Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-04-22
IRENE's vow
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.


der the blue sky with the fragrant air
whispering round her-an altered wom-
IAN. Taere was little trace in this bag
gard face Of the duchess; all the exquis-
lite coloring had faded. the lips We're
white, the wide-open eyes had fright
ened, startled look the dainty bloom and
the freshness. the youth. the brightness
/ had gone, leaving il like a stone mask.
She entered the house by the pretty
side door in the rose garden. Almost the
first person she met was the duke, who
had returned from the shooting party.
She ayarted her face lest, seeing it. he
should mistake it for the face of the
dead.
Irene, my darlingr' he cried. where
have you been? Your dress is covered
with dust and grass"
| Her heart almost stood still at the
words The pale face of the wounded
man seemed to float before her, his voice
to Eli her ears. Then she remembered
that she must be herself, that she must
speak and act naturally, or he would
suspect--suspect Inyoluntarily she rails
ed her white hands and looked at them
TO see tx red stain was on them.
Her husband saw the curious gesture,
and, not dreaming OF its cause, said to
her:
"Are your hands dusty? We had no
dust at Durnton-it has been a very
pleasant day"
She mastered herself so far as to
speak, bat her voice was quite unlike any
other sound; the horror Of the scene was
on her yet.
Il have been wandering about the
grounds she said. Il had a headache
and could not talk"
He looked at her and cried out in gen
uine alarm.
You do look iii. Irene; you must rest
an hour before dinner. II is nearly five
now"
Five! And she had left the wood at
three Al, then, two hours Of this NOR
tai agony were oger-two long, cruel,
dreary hours.
Have all the party returned?" she
asked
'All but Sir Hubert" he replied.
Lady Estmere seems anxious about
him"
She could not help the horrible blanch-
ing of her face or the shaking of her
hands.
He did not go with us" continued the
duke NE followed us to Durnton;
strange to say. we saw nothing Of him.
One of the keepers passed him in what is
called tho Lower Woods, and no one
has seen him since. Without doubt be
has made up a capital bag"
She knew that it was a mistake; no
keeper could have seen him, for the best
Of all reasons-he WAS not there. The
Eaanap must barra cnap cnrnonna alSo
whom he mistook for Sir Hubert She
saw at oence and quickly how the mis-
take would beneit her.
She Went away. smiling to herself with
bitter scorn. but she could not endure her
terrible burden, from fhe horrible tragedy
lonely room; she must go down to the
ladies and talk TO them-anything to
make her forget. anything to take her
thoughts from the gTeensward and its
terrible burden, from the horrible ira
gedy, on which the sun was shining.
She met Lady Estmere in the hall, who
went up to her with j wistful face.
Duchess, she said, II was looking for
you. want a few words of comfort
about my husband, Sir Hubert"
What about himE' she asked. her lips
burning. aad so stiff she could hardly
articulate.
He followed the duse's party to Durn-
ton. and none of theni has seen him. |
am afraid he has missed his way. |
would give all | have in this world to
see him just Mt this moment-I would,
indeed. You always comfort everyone
comfort me-"
She tried to laugh, put the sound was
horrible, even to herself.
What comfort do you want? Are you
so love sick that if your husband be
few minutes late you must fancy all
kinds of evil things have happened to
him?'
Lady Estmere looked up in wonder.
How strange your voice is. Surely
you are not we'll"
II am quite well; and l am inclined TO
think that you are fanciful' she said.
IL hope ! am, duchess, for | feel really
unhappy about my husband. | had
strange feeling, a strange presentiment,
when he was going away as though some
evil was hanging over him."
You arc not WE'LL said the duchess;
chose fancies often GENE when one feels
weak and languid'
The dinner bell rang. the duchess gath
cred up her dress OF blue velvet, with its
rich, trailing lace ard diamond orna-
ments.
They talked much of Sir Hubert dur
/ ing dinner, perhaps oct of pity for the
/ pale face of his young wife.
| They laughed at the idea that anything
| had happened to him5 perhaps carried
away by love OF sport, b. had gone fur
| Their into the wood ard so had missed
them; but that he should be lost was all
| nonsense. lie would be here soon, laugh
| ing at his misadyentuHe.
Ladies left the table. the gentlemen
drew their chairs ne&rer together, the
/ daylight faded out of the skies. and yet
/ he had not returned; but they did not
1 begin to feel really !uneasy until 10
o'clock had struck and there was no sign
OF him.