Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-09
9Medded for Gold
BY BRRTHE N. cLHY
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from observation, for she trembled; her
face flushed crimson and then grew
white.
Felix was the first to speak. He did
not hold out his hands in greeting; he
simply bowed and murmured some few
commonplace words.
Il am very pleased to see you," said
Lady Chevenix, and the words had a
ring of truth that touched both listeners.
With her usual smiling grace Lady
Maude said:
I'VE have a little time to spare would
you like to look at these photographs!
They are quite new, and finer than any
thing l have yet seen"
They sat all three round one of the
pretty little tables that were covered with
pictures and books. Lady Chevenix turn
ed to Felix again.
Il should like to see your father and
Mrs. Lonsdale,' she said. Are they
well?'
They are quite WELL" he told her, but
he made no response to her desire of
seeing them.
he does not care at all about seeing
me- she thought; "he does not seem in
the least degree agitated or embarrassed
he has forgotten me-" and as the
thought came to her her eyes filed with
tears. HE never could have cared so
very much for me-" she said to herself;
he could not really have grieved about
losing me-"
She looked at him-he was talking in
lively and animated strain to Lady
Maude. She wondered to herself if this
calm, proud handsome man, so perfectly
well-bred, so self-possessed, talking so
brilliantly to the earl's daughter-if this
could really be the same ardent, despair
ing young lover who had hidden her a
passionate farewell. He was in no hurry
to talk to her. She had rather pictured
herself as having to hint something like
prudence to him; she could have laughed
at herself for the notion.
He did not look at her; she doubted
even whether he had noted her rich
dress, her shining jewels. When she
spoke he replied with polite indifference,
with well-bred calmness, but he never
once voluntarily addressed her. 1t was
all so different from what she had pic
tured that she experienced a strange
sense of depression.
Lady Maude was compelled to leave
them alone fer few minutes, and then
Lady Chevenix turned to Felix.
How strange it seems that we should
meet herew she said
Yes, it is strange" he replied. 81 am
very often here on business-you, 1 pre-
sumo, come equally often on pleasure?H
1T is my first visit" she said.
Then came the signal for dinner, and
Lady Chevenix was little surprised to
find that Felix took down Lady Maude.
Never in her life had the beautiful Lady
Chevenix felt so surprised. She had al
ways heard Felix spoken of as being
clever and gifted; but she had never
dreamed that he was really the genius he
was. When with her ne had seldom spok-
en- of anything but herself and his great
love for her. Now, for the first time.
she heard him converse with intellectual
men, who all seemed to look up to him
as their superior. She was astounded.
The great statesman, Lord Hayden, talk
ed much to him, and the earl asked his
opinion.
1T does me good" said Lord Hayden,
Ito hear such ideas as yours, they are so
thoroughly fresh, clever and original. We
must have you on our side. You must
not go over to the enemy"
Felix had a natural wit that made his
conversation piquant and amusing. Lord
Arlington delighted in it. When any
playful attack was made on himself he
would look at him and say:
Il shall leave you to answer that, Mr..
Lonsdale."
The dinner was a complete success. 1t
was new thing to Lady Chevenix. intel
tta1
listening to. She looked at once at her
husband, and she saw him gazing with
undisguised admiration at Felix
Sir Owen said little. He had ideas of
his own; one was that talking at dinner
time was bore rather than not. People
sat down to eat, not to talk. He certain
ly did not contribute much to the general
entertainment. He dined WELL Violet
could not help contrasting the two men;
nor was she the only one present who
did so. Felix was so bright, so hand
some, so animated. so gifted and intel
lectual; he was a leader of conversation
even among older and wiser men than
himself, for he had the gift of picturesque
language. Sir Owen, coarse and heavy,
speaking little, but when he did speak
saying something almost disagreeable,
was doltish and inert, except when he
was offensive. There could have been
no greater contrast-and Lady Cheyenix
saw it. To herself She thought how Felix
would be appreciated and understood in
London, how eagerly he would be sought
who would care to remember that he
was the son of a country lawyer? Such
men make their own mark. While her
husband would not be tolerated, Felix
would be received with open arms.
All these observations she made TO hec-
self as she sat by Lord Arlington, her
beautiful face wreathed in smiles. The
last words she heard as the ladies quilted
the dining room were from Lord Hayden.
The next time you run up to London,
Mr.. Lonsdale," he was saying, pray
come and see me; i shall be delighted if
you do, and / will show you the very ar
ticles in the newspaper of which we are
speaking"
And in her own mind Lady Chevenix
thought that such a thing as an invita-
ton from the eminent statesman would
be an honor Sir Owen would never at