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

CHAPTER II.-(Continued)
Love and youth were strong within
him; he could not breathe within the
narrow compass of four walls that night
He went out into the moonlight; he could
think of it all-realize it all-better there.
He had won Violet She was his own,
the beautiful girl whom everyone loved
and admired-his own, TO love him and
bless him. to crown his life.
The union was a settled thing. Both
families met and talked it over. 1t was
a certainty; and few days after Felix
had placed the little ring on Violet's fin
ger he went to make inquiries about the
cottage, while Mrs. Lonsdale said to her
self more than once: ~ do not know how
it is, but wish that he had chosen Eve
Ign Lester"
Hers was the one pure, gentle heart TO
which the news of the engagement came
like a terrible blow, although it had long
been expected. Evelyn Lester had never
even owned TO herself that she loved
Felix Lonsdale, yet when she heard the
news it seemed to her that the bright
face of heaven was hidden from her by
a dark funeral pail. They had all been
children together, and in their childish
quarrels it was always Evelyn who de-
Tended Felix. He could do no wrong in
her eyes; in her opinion the wide world
held no other so brave, so handsome or so
noble; and the childish love had uncon-
sciously grown with her-she called it
friendship, and believed it to be nothing
else.
1t was the puzzle of the whole neigh
borhOod how so sweet girl as Eve Les
ter could have grown up under the charge
of one like her Aunt Jane. She was the
perfect type of an English girl-graceful,
healthy, with a rounded figure, a clear
complexion, fair brown hair, red, ripe
lips, a face that one would call sweet
rather than beautiful. OF hundred men
perhaps ninety-nine would have passed
Eve by and thought but little of her; the
hundredth would have considered her
face one Of the sweetest and dearest.
There was a quiet dignity about her, a
graceful ease and self-possession that de-
lighted her aunt. Evelyn had small for
tune entirely at her own command, but
her aunt was always at hand to see that
there was no undue expense.
Outlands was a pretty farm not more
than half mile from Lilford, and Miss
money. She, with her niece, belonged to
the gentry, but, owing to the elder wom-
ans peculiarities. the two ladies visited
seldom and seldom received any visitors.
Ii there was one man in Jane Testers
eyes less contemplate than another it
was certainly Felix Lonsdale.
The boy has a beautiful face" she
was accustomed to say of him, land beau
ty is woman's gift"
So because he had "woman's gift
Miss Lester looked more kindly on him.
She liked to see him at 0utlands. She
gave him any amount of good advice; she
was pleased that he should be friend of
Evelyn
No one was more delighted than Jane
Lester to hear of the legacy, but the en-
gagement did not please her so well. Love
and marriage were folly in her eyes.
II am disappointed in you, Felix Ions
dale" she said, sharply. Il thought you
had a little more sense than the general
ity of men. Pray expect no congratula-
tiQns from mel have none to give
But Eve smiled at him with her clear,
tender eyes.
Il am very pleased" she said, "for
know that you love Violet dearly"
I'VE shall always be friends he told
her.
And she answered him with a happy
smile on her sweet face.
Always"
They would always be friends; for she
desired nothing better in life than the
friendship of Felix Lonsdale.