Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-12-19
CHAPTER XIX.

IL was IL o'clock when Isabel woke;
and it was u when she sat down to make
some pretense of eating the egg and toast
which Mrs. JeffsOn set before her. The
good woman regarded her young mistress
with a grave countenance, and Mrs Gil
bert shrank nervously from that honest
gaze.
She was not to meet him until
o'clock in the afternoon, and it was now
only a little after u; but she could not
stay in the house. A terrible fever and
restlessness had taken possession of her
lately. Had not her life been altogether
one long fever since Roland LansdelPs
advent! She looked back, and remem-
bered that she had lived once, and had
been decently contented, in utter ignor-
ance of this splendid beings existence
She took out her watch every now
and then, always to be disappointed at
the slow progress of the time; but at
last-at last-just as a sudden CLEAN
Of sunshine lighted the water fall and
fickered upon the winding pathway, a
distant church clock struck 3, and the
master of Mordred Priory pushed open
n little gate and came in and out among
the moss grown trunks of the bare elms
In the next minute he was on the bridge;
in the next moment, as it seemed he was
seated by Isabels side and had taken her
passive hand in his.
Mrs. Gilbert looked up sadly and
shrinkingly at Roland's face, and saw
that it was flushed and radiant. There
was just the faintest expression of ner-
vous hesitation about his mouth but his
dark eyes shone with a resolute glance,
and seemed more definite in color than
Isabel had ever seen them yet.
MY darling" he said, Il am very
punctual, am l not? did not think you
would be here before me. You can never
guess how much | have thought of our
meeting to-day, lsabel-seriously sol
EMMY even. lizzie, l want you to an
swer a serious question to-day, and all
the happiness of my future life depends
upon your answer"
Mr.. Lansdellw
She looked up at him-very much
frightened by his manner, but with her
hand still clasping his. The link must
so soon be broken forever. Only for a
little while longer might she retain that
dear hand in hers. Half an hour more.
and they would be parted forever and
ever. The pain of that thought was
strangely mingled with the delicious Joy
of being with him, of hearing from his
lips that she was beloved. What did she
care for Gwendoline nOw!-cruel, ieal-
Gus Gwendoline, who had insulted her
love.
Isabel" Roland said, very gravely,
bending his head to a level with hers, as
he spoke, but looking at the ground rath-
er than at her, 1t is time that we ended
this farce of duty and submission to
the world. Mine is no light love; if it
were, l would have done my duty, and
stayed away from you forever. | have
thought of your happiness as well as nv
own, darling; and l ask you now to trust
me, and to leave this place forever"
Something like a cry of despair broke
from Isabers lips. You ask me 70 on
away with you?" she exclaimed. LOOKING
Mt Roland as if she could scarcely ne.
Ieve the testimony of her own ears
You ask me to leave George. Oh.
Gwendoline only spoke the truth, then.
You don't UNDERSTANDING one under
stands how love you"
She had risen as she spoke, and flung
herself passionately against the balus-
trade of the bridge, sobbing bitterly, with
her face hidden by her clasped hands.
"Oh. Roland! Rolandl l have loved
you so-and could you think that L
Oh. you despise me-you must despise
me very much, and think me very wick
ed, or you would never"
She couldn't say any more, but still
leaned against the bridge, soboing for
her lost delusion.
Gwendoline had been right, after all
this is what Isabel thought-and there
had been no Platonism, no poet-worship
on Roland Lansdelrs side; only the vul-
gar, everyday wish to run away with
another mans wife.
us this acting, Mrs. Gilbert? Is this
show of surprise and Indignation a little
comedy, which you play when you want
to get rid of your lovers? Am l to ac-
cept my dismissal. and bid you good af
ternoon, and put up patiently with hav-
ing been made the verieSt fool that ever
crossed this bridgeT'
"0h, Rolandp' cried Isabel. lifting her
head and looking round piteously at
him. Il loved you sol loved you sou |
''You love me so, and prove your love
by fooling me with tender looks and |
bushes. till l believe that l have met
the one woman in all the world who |
is to make my life happy. Oh. Isabel. |
I have loved you because l thought you |
unlike other women. Am l to find that |
it is only the old story after all-false- |
hood. and trick and delusion? 1t was a !
feather in your cap to nave Mr.. Lans- |
DELI of the Priory, madly in love with !
you: and now that he grows troublesome,
you send him about his business. 1 am |
to think this, l suppose. 1t has all been !
eoqueuy and falsehood from first to
lost
"Oh, no, no. nor cried Mrs. Gilbert, |
despairingly. Il never thought that you |
would ask me to be more to you than l |
am now; 1 never thought it was wicked |
TO come here and meet you. have read |
OF people who, by some fatality. could |
never marry, loving each other. and be-
Ing true to each other for years and years |