Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-12-12
CHApTEP XVII

Mr.. LanSdell did not seem in a hurry
TO make any demoL stration of his return
to Mordred. He did not affect any Sc
crecy, it is true, but he shut himself
a good deal in his own rooms, and seldom
went out except to walk in the direction
of Thurston's oak. whittier Mrs. Gilbert
also rambled in the chilly spring after
moons, and where Mr.. Lansdell and the
doctors wife met each other very fire.
quently, not quite by accident now: for.
at parting, Roland would say, with SUI
preme carelessness: Il suppose you will
be walking this way to-morrow-it is
the Only walk worth taking hereabouts-
and I'll bring you the other volume"
Roland Lansdell kept aloof from his
kin dred, but he was not suffered to go
his own way unmolested. The road IN
perdltiOn is not so smooth and flower
bestrewn path as we are sometimes
taught to believe. A merciful hand often
filings stumbling blocks and hindering
brambles in our way. 1t is our own
fault if we insist upon clamberirg over
the rocky barriers, and scrambling
through the briery hedges, in mad
eagerness to reach the goal Roland had
started on the fatal descent, and was
OF course, going at that rapid rate with
which we always travel down Hill. bnt
the road was not all clear for him
Charles Raymond of Conventional ,ros
among the people who heard acciden+.
ally of the young mans return. and
about week after Roland's arrival tbo
kindly philosopher presented himself NJ
the gates of the Priory and was fortu-
nate enough to find his kinsman at home
In spite of Mr.. Lansdell's desire to he
at his ease, there was some restraint
in his manner as he greeted his old
friend.
II am very glad to see you. Ray
mond." he said Il should have ridden
over to Conventford in a day or two
I've come home, you see.'
Yes and I'm very sorry to see it.
This is breach of good faith. Roland. "
"Of what faith? With whom?"
with me-" answered Mr.. Raymond.
gravely. You promised me that you
would 90 away"
Il did; and l went away"
And now you have come back again. +"
Yes replied Mr.. Lansdell. folding
his arms and looking full at his kins-
man. with an ominous smile upon his
face-''yes; the fact is a little too evident
for the basis of an argument. l have
s come back"
Mr. Raym was silent for a minute
or so. The younger man stood with his
back against the angle of the embayed
window. and he never took his eyes from
his friends face. There was something
like defiance in the expression of his
face, and even in his attitude.
Il had better 80 away. Roland" Mr..
Raymond said looking at his kinsman
with sad, reproachfuI gaze, and stretch
ing out his hand to take up the hat and
gloves he had thrown upon a chair near
him; Il can do no good here"
One afternoon late in t. month. when
the March winds were b,eaSer and more
pitiless than usual, Isab,. went across
the meadows where the hedge rows were
putting forth timid little buds to be nip
ned by the chill breezes, and where here
and there a violet made a tiny speck of
purple en- the grassy bank. Mr.. Lans-
dell was standing on the bridge when
Isabel approached the familiar trysting
place. and turned with q smile to greet
her.
Il am going to the city, Isabel" he
said. after standing by Mrs. Gilbert for
some time. staring silently at the water;
IL am going tomorrow morning"
"Going away" cried the doctors wife,
piteously; 'ah, | knew you would go
away again, and shall never see you