Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-06-17
CHAPTER n.

having merely dined en- famslie in quiet
house, which was, in all probability, to
be her future home; and at breakfast
next morning / observed tlsat her right
wrist was bound round and round with
narrow strips Of sticking plaster.
isn't it a shame?v she apologized.
Naughty mongoosie has scratched me
with his sharp claws. Last night | man
aged to hide il with a glove, put at break
fast that will hardly do. ;hope nobody
minds the sight; it's sure to be quite
right again in day or two"
/ thought that the wrist seemed badly
swollen, and an angry red showed be-
tween the strips of plaster while Miss
Trail herself looked far frem well. At
luncheon she did not appear and heard
from Lady Towers in the AFTERNOON that
she was i'll, had taken to her bed, and
the doctor had been sent for
Poor Miss Traill"' the gttle woman
exclaimed excitedly. DR.: Hasbrouck
says that she has torn the flesh on some
bits of rusty metal, and thas, unless her
blood's in a better condition than he
fears it is, the consequences may be Sc
rious. Isn't that odd, too?! for | heard
her say only this morning the scratches
udu btEH DJdue ny lHE nfAEOOoNs ~
course, after that, l had to go up and see
the poor creature. She was in such an
excited state, especially when she heard
I'd been talking to the doctor. She NUT
tered something about being A prisoner to
her bed for an indefinite lime. Then
she asked me, very quick and hurried, to
tear out the pocket OF the dress she had
last taken off. 1t was hartging over a
chair, as though she had expected TO get
up shortly and put it ON again. Tear out
the pocket said L. And, i must con-
fess, l thought, and think still, she had
gone off her headl Why NOT let me give
you what's in the pocketY She glared
at me as though I'd made anEinsulting re-
mark, and then said no. it imust be the
pocket itself, and before any one could
come into the room. 1t was IA fancy, and
knew, didn't 1? that sick people must
be humored. | assure you / didn't lose
any time tearing out that pocket and
handing it to her. She snatched at it.,
and tucked it under her pillog, and in an
instant more Consuelo had come in with
lavender smelling salts. | couldn't help
wondering what was in that pocket."
Leaving Lady Towers, | made my way
to my own room. Suddenly a black fig
ure appeared at the window and l recog-
nized Paula.
PAULA l exclaimed, how did you
GENE here?"
Through this window she said. II
wished very much TO see you, and /
thought you would come here sooner or
later. | watched Uncle Wilfrid and the
others drive away. And now l have
found you. Yet it is difficult to speak.
o, Terry, can't you guess what I've
come to say?"
Her voice was gentle and tooing as it
had never been before.
Il cannot guess, Paula" / said, trying
not to speak with too marked a GOODNESS.
Il am afraid you will have; TO tell me
what you want of me-"
She laid her hand on miBe, and its
palm was dry and burning.
II want your love, Terryp she cried
in a thick, choked voice. !1've come
to beg you to take me back again; yes,
even on my knees, if need be! oh, yes,
l know what you would say. l know l
wrote you that l never loved you. l may
have thought so then, for i was mad
with jealousy and hatred of that other
woman who had come in my way. o
Terry, you are above other men in every
thing--the handsomest, bravest, the no
blest, the strongest! Take ME back, or
| shall diew
For heavens sake, Paula, what are
you sayingP
To my horror, she was on her knees
beside me, covering my hands with kisses
not as fire.
Don't say that you have given your
love to anyone else. 1t isn't SO: long since
| went away, since we were bound TO
marry each other. will be gentle, sweet
anything you like, if only you will say
that all shall be as before"
Not ON your knees to me, Paula! Rise,
/ beg Of YOU"
And / would have lifted her TO her
feet; but she chung round me, weeping
tears that seemed 70 scald my hands as
they fell upon them.
II viii not get up until you have for
/ given me for everything, and promised
me your love. After all, no harm came
of my sin-for sin it was, l snow, and
knew it then. in shutting that woman in
with the tiger. / shall kill myself if you
won't take me back! Terry, can't you
see that my heart is breaking? Why
/ don't you answer mef'
Il can't answer as you wish" l gent
/ ly said you don't know what you ask
! why not? Is it so hard for a man to
| love me? There is Mr.. Haynes Haviiand
handsome, rich. clever, andS of good
enough birth on one side. AT ane time
/ thought. out of ennui and saeer spite
! against you and Uncle Wilerits, / might
consent to marry him, as he has begged
/ Inc dozen times to do. But you-you
1T would do me no good if did,
"Ah, what crnel answers Now l
/ know why you turn against ime. You
think only OF her" She stood up and
/ faced me, looking straight into my eyes,
Gold as icer she cried And for
/ this, as for all the other troubles l have
I known. l must thank that woInan-Con-
/ suelo IIOpe."
She tIrred and was gone lie fash,
springing out OF the open window on 10
| the grass. Most probably sha had eN-
peeted me to follow her. but it was the
one thinI which AT that momelt could
not do. l walked TO the wiudow and
/ looked out after her--no more.
There was rustling in the thick cur
tain OF vines that had draped ;the house
for generations as / stood there and in
voluntarily / turned my heai with a
wary glance. thinking that possibly there
had been an eavesdropper, AMI cur con-
versation had been overheard. But / saw
nothing. and in another moment the in
significant circumstance had passed COM
pletely from my mind.
was lost 70 everything save the mem
ory OF the scene / had Just passed
through. / heard a faint creaking Of the
floor in the msin body OF the room. out
side the ingle where I now stood. an
other close beAtnd me ere l could turn.
and sharp. deadly pans shot Ike red
hot iron through L,y hack and side l
fell forward on my face. striking my
temple a violent blow and knew no more.
CHAPTER NJ.
cannot tell ho9 long l lay there.
between the fireplace and the high oaken
seats which presented their carved backs
/, to the main portion OF the room. What