Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-08-21
CHAPTER III.


Felix had settled in his own mind that
he would persuade Violet to become his
wife before the chill October killed the
flowers and stripped the trees. SO he
thought and hoped and dreamed, while
a cloud was rising in the distance no
larger than mans hand.
One day Darcy Lonsdale returned with
a perplexed look on his face to his new
house His wife, wondering at it, asked
him:
What is the matter, Darcyr'
After thinking for few minutes, he
answered:
The very air seems thick with fam
cies." he answered. II saw three of my
best friends this morning standing in a
group in Castle street, and when ! join
ed them 1 knew by the embarrassed ex-
preston on each mans face that they
had been talking about me-"
What could they have to say about
YOU, Darcy?' asked Kate. 1T was all
fancy, Darcy"
NO; ! am sure they were speaking of
me. | went to the bank this morning,
and as / was entering the door / distinct
" heard the manager say, Mistaken in
Lonsdale' | heard the words as plainly
as you hear them now. He was talking
to one of the partners, and they were
both cool. thought. in their manner"
Kate threw her arms round his neck
and kissed his anxious face.
why should anyone talk about you or
be cool to you, dear? You have done no
wrong?"
No; but there is something, Kate, in
the minds Of the people about me. can
not imagine what il is.
Kate tried to cheer him: she laughed at
the notion. What could there be? She
knew that there was no one ike him.
No one could accuse him of mean ac-
ton: his life had always been fair, open,
loyal and transparent. II was absurd
He must be out of health; he should go
away and rest himself for time. Peo-
pie cecil 10 him. indeed She would like
to see anyone treat him with less respect
and honor than he deserved.
Yet she waited anxiously for him the
next day She was somewhat surprised
for there lad been perfect deluge of
tradeSmess bills-an occurrence that had
never happened before. The baker had
sent in his bill. and the butcher wanted
ready money: the upholsterers who had
furnished Vale House pressed for set
Element in consequence of unlooked-for
losses. Kate showed the bills 10 her hus-
band.
What does i, mean?" she asked. Won
deringly.
1T means. my dear. that there is some
subtle agency at work against us-I can
not tell what. Ii means also that the
tradeSpeople must be paid at once. In
deed. Kate. we would have been wise
had we waited till the legacy had been
paid 10 US before we came here
But il IS certain said Kate. little
anSiousiy.
AS certain as fate" he replied: and
then they talked a little more cheerfully
about what they would do when the
money was at their command.
That sane evening Felix came home
looking slightly preOecupied. he had
seen enc Of their oldest clients 20 into
George Malcalm's office, and the vicar Of
III. parish. the Rev. Daniel Hunter, had
passed him with the coolest Of bows. He
also had an impression that there was
something wrong. He could tell neither
what il was nor why it was
Felix thought that there would he time
10 walk over 10 The Lines. He had
very beautiful book that he had bought
for Violet. and he wanted TO giyAit to
Aer.
1t struck him, when he entered the