Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1900-10-30
CHAPTER XVI

One fine morning in September letter
came to the office of Lonsdale & Son
which presented very familiar features
TO those who received it. The creamy
color of the envelope, the delicate hand
writing, the faint perfume of violets,
the crest on the seai-each and all were
| familiar.
at is from Lady Chevenix,'' said Fee
| lix, as he placed it before his father-of
all the letters that had been received
from her he had never opened one.
| Mr.. LOnsdale read it, and then looked
at his son.
''She is coming home," he announced.
'She will be at Garswood by the end of
the week, and wants me to see that ev-
erything is ready for her"
Darcy Lonsdale rode off at once with
his good news; and very pleased the
household at Garswood was. Their young
mistress had been worshiped among
them, and they were delighted at the
thought of her return. Mr.. Lonsdale gave
all necessary orders, so that Lady Chew
enix should find everything ready on her
return, and should not miss any comfort
or luxury
| At the end of the week another letter
came to the office at Lilford, asking
Darcy Lonsdale to go over to Lady Chev-
enix at once. He went. and on his re-
| turn he said to Felix:
''There is terrible accumulation of
work at Garswood. Lady Cheyenix
wishes me to remain at the Hall for a
week-the Michaelmas accounts are al
ways Leavy-but Felix, | cannot spare
a week. Lord Arlington's rent-dinner
and many other things ere close at hand.
l made a suggestion &c Lady Chevenix,
| which she seemed very pleased with: it
was that, instead of my going 10 the Hall
for six days, we should both go for three
that is, of course, if you are willing"
at is a matter of Indifference TO me,
father" he replied. Whichever plan
suits You best, or pleGses you best, |
will follow"
So is was settled that they were TO go
TO the Hall. and do all the business as
| quickly as possible there.
Il shall prefer sittiax up at night, !"
said Felix. Il can always work better
when there is perfect silence. A few
! hours extra work each night. and we
shall soon have finished"
He little dreamed to what that sitting
up would lead.
They went on the Monday evening-a
beautiful autumn evening, when the sun
beams fell on the gray walls and lighted
up the picturesque mass of buildings.
/ Several visitors were at the Hall. Cap
tain Hill, Mrs. Haye. Miss Hethcote,
| Lady BrownSon and Miss Fern-all
guests whom Lady Chevenix had invited.
/ In kindliest greeting she held out her
white jeweled hands TO Mr.. Lonsdale
and his son; but her marvellous beauty
/ had for few minutes stricken them
dumb
II am so delighted" she said; and
truth Shone in her beautiful eyes. Il
| thought | would see you here first, away
from the other guests, because | wanted
/ 10 talk to you. Mr.. LonSdale, take the
easy chair. Felix"-she had quite fallen
into the cid fashion of calling him Felix
sit here. | did not see you''-to Felix
Ito bid you good-by; but | am pleased
TO see you on my return. There is no
/ place Ike home. after all. is there: Nor
mandy was very beautiful. but Garswood
IS home. Now tell me all that has been
done in Lilford since l left. You were
at Lady Maude's wedding-tell me about
I - ANAAN- NAA ~ SAN0 StlN ASA
hero after ALL"
They spent one OF the plessanteSt
| hours that could be imagined. The same
idea struck both father and son. Lady
I! Chevenix seemed 20 have grown young
again; her sunny smiles. her unusual
laughter, her quick, clever repartee, her
keen enjoyment OF their society-all were
noticeable. She had indeed altered: she
was like beautiful Violet Haye; ali trace
OF the quset, Geld Lady CheveRix had
vanished
Then her smiles died away for a few
minutes as they talked OF the terrible
trial they had gone through together. She
looked with soft. luminous eyes into Oar
| CT Lonsdale's face
What old friends we sre.' she said.
thoughtfully. And how strange it seems
that you should have been with me when
he died-that Felix should have been my
chief comfort. What s riddle life is 10
reSds'
As Felix Lonsdale wrote husily the
aext night there came 10 him the memory