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


thought of your love made me so happy;
and it was such happiness to see you
sometimes, and to think of you after
ward, remembering every word you had
said, and seeing your face as plainly as
l see it now. l thought, till yesterday,
that this might go on forever, and never,
never believed that you would think me
like those wicked women who run away
from their husband"
And yet you love meP
with all my heart"
Roland Lansdell watched her face in
silence for some moments. and family
comprehended the exaltation of spirit
which lifted this foolish girl above him
to-day. But he was a weak, vacillating
young man, who was unfortunate enough
not to believe in anything; and he was,
IN his own fashion, truly and honestly in
love-too much in love to be just or rea-
sonable-and he was very angry with
Isabel. The tide of his feelings had
gathered strength day by day, and had
swept relentlessly above every impedi-
ment, to be breasted at last by rocky
wall; here, where he thought to meet
only the free, boundless ocean, ready to
receive and welcome him.
Isabel" he said, at last, "have you
ever thought what your life is to be, al
ways, after this parting to-day? You
are likely to live forty years, and even
when you have got through them, you
will not be an old woman. Have you
ever contemplated these forty years, with
three hundred and sixty-6ve days in
every one of them, every day to be spent
with man you don't love-a man with
whom you have not one common
thought? Think of that, Isabel; and
then, if you do love me, think of the life
| offer you and choose between them
Il can only make one choice" Mrs.
Gilbert answered, in a low, sad voice.
Il shall be very unhappy, l dare say,
but | will do my duty to my husband,
and-think of you"
$50 be it, exclaimed Mr.. Lansdell,
with a long-drawn sigh. ''In that case,
good-by." He held out his hand, and
Isabel was startled by the GOODNESS of
its touch.
You are not angry with me?' she
asked, piteously.
Il have no right to be angry with
any one but myself. 1 have nothing to
say to you except good-by. For mercy's
sake, go away and leave me to myself"
She had no pretense for remaining
with him after this; so she went away,
very slowly, frightened and sorrowful.
But when she had gone a few yards
along the pathway under the trees she
felt all at once that she could not leave
him thus. She must see his face once
more; she must know for certain wheth
er he was angry with her or not.
She crept slowly back to the spot
where she had left him, and found him
lying at full length upon the grass, with
his face hidden on his folded arms. With
a sudden instinct of grief and terror she
knew that he was crying, and falling
down upon her knees by his side, muir
INJURED, amidst her sobs:
"Oh, pray forgive me! Pray do not
be angry with me! l love you so dearly
and 50 truly! Only say that you forgive
me-"
Roland Lansdell lifted his face and
looked at her. All, what a reproachful
look it was, and now long it lived in her
memory and disturbed her peace!
Il will forgive you" he answered,
sternly, when l learn to endure my life
without you"
He dropped his head again upon his
folded arms. and Isabel knelt by his side
for some minutes watching him silently;
but he never stirred; and she was too
much frightened and surprised by his
anger, and remOrsefully impressed with
a vague sense of her own wrong doing. to
dare address him further. So at last she
got up and went away. She began to
feel that she had been, somehow or other.
very wicked, and that her sin had
brought misery upon the man whom she
loved.