Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-02-04
CHAPTER XX.-(Continued1

HeIlt when lie dareu 10 NeHtuIe tHtO ASA
presence; while, | suppose, all the time
he was pretending to care for Tory No.
| must not ask help from Nora; II
know what l will do"
His step quickened little in that mo-
ment of relief, for he had caught sight
Of his mother, with her arm in Celia's.
Joining her, and taking her other arm
within his own, while. in new. anxious,
almost timid way. he begged Celia not to
go away. ne led them from the pier to
his mothers pleasant rooms upon the
parade, and there he told her of her
daughters fight, while Celia cried good
deal, and spoke very little; and yet was
so gentle and tender with the unhappy
mother, and so quiet and compassionate,
that afterwa-d, when Mrs. Foster looked
back to that sad hour, she fancied that
Celia had been a great CONSIDER. and had
made the shame and sorrow less for both
herself and WILL -.e
1t was a short story. though the meth
er's tears interrupted it SO often, and
made the telling of it take long time.
Early on the previous morning Victoria
Foster had left home, professedly TO
spend a day or two with a young friend
a =.
Willoughby sat writing in his mothers
lodgings, while she and Genevieve were
out, he had received a letter from his
youngest sister, posted in Dover. She
told him she had been married on the pre-
vious day to DR. Nuel Armstrong at the
Church of St. Stephen, in Walbrook; that
they were on their way then to Paris;
that she was very happy and desired him
TO give her love to her mother and Gene
We've Such a thoroughly heartless and
selfish letter it was, that VIII pretended
just now that he had lost it, and told the
story in his own wax
I'VE can do nothing, suppose" moan
ed Mrs. Foster, at last. Tory is of age
by her fathers will, and knew the man
she was marrying. Bnt you will Sc up
and see the register ut st. Stephen 5,
WHIP
Yes, as soon as ever Lord Keston
comes down The law proceedings are
all over now, and | fancy he will be here
tonight"
The band had begun to play under the
pier, when Mark Poynz entered and went
slowly along Il, glancing at every figure
he met, but with no eagerness of scrutiny,
for he knew how instantly he should
recognize the form he sought when he
came near enough to see it. Many eyes
followed him. for be was not one of the
usual loungers on the pier: and they grew
inquisltive, too, trying to reconcile the
slow and !eisurely step with the evident
concentration of both gaze and thought.
But, unconscious of any glance bestowed
upon him. Mark went on, until at last, at
the very end of the pier, he saw that his
search was over; and in his sudden great
content, as well as his fear of startling
Nora, his step slackened instead of hast
enins. So he went softly up TO her and
stood beside her, with his hand on hers;
and though she started q little, the grave
thoughtfulness within heS eyes died in
stantly in the light of her great joy--a
joy which she would never have let him
see had he not come upon her unawares.
''Ah! didn't that startle you-the sud
den splashing of the oars below? What
a ghostly little boat to come gliding SO
unexpectedly from under the pier."
Nora said this nervously, turning away
from MSrk to look down upon the water;
for she had remembered now, and the
childish tears rose to her eyes when she
felt how unable she had been TO hide
from him the gladness his coming gave
her. And seeing this, Mark bravely still
Cwhile his own strong impulse tempted
him 20 shatter resistlessly every barrier
between them restrained the words
which he knew she felt she might not
hear.
Where are they all, Nora?" he asked,
as his warm, strong fingers held her
hand within his arm. Hannah told me
i am so glad to see Hannah back in
your service, darling-that you were all
on the pier
80 we ART" said Nora, grateful to him
for speaking only thus. Isis Miss Gift
fard not come, thenE'
No, sweet. She is awaiting you-at
home"
Il do not understand" faltered Nora,
moving slowly on. Il have no home"
"Ah, forgot that said Mark, in his
cool. quizzical way, and with no sign of
the effort it cost him to speak TO her
without beuaying all his heart held of
love, aud care, and tenderness We'll,
we must go and see how the mistake hi
arisen. She certainly told me to briIig
YOU home soon. and 10 say that She
awaited you there.
SIZE has been very, very kind to me,
said Nora, earnestly. Il hope | may see
her again
You have to hear. sweetheart, the rea-
son for her not coming to Brighton. 1t
is rather a long story, and can only be
told at home. How soon viii you come
with meT'
Il wonder how Celia has gomez" said
h. q
home with such a new an6 happy tone of
voice, but never guessing how his utter
Rnce OF the word made her own eyes
soften with an inexpressible hope and
happiness. May we walk ON and look
for herr"
They met Mr. and Mrs. Pennington
presently. but could find none of the 9TH
ers; So they strolled from the pier. guess
ing that Celia had unthinkingly sauntered
homeward with the Fosters.
Then viii you tell us nothing. Lord
kestOn. until we reach Heaton?" asked
Mrs. Pennington, laughing as they stop
ped FOR a last look across the shadowy
sea. And do you really expect Us to
, start tomorrow"
III you please. said Mark, with rather
unusual gravitS. Il have my horses here.
and viii dlFe you st any hour You viii
arrange. Perhaps Foster and his mother
viii come Eith as. Miss Genevieve is go
ing 20 Paris. VIII tells me and her sister
but | can tell you these items of news
By and by Nora. viii you walk on with
me 20 see Mrs. Foster All. You look
So much better. my beloved. / never can
/ be grateful enough 10 the sea air for
bringing the dsiaty roses back And
/ presently. when You and l. Ny love. do
not shrink from me. am not going 10
break my word. only, when we 20 home
| have n story 70 eel yua; and then you
| viii tell me something about that love
,sSJ * yegrs. I dare say you will never
Sse ~. Armstrong ssain. dearest; but
I possibly we may aud the test fulfilled,
/ evea IN spite af him, We shall see. Why
a:e you s,oppags Oh, is this where
Mrs Foster jivess Nor2i. darling. | have
sad news &c take 20 her; bat | am not
I afraid because am taking sou to her
a. rAs same fSs,..s my 9,s-n igeIovN.I -