Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-06-24

went slowly downstairs, attended by I'm
Gle Wilfrid, who insisted upon support
ing me as though l had been a child.
"Consuelo has sent you a special invi-
tation to come to her boudoir," be said.
''She will give US tea. have been going
to her there for the past three or four
days"
As we three talked in the bondoir, there
came the tinkling of a little bell from
room adjoining, or near, and Consuelo
sprang to her feet with a movement sud-
den for her.
1T is Miss Traill,' she exclaimed. Her
room is only separated by one from this,
and / left the door open that / might
hear her if she rang. You will forgive
me if l go to her for moment?'
1t was scarcely so long before she came
back. and L thought that her face showed
surprise.
Miss Trail is anxious to speak to you,
Mr. Darkmore," she said. 1T is some
within of hers: but, if you feel equal to
it. do you mind humoring her?'
"Of course 1 will go to herw l ex-
claimed And Miss Hope watched me as
l arose with a certain wistful anxiety.
| tapped and entered with slight hes
itation, but the harsh voice babe me
"Come in and | obeyed, to discover
Miss Trail half sitting, half lying on
lounge, with the mongoose curled upon
her shoulder.
WELL" she said with an affected
cheeriness, 80 we've been companions in
misery, and both suffering from wounds.
Mr.. Darkmore, when do you expect to be
about againY
Il mean to get out in a day or two,
whatever they may say" l returned.
'Ahl then by the last of the week you
viii be going back TO town.
Yes, by that at least. What can / do
for you when | go?'
what l want needn't be done in town.
But begin to see that shan't get well
until it is off my mind. Now, will you
do it,"
Il shall be only too pleased" l be-
gan, but she cut me short.
Don't say the conventional sort of
thingp' she exclaimed fretfully. Il know
you don't like me- But / haven't got
anybody to trust, and l believe if you
said you'd do a thing you'd do it, with
out any tricks. l can't do anything for
myself" she continued, peevishly. "All
want to do is TO write letter, and |
can't, because this hand of mine is so
bad. l can't ask Consuelo to do it; and
/ daren't ask one of the servants. She
won't suspect that l would ask you this
that's my safeguard. For PHYS sake,
find me a large foolscap envelope, out of
the desk over there by the window-the
left side. Thank you. Now sit down
and address it: Mr.. Jonas Heckleberry,
The Spider Farm, near Market Peyton,
Hants.' Thank you again. Now, please,
give it to me-"
With q sidelong look at me, she began
fumbling with her uninjured hand for her
pocket, and drew out something which
appeared TO be bit of folded rag. For
d moment or two she worked over it, all
eagerness, evidently wishing TO remove
two or three clasp-pins which held it to-
gether, but being unable to do so on
account of her bandaged hand and arm.
At last she gave it up in despair.
Il can't manage itr' she exclaimed an
grily. For goodness sake, do it for me.
Take CIT what is inside, and slip it into
the enN elope as quickly as you can"
She held out the parcel Of grayish-
brown stuff, and mo sooner had / got it
into my hands than | saw it was a
pocket torn out of a woman's dress, and
carefully pinned around its contents. l
remembered then Lady Towers story of
the pocket which Miss Trail had so per-
emptorily hidden her to tear from the
gown to which it belonged.
| According TO her directions, l drew
forth a small square of yellow parch-
ment, doubled over. like sheet of writ
| ing paper. several times. As my eyes fell
i ;t I Of hau
| ing seen it before; hut without giving
me any time to linger over an inspection
of it Miss Trail impatiently motioned
for me to pass it to her.
Quick, quickI' she cried. ''Some one
may come-Consuelo, perhaps. Here is
the envelope. l have sealed it. You are
| to keep it for me, please-treasure it as
though it were so much gold, and as soon
as you are well enough to attend to it
yourself, have the thing registered at the
postoffice and sent away. | shall be
| dying Of anxiety until / shall hear that
| it's been safely received"
| Scarcely had the words left her lips
when Consuelo came into the room.
Miss Trails face was dyed with a deep
red, and involuHCarily she reached out
/ as if to take the envelope from me. Then.
remembering herself. she drew back and
feigned Indifference But her prudent
thought came too late. She had betrayed
her interest in the letter to the Woman
in Gray.
Consuelo's beautiful eyes dwelt upon
the envelope. raised themselves question:
ingly TO mine. and then turned with
sterner look to Miss Trail.
Naomi" she said-and l had never be-
| fore heard her companions Christian
name-'I see now that you have deeeiv-
| ed me. Mr.. Darkmore, | beg that you
will tell me what is in that envelopes:
"1ou place me in rather a trying sit
nation" returned.
You are right. Well, l win not ques-
ton you about it. l will tell you. in
stead, that | believe Miss Trail has ask
/ ed you to dispose Of for her-in ignorance
of its value. in ignorance OF the fact that
she has no right 10 tia thing which
/ viii nor say was stolen from me. but
which l lost. You may remember that
one night, not long ago. | spoke TO you
of my loss. and | wondered il il were pos
sible the thing had come into your hands.
| am morally certain that it is in your
| hands at this moment"
" LAT iAAt ~ w. AcANN- |AA|S
/ Trail. a. true. asked me 10 do her the
small service of addressing an envelope
for her. And the contents. she has told
me. belonged only to herself"
And so they do-so they dor she pro-
tested. Post the letter for me- 1t has
nothing to do with Consuelo."
If il has not" said Miss Hope. then
prove it by opening the envelope and let
ting me see. | have the right TO insist
! uTon this, and II l find myself in the
wrong | viii humbly bcs for your for
| giveueSs."
Hide il. Mr. Darkmore, Don't let her
have it, shrilled Miss Trail. with little
gasps of impotent rage.
| Consuei0 did not utter a we'd. She
/ only looked az me. But ii was enough
| could not give her the envelope. which
/ had been sealed by Miss Trail. nor
would she have desired it. laid il down
on s small table near the invalids sofa.
sni hnxrsns- Mould have iefr fha roasra