Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-01-28
NOT 100 late

81 7 was late when George Atwood
arrived at Mrs. Halleck's party.
There was quite a brilliant COM
pany present. and Mr.. Atwood stood
near the door to sean the throng
Evidently he was looking for some
body-yes, for his eyes rested now on
a young girl.
A girl with a beautiful face upturn-
ed to a fair, handsome man, bending
over the back of her chair She seem
ed in a trance of delight. and wholly
unconscious of anybody's presence in
the brilliantly lighted parlors but the
man bending over her.
And tie girl was George Atwood's
promised wife.
When his eyes rested on her an aw-
full change came over his face, the
rich, dark color fed, leaving it white
and rigid, and his lips formed a tense
line under his heavy, dark beard
For days past George Atwood watch
ed Ida Challis, his intended wife. He
knlw that Ida loved him devotedly,
anC ne tried not to watch her; he tried
not to notice Alfred Mays attention to
her, but as he caught sight of her
face when he entered Mrs. Hallecks
parior he knew that he ought to have
kept n better watch over her than he
did Alfred May possessed the fasci-
nation of a serpent. ana he had drawn
Ida into the meshes.
George Atwood turned away with an
inward groan He loved Ida passion
ately; her love seemed lost to him, yet
he could not think of giving her up.
MIR. Atwood is here" Alfred May
said looking down Mt Ida Challis.
The radiant face grew pale, and Ida
shivered as she looked around her. She
had fallen from her world of bliss and
she was once more in Mrs. Halleck's
crowded salon.
did you say Mr.. Atwood was here?
Where is heE" she asked, in a low
voice.
Yes; he was here moment ago. |
saw him looking savagely in this d-
rection, but he has disappeared; l do
not see him anywhere now" and Mr.,
May laughed his musical laugh,
changed the conversation, and in an
other minute Ida's face was upturned
and rosy once more.
A quadrille was forming, and n gen
tleman came TO claim Ida for the
dance Away from Alfred May and
the glamor his presence cast over her
partly vanished-She thought of her
lover. Where was lie? Did he no
tlce anything wrong in her conduct to-
ward Alfred May? If he was in the
room why didn't he come to her?
These thoughts flashed through Ida's
mind as she waited for the first figure
to be called, and happening TO turn her
head she saw her lover standing on
the opposite side of the room, his eyes
fastened upon her. one glance at his
livid face and everything in the inum-
mated parlors seemed whirling round
her.
The dance was over. Ida never could
tell how she 80 Through It, The heat
of the room was suffocatiug her. and
rhen her partner left her. after leSding
her back To her seat, she rose and sag
gered over 60 one of the windows that
opened out upon the balcony
As she stepped into the deep recess
Of the window she LEI the curtains fail
behind her. shutting in the light and
heat and whirl. How delightful and
cool II was out here. The shining stars
locked down NJ her from their deep
blue setting through the open window.
But Ida did not shut herself out in the
darkness TO gaze at the stars She
threw herself into n chair which occu-
pied the recess and buried her face In
her hands.
"oh. what a wretch am" she
moaned. George suspects l think
aore If another man than do Of him.
Heaven help me, How is this going
20 endg"
Little Ida dreamed that before many
minutes she would know how II was
going to end. As she asked herself
that question voices came To her from
the baleeay without.
Ida's head was erect in an instant. A
lady and gentleman were speaking on
the balcony. Ida did not wish 10 sit
and listen TO what was not Intended
for her ears, but the mans voice held
her spellbound. and she leaned forward
to catch every word that fell from his
lips.
What absurd ideas, 10 be SureT' the
man was SAYING. in his highest tones.
Absurd, how can you say SOP
said the lady's voice, hotly. Anybody
can see that you arc trying TO come
between George Atwtod and his in
tended wife"
Trying to come between Them and
Alfred May laughed deriSively.
All. you meaD mat you have already
accomplished It. Yes. everybody says
that you must have fascinated Miss