Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-04-28
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CHAPTER xvII.-CContinuedJ


demon jealousy. by whose aid she could
DO almost anything. The governess had
arisen early, as was her usual custom,
and gone forth into the garden where
she came unexpectedly upon Mr.. Della
neid, who, after expressing his pleasure
at meeting her, very quietly drew her
arm wltIln his own, and then walked
with her several times through the gar
den, casting often admiring glances to-
ward the dropping figure at his side.
Ada went forth into the garden to
meet them, nodding coldly to Rosa, and
bestowing her sweetest smile upon her
guardian, who wound his arm round her
waist and playfully kissed her forehead
"a liberty he would not dare TO have
taken with Rosa, who, thinking that of
course she was not wanted, made an
effort to withdraw her arm But Mr..
Delafeld's arm was strong and he press
ed it closely to his side, at the same time
giving her look which babe her stay.
why don't you ask Miss Lee about
your Boston friendsg" said Mr. Della
field, when they had taken a few turns
In silence.
Ada tossed her head scornfully, and
replied. Il don't think l had any ac-
quaintances in common with Miss Lee;
unless, indeed. it were her old aunty:
and with a little hateful laugh she lean
I'D across Mr.. Delafeld, and asked, How
is she? Richard, you would like TO
know"
l was provoked at her manner, but
answered ciyilly thg my aunt was well,
adding, as one would naturally do, Her
bert Langley, L suppose you know, IS
dead"
The news was unexpected. and com
ing as it did, it produced upon her a
singular effect, blanching her cheek to
marble whiteness, while her lips Quiv-
cred spasmodically. Mr.. Delafeld was
startled, and stopping short, demanded
Of her what was the matter.
"Oh, nothing MUCH" she answered. re-
covering her composure, and pressing
her hand upon her side, nothing but an
ugly pain, which is gone now. have
felt it often lately" and her face looked
as unruffied and innocent as If she really
thought it was the truth she had ut
tered
Breakfast being over, 1 started for
my room, accidentally dropping upon the
stairs handkerchief which had been
given me by Anna, and which had her
name, Anna Lee" marked in the cor
ner. In honor of Ada's return, there
was no school that day, and as the morn
ing advanced and the heat in my cham
Der grew oppressive, | went with my
book to the sitting room and took seat
by an open window, where l soon became
so absorbed in reading as not to observe
Mrs. Lansing and Ada, who came out up
on the piazza and sat down quite near
me, but still in such q position that
neither of us could see the other. After
a time they were joined by Mr.. Della
field. / resumed my book and forgot
my neighbors entirely, until my atten
ton was reused by the sound Of my own
name. It was Mrs. Lansing who spoke,
and she asked, What kind of folks are
those relatives of Miss Lee?'
oh. about so So" answered Ada, ard
Mrs. Lansing continued, And she was
then at school, l believer
AT schoolp' repeated Ada, apparent
ly in surprise. Mercy, MOI Why, she
was a grown-up woman, as much as
twenty-five or twenty-three years old"
There, thought So" answered Mrs.
Lansing, who, the reader will remember,
had. at my first introduction, taken me to
be twenty-five. II thought she must be
more than eighteen, didn't you, Rich
ard?'
Eighteen repeated Ada. at isn't
possible she calls herself eighteen. She
dare not do it in my presence Why,
she had been a teacher, / don't know
how long and besides that, twas said
that she had once been engaged to DIR.
Clayton. who for some reason Tilted her,
and was then married man as much as
thirty years old. Eighteen, indeed! I'd
like to hear her say So"
l was COMPOUNDED, but supposing she
had mistaken me for Anna, my first
impulse was to go out and tell her so.
but fearing lest she should think | had
Intentionally listened. my second thought
was to go away where / could hear 10th
ing further, and then, when Mrs. Ian
sing questioned me, as | felt sure she
would, l fancied it would be an easy
matter to exonerate myself from the
falsehood Ada had put upon me. had
reached the hall, and was half way up
the stairs, when Mr. Delafeld, who had
arisen and was walking back and forth
on the piazza. espied me, and called me
back.
There was a troubled look on his face.
and fixisg his piercing black eyes upon
me as if he would read my inmost
thoughts. he said, with something of
bitterness in the tones of his voice: II
did think l had found one female who,
on all occasions, spoke the truth; but if
what Ada has said is true. / am mistak-
en-; though why you"-and his hand in
voluntarily clutched my arm--''or any
other woman should stoop to a falsehood.
or seek to deny her age, bs she hun
dred or less. is secret which heaven
knows. perhaps. but l do not"
/ felt my face lush with Indignation,
and turning toward Ada. who. not hav-
ing expected scene like this, was very
pale. l said. 1T is not necessary, Miss
MontrOse, for you 10 repeat what you
have asserted concerning me. for l acct
dentally overheard it. and l thank Mr..
Delsfield for giving me an opportunity to
exonerate myself from the charge you
are pleased to bring against me-"
Been listening" muttered Mrs. Ian
sing.
silence. Angelina. Go on. Rosa. in
terrupted Mr.. Dela6eld, in a voice
which we both obeyed. she resuming her
neediework, while | continued; Il had
taken my seat by the window ere you
and Miss Montrose came out here. and
not thinking it necessary TO leave. re-
word of your conversation until / caught
the sound Of my name. Then, indeed. my
senses were sharpened. and heard Miss
Montrose's statements, which | am sure
she would never have made were she not
laboring under mistake
Here Ada, who was not in the least
prepared for the occasion, began 10
stammer out something about letting the
matter drop-she did not wish to harm
me. and had said what she did inadver-
tently. without ever dreaming of making
trouble. She didn't see why Richard
wished TO make il such a serious mat
tea for she was sure she didn't care
whether l were forty or eighteen"
But I care" he said. graspinx my
arm still tighter. Il care TO have justice
done. l had supposed Miss Lee 10 be
frank. ingenious and truthful; and If
what you assert is true. she is the re-