Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-01-05
CHAPTER III.


The Man in Possession remained in
possession for the space of three days.
and at the end of that time departed
his claim having been satisfied. Mary
Hackett did not know how the money
had been paid.
It's been got honestly" said VIII, in
answer to her inquiry. And that ought
to be enough for you"
She made it enough, but it was a day
or two before she so far conquered the
shame with which this public disgrace
had filed her as to face the streets
again.
1t happened on the third morning that
Mary. coming downstairs an hour or two
before her husband, found a letter adj
dressed to him in a strange handwriting
and, without knowing why, was a little
dismayed by it. The envelope was long
and narrow. 1t was made of blue paper
It's contents, whatever they might be,
were rather unusually bulky for a letter,
and altogether. for a woman of her re-
cent experiences, it had legal and dis
turbing aspect. Lying on the table be-
fore her, beside her husbands plate, it
spoiled her breakfast, but when VIII
came down. looking rather fishy about
the eyes and rather dull and ill-temper
ed, as was his custom of a morning. he
frightened at the sight of the envelope
and bounced upon it almost gayly.
The document he drew from it looked
no less legal than the envelope had done,
but Hackett, having merely glanced at
il. thrust it into his pocket and sat down
smilingly TO breakfast. Suddenly he look
ed up at his wife, who was gazing at
him with an anxious and distressed ex-
preston.
My dear" said he, "you are looking
like a ghost this morning. Why don't
you go out? A walk in the fresh air
would do you good"
This solicitude for her welfare, which
would have seemed quite natural
month earlier, was surprising now. but
Mary was still more surprised when her
husband arose from his seat, and taking
his place behind her chair, caresSed her
cheeks with both hands. The surprise
grew when he stopped down and imprint
ed a kiss upon her forehead.
Take a walk, my darling" he said:
''it win do you all the good in the worlo",
She hardly cared to face her little
world again after what had happened,
but Wills changed manner aroused new
hopes and made her eager to obey him.
He was SO gracious and affectionate and
gay that she knew not what TO make OF
him. but she obeyed him. and in spite of
the timid reluctance with which she ven
tured into the street, the broad summer
sunshine without was answered by some
uncertain and feeble CLEANS within. She
drew down her vail and hurried toward
the fields. and once there sauntered in
quiet solitude. thinking of many things,
but most OF all of Wills changed man
ner
She had begun to know. quite long
time back. it seemed. that her husbands
nature afforded but a sandy and preca-
rious soil to build upon. But il only she
could WOO his short-iived affection back
TO life again. could gain some gentle per-
manent influence over him-awake his
better instincts and justify her own
dreams, And so she dreamed her
dreams and prayed her prayers and went
home again. comforted. In the meantime
her husband was likewise engaged in
preparations for the future. When the
door had closed behind his wife he drew
the legal-looking document from his
pocket and read it keenly. He had had,
OF course. 10 business training, but he
read this particular document with
Shrswd business mind. and in spite of
certain numerous and bewildering legal
technicalities mastered every word OF 1t.
When he had mastered the contents OF
the paper he took pen and ink and set
his signature at the foot OF it, doing this,
as he did most things with mighty
flourish Then having pen IN hand he
wrote q note:
My Dear Polly-I have had 4 sudden
call from home. 1t is quite on the cards
that may be away fof a week l leave
you q twenty dollar note Tor immediate