Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-25
IRENE'S vow
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.
BY CHARLOTTE M. BRAEME.
CHAPTER III.

-Oo-~O>~-~-o-o-o-o-o---~
CHAPTER III.
1t vas a new life to Irene Darcy; she
never thought to ask herself If it Were
right or wrong, whether she was keep
ing a secret from those who loved her
best or not. She soon ceased to think or
remember anything else except that she
was to see Sir Hubert every day, and
seeing him had grown dearer than life
TO her. She made no poaitiye appoint
ments with him, she never said, Il shall
be by the gsrookside at such an hour"
but it vas understood between them.
Irene. rose early that every duty might
be peri brmed, that no one would be able
to say she neglected anything. Every
thing intrusted to her was most care
fully attended to, in order that she might
have more time for herself; and SO it
came TO pass that in the early morning,
before the others were awake, she spent
long. happy hours by the brookside with
Sir Hubert, then FASTENED home, wait
ed on her father with such loving atten-
ton. and was so thoroughly kind to Mrs.
Cotre that they could see no flaw in her.
Then in the long sunset hours she was
free again: and no one ever 2sked where
she went or what she did. The artist was
in his studio, the mistress of the house
resting. as old age loves to rest. There
was no one to hold out hand to save
her.
Sir Hubert accustomed her 70 his pres
ence as the flowers grew accustomed TO
tae sunlight; it had become = necessity
to her before she realized it. She might
never have understood how it became
part Of her life but for his absence dur
ms one day. The sun was setting. and
the waters of the pretty brook were Grim
SON in the red glow Of the sun. They
were sitting under the dropping boughs
OF the willow tree; and ne, looking up
from the pages of the book. said:
This time tomorrow evening l shall
be in London"
He knew, for the first time, how much
she cared for him when he saw the love
ly young face grow white as death and
the shadow Of unutterable pain dim the
bright, sweet eyes.
In London?" she repeated, Are you
going away?"
Only for a day." he FASTENED to reply.
II could not remain longer if | would. y
81 shall not see you all day, then:' she
said, plaintively.
1T is rather l who will not see you,
he replied. The day will seem longer
to me than it possibly can to you"
Il am not sure" she said, gravely.
You will have thousand distractions.
| shall have nothing to do but think"
What shall you think of, Irene!" he
asked. gently. Her fair young face droop-
ed from his as she answered:
You know that | will think Of you.
And the silence that fell upon them
both was far more eloquent than words.
When the sun rose ON the morrow she
realized all that he had become to her
The bright sun shone in vain, and in
vain did the birds sing; her heart was
heavy as lead: there was no light in her
eyes, no spring in her step, no singing
over her work as she went through her
duties; no delight in hurrying to the
brookside; all life seemed blank and
dreary.
What is the matter this morning
Irene?n asked Mrs. Cotrel. You seem
to have lost all life"
What is the matter, Irene?" asked
the artist why, child, all the bright
ness has gone from your face; what ails
your
What is the matter with Irene to-
day." asked the old servant, Jacqueline.
These jellies viii not set, and the cakes
will not rise; nothing seems right that
she does"
All! wh't allied her? that she, so light
of heart, so brilliant, SO beautiful, had
no words--no smiles.
What ails me:" she asked herself
and her heart gave her no answer.
Without him she was like flower
without sun to warm or rain to nourish
it, He had become part of her lfe-the
best part of it-and what she could dc
she could not tell.
On the morrow they stood together in
the clear morning light. each one chang
ed. He read in her face that the time
had come in which he might safely say
that he loved her. And she knew that
she had learned with her whole heart tC
love him.
did YOU miss me, Irene?'' he said
looking with passionate eyes into the
lovely, dropping face. Tell me. Do not
be afraid that shall grow vain; tell me,
did you miss mef"
More than l thought l should miss
YOU" she answered And your
Il" he replied. Il will tell you; Lon
don looked very bright and full of life
| sax many friends and many friendly
faces. but l was so anxious to be back
here with YOU l did not stop to exchange
one word except with the solicitor wen;
to meet DO you know what this is q
sign OF. IreneE
She made no answer. The golden morn
ing light quivered on the leaves and in
the water of the brook; little bird from
the alder tree sang sweetly. he bent his
dark. handsome face over hers. as he
whispered:
Irene, does not your own heart whis-
per to You what this means? WHY
should miss you? Why should you
miss met'
Because we are friends she an
swered, gently.
No. not that; we are now in the land
where friends never stand: the light. my
darling, that never shone on land or sea.
shines for us, the golden gate of the gold
en- land opens 10 US; there can be no go
ing back TO the calm regions of friend
ship. Irene, my darling. look up at me,
10 not turn that sweet face from me: il
is that We love one another. Oh. my
darling. DO you hear the words? we love
enc another"
The little brook might become bic
ocean. and is mighty tide would become
rs nothing before the mightier sweep OF
love that rushed through he girls heart
whea she heard her lovers words.
CHAPTER ~.
There was uo nore question og frienl-
snin hetp-t-u tlcnl, taat was foyg0ttea-