Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-05-27
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CHAPTER y.-fContinuedl

CHAPTER V.-(COntinued.)
When she paused at last, finishing with
question. the stiffness in the drawing
room might almost have been felt.
What would Miss Hope say to her, and
TO the others, who waited some explana-
ton of the sudden storm-cloud which had
discharged its electricity?
But Miss Hope only laughed and shrug-
ged her lovely shoulders among their
nesting laces.
Dear me, Miss Wynnev' she exclaim-
ed at last, with q pretty little drawl, do
you mean to be melodramatic, or only
amusing"
waving her fan, from which flashed span
gled fire as she moved it.
"Of course, | have heard all about the
Fanny Edwards you mention, but not in
America. 1t was at Martenhead, near
Lorn Abbey, the old family place you
spoke of just now, and where we met last
week. Perhaps you even think"-and her
words were interrupted by little rip
ping laugh-"or perhaps I'd better say
mean to convey, that l am Fanny Ed
wards in Disguise? How funny! l see
that I'm not the only woman in the
house with what I call fine dramatic
instinct But l never make scenes; /
only act in them sometimes, when they
have been made. There's such differ
ence!"
You act very well, certainly" retort-
ed Paula, quivering. Indeed, you would
do most things you undertook well. l
haven't doubt, ever to making up beds
and washing dishes, which was Fanny
Edwards work at Lorn Abbey"
Poor girl! How she must have hat
ed it."
Yes; no doubt it's pleasanter to write
story books
Miss Hope laughed again. What a
battle of words, And | see that every
one is dying, but afraid, to separate us.
If you will tell us all, Miss Wynne ex-
actly why you fancied l privately rejoic-
ed in the simple, unassuming name of
Edwards | will get dear Lady Towers
to answer for me regarding my genealo-
gy as far as she knows IT,"
do you really wish me to tell-here,
before everybody l believed, and
do still believe, your real name to be
Fanny Edwards, not Consuelo Hope?"
''Ah, my dear Miss Wynne, you admit
it at last! Come, that's something to 20
upon. Yes, please give the particulars,
by all means"
You are very-brave."
The courage of innocence, I assure
you. And here come all the absentees,
just in time. Don't you agree with me,
Sir Wilfrid?"
Fer my uncle, with the other men, had
now made his appearance at the door.
Its foregone conclusion that ] do"
he responded CALAMITY.
Miss Wynne is just about IL tell as
her reasons for 'flching from lue my
good name of Hope. No, no; yor must
not speak. Sir Wilfrid; l shall be angry
if you do. Now, if you please, Miss
Wynne."
Paula was red and white by turns in
her anger at being thus baited where she
had thought to score.
You are not Miss Hope then, if you
will have it, she cried. II know, on the
authority of as clever a private detective
as can be had in London. Oh, I'm not
ashamed to confess it. And if you all
guessed the slyness, the Vaccinations"
Paula" uttered Uncle Wilfrid's stern
voice, Il forbid you to say another word.
You bring upon yourself treatment only
fit for a child. Leave the room. You
shall hear from me later"
Paula rushed out, and Miss Hope came
to the rescue, saying:
'0f course it began with a joke, and
was very stupid to have kept it up for
moment. 1t is l who ought to apologize;
and, by way of penance and to make you
all forget, I'll sing you the funniest song
know before we say good night"
She walked hastily to the piano and
began singing bright little French chan
son with a voice that trembled slightly
through verse or two. As she finish
ed and was running her white fingers
over the piano (the left hand still con-
spicuous in its pearl sheath, a footman
came into the room, carrying q small sill
yer tray with a twisted bit of note pa
per upon it.
Il beg your pardon, my lady," he plead
ed to Lady Towers, "but | was particu-
larly directed that this was important
and immediate"
"Oh, very WELL" remarked his mistress
and the tray was presented to Miss Hope
She was gazing at it as though at a
loss what she must do, when Sir Thomas
expressed the hope that we were not
to be cheated out of second song.
''Oh. if you will forgive me, l will sing
tomorrow instead" she asid brightly.
"You won't think me rude, viii you,
Lady Towers. il bid you good night alb
ruptly, and run away to--to-answer this
note? Its really rather important
1t was late, as it happened. for no one
had given thought to the flight of time,
and, with an evident general sense Of
relief. good nights were speedily exchang-
ed on all sides.