Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-07-16
CHAPTER TX.


room. About one o'clock | opened my
door as softly as possible and stole 81
lently downstairs.
Madam was my favorite mare, nrst-
rate at a gallop when she was in good
temper, but apt to turn vicious now ana
then. She was in good temper to-nlght.
and pricked up her ears and whlnnled
when l unlocked the stable door. In a
few minutes we were going up the
Grange road at a moderate pace till we
reached the open country.
1t was a cool, quiet night in May. A
few of the larger fixed stars twinkled
palely in the sky, but the smaller ones
were drowned in the full moonlight. l
turned off the road TO get nearer the sea.
and rode along sandy lanes, with banks
of turf instead of hedge rows, which
were covered thickly with pale primroses,
shining with the same hue as the moon
above them.
Now and then l came in full sight OF
the sea, glittering in the silvery light.
crossed the head of a gorge, and stopped
for while to gaze down it, till my flesh
crept 1t was not more than few yards
in breadth, but it was of unknown depth,
and the rocks stood above it with thick,
heavy blackness. The tide was rushing
into its narrow channel with thunder
which throbbed like a pulse; yet in the
intervals Of it's pulsation l could eaten
the thin, prattling tinkle of brook run
ming merrily down the gorge to plunge
headiong into the sea.
As the sun rose, Sark looked very near,
and the sea, plain of silvery blue, seem
ed solid and firm enough to afford me a
road across to it. A white mist lay like
a huge snowdrift in hazy, broad curves
over the Havre Gosselin, with sharp
peaks of cliffs piercing through. Olivia
was sleeping yonder behind that veil OF
shining mist; and dear as Guernsey was
to me, she was a hundred-fold dearer.
But my nights ride had not made my
days task any easier for me. No new
light had dawned upon my difficulty
There was no loophole for me to escape
from the most painful and perplexing
strait had ever been in. How was tc
break it to Julia? and when? 1t was
quite plain to me that the sooner it was
over the better it would be for myself
and perhaps the better for her. How
was | to go through my mornings CALLS
l resolved to have it over as soon as
breakfast was finished. Yet when break
fast came l was listening intently fol
some summons which would give me an
hours grace from fulfilling my own de-
termination. l prolonged my meal, keep
ing my mother in her place at the table
for she had never given up her office OF
pouring out my tea and coffee.
l finished at last, and still no urgent
message had come for me. My mother
left US together alone, as her custom
was, for what time had to spare-a va
riable quantity always with me.
Now was the dreaded moment. But
how was l to begin? Julia was so calm
and unsuspecting In what words could
| convey my fatal meaning most gently
to her? My head throbbed, and / could
not raise my eyes to her face. Yet il
must be done.
Dear Julia" 1 said, in as firm voice
as l could command.
Eyes, Martin
But just then Grace, the housemaid
knocked emphatically at the door, and
after due pause entered with smiling
significant face, yet with an apologize
courtesy.
IL you pIedSe, III N1dIlIub she SSiIu
"I'm very sorry, but Mrs. Lihou's baby
is taken with CONFUSION fits; and they
want you to go as fast as ever You can
please, sir"
Was l sorry or glad? l could not tell
1t was a reprieve; but then l knew posi-
lively it was nothing more than re
| prieve. The sentence must be executed
Julia came to me. bent her cheek towards
| me, and l kissed it. That was our usua
| salutation when our mornings interview
was ended.
Il am going down to the new house.
| she said. Il lost a good deal of time
yesterday, and | must make up for il
to-day. Shall you be passing by at any
| time, Martini
"Yes-no-I cannot tell exactly"
stammered.
IF you are passing, come in for few
minutes" she answered; Il have a thou
sand things to speak TO you about"
was not overworked that morning
| The commissions of Mrs. Linou's baby
were not at all serious. SO | had plenty
of time to call upon Julia at the new
house; but l could not summon sufficient
courage. The morning slipped away
| whilst was lettering about Fort George
and chatting carelessly with the officer.
quartered there.
l went down reluctantly at length t
| the new house; bat it was at almost tn,
last hour. Doggedly, but sick at hear
with myself and all the world, l wen
down - meet my doom.
Julia was sitting alone in the drawinG
room, which overlooked the harhor anC
the group of islands across the channel
There was no fear of interruption. Il
was an understood thing that at present
| only Julia's most intimate friends haC
| been admitted into our new house, anC
then by special invitation alone.
There was very happy, very PLACID
! expression on her face. Every harsh line
seemed softened, and a pleased smile
| played about her lips. Her dress wa.
one of those simple, fresh. clean muslin
! gowns, with knots of ribbon about it
| which make plain woman almost pretty
| and q pretty woman bewitching.
Il am very glad you are come, my dear
| Martin" she said softly.
l dared not daily another moment.
must take my plunge at once into tbs
| icy-coli waters.
1
| TO you. dear cousin" began.
l sat down on the broad window sill
| instead of on she chair close TO hers. She
| looked up at that, and fixed her eyes up
| on me keenly. I had often quailed be
I fore Julia 5 gaze as a boy, but never as
| did now.
We'll. what is it?' she asked CURLY
| The incisiveness OF her tone brought life
into me, as a probe sometimes brings i:
| patient out Of stupor
Julia" / said. are you quite sure yor
love me enough TO be happy with me a:
my wifeI"
| Il know you wen enough TO be as hap
py as the day is long with YOU" she re
| plieS. the color rushing to her face.
You do not often look as If yen loved
| me-" l said ar last.
That is only my way" she answered
Il can't be soft and Rurring Ike many
women l don't care TO be always kiss
| ing and hanging about anybody. But il
/ you are afraid l don't love ron enough
well. | viii ask you what you think IL
ten years time"
What would you say IL I told you
/ had once loved a cir! better than | d.