Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-08-20

She paused for n minute. How plainly
| could see the picture! The arching
trees, and the sunbeams playing fondly
with her shining golden hair! | held my
breath to listen.
What completely startled me-" said
Julia, was that Kate suddenly darted
forward and ran TO meet her. crying,
'Oliviar"
How does she know her?' l exclaim-
ed
Hush, Martin, Don't interrupt me.
The girl went so deadly pale, l thought
she was going to faint, but she did not.
She stood for n minute looking at us,
and then she burst into the most dread
full fit of crying! | have always thought
her name was Olivier. and so did Kate.
For PHYS sake. said the girl, if you
have any pity, leave me here in peace-do
not betray me-
But what does it all mean?" asked
my mother, whilst paced to and fro in
the dim room, scarcely able to control
my impotence. yet afraid to question
Julia too eagerly.
Il can tell YOU" said Kate Daltrey
In her cold. deliberate tones; she is the
wife of my half-brother, Richard Foster,
who married her more than four years
ago in Melbourne; and she ran away from
him last October, and has not been heard
of since
Then YOU know her whole history" |
said. approaching her and pausing be-
fore her. Are you at liberty to tell it
TO u.s.
Certainly" she answered; st is no
secret. Her father was a wealthy col
ouiSt. and he died when she was fifteen.
leaving her in the charge of her step
mother. Richard Fosters aunt. The
match was one of the stepmother's max
inS. for Olivia was little better than a
child. Richard was glad enough TO get
her income. One-th Of it was settled
upon her absolutely. Richard was look
ing forward eagerly TO her being one-and-
twenty, for he had made ducks and
brakes OF his own property, ana tried TO
DO the same with mine. He would have
done so with his wife's; but a few weeks
before Olivia'S twGnty-hrSt birthday she
disappeared mySteriously. There her
fortune lies, and Richard has no more
power than l have TO tough it. He can
not even claim the money lying in the
Bank of Australia. which has been re-
mirtcl by her trustees; nor can Olivia
claim il without making herself known
to him. Ii IS accommodating there. while
both OF them are On the verge Of pow
erty."
But he must have been very cruel to
her before she would run away" said
my mother in pitiful voice.
Cruel repeated Kate paltrcy. We'll.
there are many kinds of cruelty l do
not suppose Richard would ever trans
-re>S the limits Of the law. BIT Olivia
was one of those girls who can suffer
great torture-mental torture | mean.
Even I could not live in the same house
with Richard. and she was a dreamy.
sensitive romantic child. with IS much
knowledge Of the world As Il baby.
was a>,oDiShed 70 hear she had had dar-
inS enough 10 leave him"
But there must be some protection for
her from the law" I said. thinking 81 the
bold. coarse woman, no dOIht his aS>O-
ciatc, who was IN pursuit ~ Olivia. she
might Sue Tor a judicial separation. n
the least, il not a divorce"
u am quite sure nothing could bJ
/ brought against him in a court Of law,
she answered. He is very wary ami
cumming. AMI knows very we'll wha, Il,
may do and waa; he may not 30. y
few months before OGvia'S flight. he n
,roiuceJ woman aS he- companion. lie
calls her his cousin. Since ! saw heI
/ this morning have heen thinking % heI
position in every light. snd l really 20
NOT see anything she could have done
I except running away a she diO, or max
ins up her mind 70 be deaf aud blind and
dumb"
But could he not be Induced 10 leave
I her in peace il she gave up u portion o:
! her propertys' ! asked.
Why should hes' she reycrtsi. 1T
f she was in his hands the whole OF he
{ property would be his. He viii never
F release her-never. No, her oaly chance
F is "a hide herself from him The Law
canno; deal with wrongs ike hers, BE-
cause they are as light as air apparently
/ though they are IS all-pervadins as ali
i Is. aud as poisonous IS air can be- They
+ are Ike ehoSe-damp, only not quite "a.