Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-05-28
CHAPTER XXI

The uDShOt of the matter was that she
proposed deferring their wedding to that
indeterminate date, 1.-The day John and
Hetty marry" to which Uncle David
readily acceded, with sly smile, having
reasons of his own for believing that
that event would not be far off.
Hetty's heart would have been lighter
that Saturday night could she have shra-
ed Uncle Davids confidence in the inn
mediate future, but the outlook did not.
as she viewed it, promise well. Her
mothers opposition, though less bitter
than it had been, was no less determined,
and was now settled upon a new ground,
Grom which it seemed impossible to dis
lodge her. She no longer made much
of the old feud between the Mulveils and
the CamerOns, over which she used to
lash herself into fury. Now, with Il
dramatic intensity Of expression that
would have been ludicrous had it not
been so evidently in deep earnest, she
declared that 1.-THE curse of blood" lag
between Hetty and her lover and must
forever keep them apart.
Whose blood?" demanded Hetty,
when this astounding declaration was
first made to her.
simeon Mulveirs, to be sure. Didn't
John Cameron lure him to his death?"
Didn't he go to his death like Il fool,
chasing a man he had no business to fol-
lowg'
Yes, he had business. I sent MIN"
oh! Then. if somebody else than
himself must be held responsible for his
fate, | don't see but what you, mother,
and not John Cameron, are to blame"
That was precisely what the widows
accusing conscience said to her, nOtwith-
standing all her endeavOrs to persuade
herself that not she, but John Cameron,
had caused the Constable's death, and it
was naturally exasperating to find that
view so readily taken by another.
"Of course, You would try to clear him,
and | don't wonder at it. for by rights
YOU are as much to blame as he is. If
YOU hadn't enticed him to run away with
you. your cousin would never have had
70 follow you and been led to his death
But III not argue with you, Hetty, for
YOU have no right feeling for your moth
or; but l tell you. once for all, and you
may as we'll make up your mind to il. you
shall never become the wife of Il man who
has the blood Of Mulveil on his head,
and that MulveH your own cousin. not if
he is the last man IA the world"
They had gone over that dialogue. with
more or less unimportant variations and
notifications. 50 many times that it
seemed as il they were rehcarSing some
thing they meant TO play by and by.
when they both were Zine perfect" But
they ended it variouSly; sometimes one.
sometimes the other, and generally both.
became angry. On this particular even
ing Uetty vehemently declared that
whatever her mother or anybody else
might say 10 the contrary, she would
marry John whenever he wanted her to.
How do you know he wants yOu?''
sneered the widow. "He didn't marry
YOU when he had chance t.. Either he
didn't want you. or he hadn't the proper
SKUNK Of a man. Either way. l wouldn't
think much Of him il l were in your
place
II was a cruel thrust but the girl par
ried il as we'll as she could. tossing her
head with an air of Indifference ami an
swering mysteriously:
THAT is as far rs you know about il.
We had good reasons. We can afford 20
wait until we are ready"
All, And fine time he's having in
the city while waiting. no doubt. He
can afford ~ wait. Its an old girl yoU'll
have got 70 be when he troubles him
SELF about you again. You needn't look
for him in hurry
old McFRrlaue'S comm up the lane,
comm a-courtin' man, shouted Danny,
in sing-song tone. pokiug his grinuins
face IN NJ the kitchen door,
Get out, YOU shameless young villain,
cried Mrs Mulveil, making fejat OF
throwing At his head the heavy candle
moldS into which she had Just drawn 4
set OF wiCkS,
The lad He'd, chucksing and hummins:
Comm a-courtin' mann" up TO his gar
ret dea. A. the old lady sprang 10 her
feet. cSclaiming:
"nraL the man. What does he want 70
come here for3 The idea, Come. aud do
M my hair Hetty. l declare. this sun
bonnet pulls il every which way. He's a
nuisance; but one must be civil 70 neigh
borS. Get me a clean collar out Of the
upper bureau drawer. There, That's
nim rapping at the front door, now. Run
and let him in
Hetty admitted Mr.. McFarlane. greet.
Ing him pleasantly, for she liked the
plain. unaffected. simplp-mindei old fel-
low who almost worShined John. and.
having seated him in the parlor. returned
90 assist at her mothers toilet. The
widows tongue ran on as Il she felt II
incumbent upon her to discover some rea-
son. other than the real one. for her
visitors coming. but she lowered her
tone.