Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-09-03
MAY.


70 E was looking at Mays portrai
I6I "a lovely little miniature whel
SS the housemaid brought the pack
ct to him. The girl entered timidly
with a furtive glance at her master
for whom her heart was bleeding.
No sign of tears-either past or pres
ent-was visible in the young mans
eyes. They were hard and bright
Hard, also, was his face, and the
elenched lips like adamant.
He took the thick envelope, glanced
at the clerkly writing, and at the back,
upon which was stamped in blue let
tiers, wv. Robinson & Co" Then he
flung it on the table. and as the servant
left the room, the sound of harsh
laughter broke upon her ears. She fed
to the kitchen, and with scared face
whispered that she thought poor Mr..
Ord must be going mad.
He had written few days before to
William Robinson for those patterns
that he might choose the materials for
his wedding suit. May was so particu-
lar about what he wore. He used to be
a little careless about his dress once.
Then. in his endeavor to gain Mays
appreciation, he had overdOne it in the
opposite direction, sporting collars of
absurd height, and impossible ties, en-
during like a martyr the pinch of pat
ent leather shoes a size too small for
him, and getting himself a little chaffed
by appearing in suits which were IN
mistakably in advance of the fashion.
May, with gentle tact, had changed all
this.
He had written for the patterns from
RObinson's a few weeks before the i'm
portant suit should be needed, as he
wanted to have Mays opinion with re-
gard to the materials. He consulted
her about everything. He had no sis
tiers, and until the last year-when the
death Of an uncle and the inheritance
of n fortune had made him his own
mastcr-he had lived a solitary life in
a remote country town with the rela-
ton by whose sudden death he was en-
riched.
After that laugh of harshncss which
had so startled his servant, Laurence
Ord went back TO the study of Mays
portrait. y sob of anguish broke in
groan from Ord's pale lips. He had
tried to realize that those dancing eyes
were closed forever.
The idea of Mdy-May, the merrieSt
little person in the world-lying cold
and silent was too much for the young
man who last had seen her having a
wild game with Il kitten on the deck of
u friends yacht.
He had dreaded that little cruise more
than he could say. He had all but ask
ed her not to go, but from this he had
refrained, deeming it mere scIfishnesS.
You don't mind me going. Laurie
so you?" she asked, when the trip had
been first suggested. and with Il little
pleading look in her eyes which was
irresistible. especially as he had not yet
the absolute right to give or withhold
permission. III only be gone three
weeks, and then-if you still have
mind tO-you may take me and keep me
forever. y large order, Laurie Shall
you want me for 50 long. do you
Think
He had gone to see her Off or board
the Orchid and she had stopped in the
middle of one of her airy whirls with
the kitten and piece of scarlet ribbon.
Mind you have the patterns ready
by the time l come back"
The yacht Orchid. which was
wrecked last night on the dangerous
reef outside Alwyn Bay, is the proper.
" of Mr.. Gritfiths of London. All on
board were saved except the unfortu-
nate lady whose body WIS washed
ashore early this morning II has been
identified as that of Miss May Garden"
This was the paragraph which had
caught the eye of Laurence Ord as he
had run over his morning paper at
breakfast Afterwards h. had come
upon the first and longer account. but
this was evidently Il little paragraph
inserted when further information had
been received.
His senses had 1T first been blunted
bv the shock. Now they were awaken
ed 10 fuu consciousness Of the imme9s-
uraIie pain. He laid the miniature
down. and began to walk about the
room. He moved things here and there
He wound the Clock-theu his nerveleSs
fingers dropped ii with crash He let
ii lie where il had fallen.
He began mechanically to settle the
things on the table. 70 fold up the news
papers. and open his neglected letters
He was lighting his pain. The letters
were read without his being whit the
wiser as To their contents. The packet
Of patterns WAS the only thing that re-
NAMED.
With another Of those Iitiful laughs
he ripped open the envelope, The laugh
changed into an indcSt rihable cry.
There were no patterns in the envelope.
Instead there were three thick sheets
Of notepaper. each Of which had Wal
ter Robinson X Son. Solicitors, Alwyn
Ray" printed upon it. Tn" writing was
a penciled Scrawl-a dear. familiar
scrawl
Laurence read it on his knees, sob
bling out his thanks 10 God, Three sen
tenceS and the signature viii sufficient
" explain;
Il was brought ashore half drowned
Mr.. Robinson, lawyer. has
Kindly given Us shelter, Mr.
GrifiithS Is addressing this.
Your loving May. Francisco Ar
Eonaut.
HUMAN FINGER PRINTS.
H.. =. p. IL. n, -. ~. IT,.