Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-05-20
CHAPTER w

We did not meet Miss Hope that day.
Upon inquiry l learned that she and her
strange companion had left the inn early
in the morning, bound for no one knew
whittier.
My uncle looked disappointed when 1
reported this fact to him, Paula pleased.
We went over the Abbey that forenoon
and discussed this and that improve
ment suggested and necessary.
Il have decided to give the Abbey full
and complete attention." declared Sir
Wilfrid when we returned to the inn,
''and have also decided to accept an in
vitation that has been extended for some
time
Paula looked curious. Her satisfaction
was apparent as my uncle concluded:
Our dear friends, Sir Thomas and
Lady Towers, are at Hazelmount. l shall
write to have, them expect us for week
at least. In the meantime l will wire
my private secretary, jerome, to join us.
You young people can enjoy a delightful
outing, while l formulate my plans for
the future"
Monday found us all pleasantly domes-
ticated with the most charming hostess
and geuial host the country afforded.
w AAu dtN uN uAGl
GUS people at Hazelmount; and the pres
ent was no deviation from the usual oc-
casion. On Wednesday my uncle's fac
totum and assistant in various literary
and artistic researches with which he
entertained himself, arrived upon the
scene. He and l had never been famil-
lar, scarcely friendly, for 1 had always
disliked and distrusted him. With Paula.
however, it was different. She had found
Jerome in the past an humble and will
ing servant, and the fellow was faithful
and careful in executing commissions
that could not be trusted to a minor
mental l fancied she was more than
ordinarily civil and pleasant with him
on his arrival, and twice in the day |
noticed them in the garden conyersing
together.
HE has so much to tell me of home
and London, you know" she explained
to me later, but l cared nothing for the
same, for my thoughts were-and had
constantly been since the preceding Fri
day-on Miss Hope.
Somehow the memory of our strange
meeting haunted me. Several times my
uncle, when we were together alone, with
retrospective and half-longing look. re-
verified to the wild-rose beauty who had
flashed across our path so dramatically.
and then magically disappeared, and
readily saw that the impress of the inter-
view ut the INN had not left his mind.
On Thursday Lady Towers announced
rare treat for her guests. She stated
that a very dear lady friend at March
mont. about fifty miles distant. had writ
L. \.
lady of rare dramatic instinct, whose
presence She felt assured would enliyep
her guests. She was an orphan, hes
father and mother having recently died in
America. Wen connected, and anxious
10 give private dramatic readings in or
der to prepare herself for more preten-
tious exercise of her ability when she
had gained confidence and experience.
The young lady arrived late that af-
ternoon Imagine my surprise. the de-
light of Sir Wilfrid, the sharp. keen. vi
cious diSpleasure Of Paula. when she was
announced as Miss Consuelo Hope" and
we greeted once more our dazzling Mar
/ tenhead acquaintance who had less than
week since predicted we should thus
meet Unexpectedly again.
1t seemed to be Miss Hopes desire
cha. we should meet as strangers. and
~hus indeed we met TO the eyes OF others.
/ That evening she gave the assembled
company some wonderful dramatic read
sngs. The genuine applause was timed
/ by the meuacing, deadly glitter Of renew
! ed hate and rage in Paula's eyes. | not
/ ed this. And the next day / noted, too.
( that she was several times in eonhdsn-
4 tial discourse with my unele's secretary,
Jerome. as though she were giving him
i explicit Instructions on some theme u
l deep interest 70 her mind.
In the afternoon Jerome disappeared.
i Il was late in the evening when | was
4 lying on divan in little reading room
/ OF from the main drawing room This
apartment opened into a side corridor
/ that went ont and down into the garden.
/ II had begun raining about dusk. and
| the guests had = dismal evening Of it
] save when relieved from the monOreny hy
Miss Hopes fine singing had sought
this solitude in something of "A hui
Miss Hope had been radiantiy attentive
to Sir Wilfrid. and. it seemed 10 me
/ markedly evasive Of myself SO / had
sought solitude to NOPE, so influenced By
the neglect OF the young lady that ! vas