathy. If anything could have comforted Sir Arthur in this hour of his distress it would have been the hearty, honest, evident grief of his young companion. It was a melancholy time. For many days the shadow of death lay over the bonsehold. There were hushed voices, silent footsteps, and fervent prayers for the beautiful young girl who lay quite unconscious of all that passed. Everything that skill and love could suggest arms done, bat for many days the issue was doubtful. It was Leah’s first experience off illness or physical suffering, and it impressed her greatly. None of the sufferer’s words were intelligible—her utterance was only an inarticulate murmur, vague and terrible. Once or twice, when Leah was with her, she thought she overheard the word “Glen;” bat she concluded it must have been fancy. It brought no meaning to her, although it was the name off her lover’s Daring those kxng weeks of weary suffering no man could have been more miserable than Sir Basil. He wandered round the house like a shadow. He could not bear to leave it, nor could he bear to be left alone. He seemed to spend the greater part of tbe day in asking but one question from different people—“ How is she bow?" He grew thin, pale and haggard; years seemed to have fallen oa Mm. Leah was troubled about Mm, and waned Mm to be careful, for he looked as though he were about to have a severe illness himself. (To be continued.)