Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-05-05

it in my power to tell you there Is no
hope. have just left Miss Lee, who
has made me her confdant. asking if
thought it would be contrary to all rules
of propriety for her 70 marry DR.. Clay
ton SO soon after the death Of his wife
1t seems he has always preferred her;
and could you have heard her tell how
nuch she loved him, am sure you would
have no hope of winning her, even were
she yous equal
/ Not again that day was Cedar Grove
gladdened by his presence, and when
next morning he came MS was his won't
| was the betrothed of DIR. Clayton, who,
with JOY beaming in every look, sat by
my side, talking to me of the pleasure
we should experience in our projected
European tour, for we we're to visit the
, old world, and he wished our marriage to
be consummated at once, so we could sail
the last of June. In a measure | had
dealt candidly with him. frankly nc
knowledging that the love / had felt for
him in childhood was gone. but saying,
as was true, that l respected hini-yas,
liked him, and if be was satisfied with
| that. | would be unto him faithful
vii, hoping that tho affection of former
years might ere long awake again in my
heart.
Involuntarily l shrank from him. for
| knew | was ur.leserying of such 1evo-
ton, and my conscience smote me for
Withholding from him the knowledge Of
my love for Richard Delafield. But that
was secret / could mot reveal, so
kept it to myself and with kind of
apathetic Indifference listened while lie
depicted in glowing colors the joyous
| future which he saw before him when
should indeed be mis- wife. He was go
ing to New Orleans on business, which
would detasl him for three or four weeks,
| and on his return he asked that the cere-
mony might be performed. and | go
with him to Sunny Bank as his bride
No. not so soon,'' exclaimed. leave
me my freedom a little longer" but he
only smiled as he waived aside every
objection and won from me promise
! that if Mrs. Lansing were willing. we
would be married there as soon as lie
should return.
Either by design or accident. Mrs. Ian
sing at that moment entered the room.
She playfully remarked upon the happy
expression of his face, saying she should
judge his suit was progressing, and add
ing that he had her good wishes for his
success. Embroidered by her familiarity,
DIR. Clayton at once preferred to her his
wish that we might be made one under
the shadow of her roof; we would make
no trouble. he said, as we wished for no
display. simply a quiet ceremony at
which no one should be present save her
self, her children and her brother.
At the mention of him | started as if
smitten by heavy blow, and l used all
the arguments of which | was mistress
to induce DR.. Clayton to defer our mar
riage until we reached Sunny Bank. But
to this neither he nor Mrs Lansing
would listen. Glad that l was thus out
Of her way, the latter seemed unusually
kind, offering to give me a bridal party
as testimony of her respect" Thus
was l silenced. while they arranged the
matter as they pleased. it being finally
decided that the wedding was to take
place Immediately after the doctors re-
turn, as he had first proposed.
1t was quite natural that / should
in the morning meet DR.. Clayton with
more cordiality of manner thansI had
vet evinced toward him. Quickly per-
celNluB the CHuliNe, he Sdiu, as he klSScu
my brow, MY Rosa is learning to love
me, / see."
And for a brief moment 1, too, fancied
that he was right-that | should love
him-nay, that l was beginning to love
him, when suddenly in the doorway Gp-
peared the form of one. the very sight of
whom curdled my blood for an inscant
and sent it bounding through my veins.
1t was Mr.. Delafieid. He had nerved
himself to see me, to stand face to face
with his rival and bravely did he meet
the trial. bowling courteously to DR.. Clay
ton and smiling kindly down upon ne.
glanced at him once and saw that his
eyes were riveted upon the plain band
OF gold which encrcled my fourth finger,
confirming the truth of what he had just
heard from his sister. At last, as if he
would test his strength to the utmost, he
placed my hand in that of Dr. Clayton
and said: GAS a brother commits a dear
sister to the care of another. so commit
to your care my Northern Rose, charg-
ing you to watch tenderly over her, for
It's not every one who winneth such
treasure"
This was all he said the next mo-
ment he was gone, and when DR.. Clay
ton drawing me to his side. told me how
he would treasure up the words of my
friend. l involuntarily shrank away, for
the shadow was again around me. and
turn which way would it whispered to
me of another love, another heart, which
l fain would have called my own.
&c Se continued.l