Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-12-24
CHAPTER IX.-lContinued.l


| bonnet, Miss Victoria Foster a newer
Ionnet, and Mrs Foster the newest bon
net of all. Byron would have bean
charmed if-heshad had my passing oppor-
tunity, for they were sinking like guinea
and two seven-shilling pieces"
They looked very stylish" observed
/ Nora, anxiously following the new diree-
ton of Marks eyes as he moved to the
hearth rug.
do you know what is the message
bear to Mrs. FOSTER
NO" cried Nora, all interest at once.
SIS iS from Heaton?"
YES" replied Mark, trying to resist
watching the effect of every word upon
her. "Will and want her to bring you
| all down to Heaton for a day, as our
guests-WiITs and mine. You have been
in England whole year, yet have never
seen Wits home"
mo, and l thought | should stay there
a great deal. But perhaps it was better
not; could never have worked indus
| triousIy in the country-in summer time
/ suppose it is very beautiful there, Mr.
Poynz?"
"You will see"
Perhaps" she said, wistfully. But
| perhaps may not
But you must; l have something to
show you, and to tell you there"
Something that would not sound SO
well here"
Yes; it is the story of a beautiful
house down there, and must be told on
the spot"
And Miss Archer?" began Nora, look
| - IL.
Miss Archer is TO have a special mes.
sage from us BOTH" replied Mark, with a
| smile for Helen. ''As soon as ever the
day is fixed, she will hear what cordial
invitation l bring her from Foster, and
how anxiously second it myself"
And now, Mr.. Poynz," Helen said,
! just as if she could not trust herself to
answer him, II hear unmistakable indi-
cations of Mrs. Fosters return"
When Mark, in his unhurried way, had
! bid good-by to Nora and Miss Archer,
and assembled to the drawing room he
found the ladies of the house resting
after their drive, each with cup of tea
In her hand.
Thomas did not tell me you were
here" exclaimed Mrs. Foster, little
surprised at his having voluntarily in
formed her how long he had waited for
her. Il am sorry to have detained you
very"
You see we could not have expected
you, because you have been away so
long," added Genevieve, with great affa-
/ bility. will you be persuaded to have
cup of tea, Mr.. Poynz. You must be
very tired of this delay, and l know you
chafed at being obliged TO wait so long"
II have been very comfortable indeed"
was Marks reply.
You were expecting us every minute,
| 81 expected you eventually, Miss Eos
ter, but hardly every minute, for | met
you an hour ago. Mono tea, thank
/ you
Met u.s. echoed Victoria, wondering
how they could have missed seeing him,
while Genevieye stood angrly looking
! from the window, conscious that, instead
I of being ashamed of having waited in
the school room. he seemed even anxious
that they should be distinctly informed
that he had done so, and had felt it no
penance. Met us, Mr.. Poynz! WhereY
Far in the west" quoted Mark,
remote from citizens, where Hyde
Park ends and Bayswater begins You
Sere speaking to a friend, or l might
have stopped you. Mrs. Foster, | bring
a message from viii, which | am here
myself to inGOrse-I mean a joint invita-
ton from him and myself Win had a
meeting to attend this evening, or he
would, believe, have been here, too. Will
you come and spend day at Heaton, in
the park-and on the lake, if you like
finishing up the evening at Wills lodg-
ings? l will drive you down and back
as far as Guildford, if you must return
the same night. There will be moonlight,
too, If you will fix Il day early n next
week"
Suppose" said Mrs. Foster, glancing
nervously at her elder daughter, who.
though gracefully joining her sisters
paean of delight, was waiting for her
mothers reply, we say the twenty-sev-
enth, Mr.. Poynz; will that suit you? and
will it suit you, Geaa"
ION the twenty-seventh, mamma, .
Genevieve answered, refeetively, I'VE are
engaged. Did you forget? Perhaps Mr..
Poynz win let us say the twenty-ninth.
1t will be moonlight for our drive even
then. How enjoyable it will bey'
And this invitation, Mrs. Foster"
| Mark went on, extends, if you please. to
Miss st. George and Miss Archer"
"As for Miss Archer" put in Gene
We've, with laugh, which was not over
burdened with mirth, that is one of
Wills philanthropic ideas; and he would
Oe much surprised. I'm sure, afterward,
If we, or you, Mr. Poynz, helped him to
carry it out. And"-with smile-"it
would be cruel, too, to take her from
Miss ST. George, who, l am confident.
will not be tempted from her work We
never can persuade her to go with us
anywhere-never. Can we, Toryg"
May l try" asked Mark, in the
graveSt possible manner, and not at all
as If he knew OF the merry twinkle in his
eyes.
II viii do so" interrupted Mrs. Foster.
rising, and glancing at Genevieve for ap-
prevail of the tact she displayed: Il will
try to persuade her, il you will stay. Mr..
PoynZ. But she will not consent TO 90.
| feel sure; fer, though not naturally in
clined to study, she keeps closely nj it.
under tbs conviction thar she is doing
right. And, indeed, l think she IS, poor
child"
Just as Mrs. Foster reached the door.
il was opened from without. and Nora
entered the room, with an open letter in
Ger hand.
Mrs. Foster" she said. without seem
ing to look further into the room. Mr..
Doyle has written TO say he win come for
me on the twenty-ninth. The letter has
Just arrived, and you told me TO let you
know as soon as ever heard from him.
You said il would be the twenty-eighth,
didn't you? Does the change make it in
convenient"
The last words were added simply in
pOliteness, for she had not seen that
Genevieve was i'll at ease. and dared not
glance mp TO see whether Mr.. Poynz had
noticed what day they had expected "a
oSe Nora.
That will do very WELL" was Mrs
Fosters ready and half-whiSpered reply
Now. run away. my dear, and tell Miss
Archer"
Il told her first" confessed Nora. hon