Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-09
The Doctors wife
BY MISS N. Z. BRADDoN
SSS|SSS$S$
CHAPTER xXIIL-tContinued.)
BY MISS "A. z. BRADDoN

aSkeO, as Tue uOoE CloSeu upon MS uncle.
He spoke as if there had been no break
or change in the conversation since Mrs.
Gilbert's name had beer mentioned
If the answer to this question had in
volved a sentence of death, or a re-
prieve from the gallows, Roland Lans-
dell could not have asked it more eager
ly. de ought to have believed in Isabel
so hrmly as to be quite unmoved by any
village SANDER; but he loved her too
much to be reasonable Jealousy, the
demon--closely united as a Siamese twin
TO Love, the god-was already gnawing
at his entrails. 1t could not be, it could
not be, that she had deceived and de-
luded him; but if she had; ah, what
baseness, what treachery!
There is strange man staying at a
little rustic tavern in Nessborough Hol-
low. You know what gossips these coun-
try people are. Heaven knows l have
never put myself out of the way to learn
other peoples business; but these things
get bruited about in all manner of
places"
Tell your story plainly, Raymond.
There is strange man staying in Ness
borough Hollow-weIl, what has all this
to do with Mrs Gilbert?'
Only this much-she has been seen
walking alone with this man, after dark,
in Nessborough Hollow"
at must be a lie; a villainous inven-
ton! or if-if she has been seen to meet
this man, he is some relation. Yes,
have reason to think that she has some
relation staying in this neighborhood. "
But why, in that case, should she
meet the man secretly at such an hour,
while her husband is lying illY'
There might be a hundred reasons"
Mr.. Raymond shrugged his shoulders.
"Can you suggest one?" he asked.
But has she been seen to meet him p
cried Roland, suddenly "No, i will not
believe it. Some woman has been seen
walking with some man; and the Gray
bridge vultures, eager to swoop down
upon my poor innocent dove, must have
it that the woman is Isabel Gilbert. No,
l will not believe this story"
80 be it, then" answered Mr. Ray
mond. I'm that case we can drop the
subject"
But Roland was not so easily to be
satisfied. The poisoned arrow had en-
tered far into his soul, and he must
needs drag the cruel barb backward and
forward in the wound
mot till you have given me the name
of your authority" he said
"Pshaw! my dear Roland have / not
already told you that my authority is
the common Graybridge gossip"
III not believe that. You are the
last man in the world to be influenced
by paltry village scandal You have
better grounds for what you told me.
Some one has seen Isabel and this man.
Who was that person"
Il protest against this cross-examina-
ton. You refuse to be spared, and must
take the consequences of your own OBJ
stinacy. | was the person who saw
Isabel Gilbert walking with a stranger
"A SLOWLY dressed, disreputable looking
fellow-in Nessborough Hollow. / had
been dining with Hardwick, the lawyer,
at Graybridge, and rode home across
country by the Briarwood and Hurston-
leigh road, instead of going through
Waverly. I heard about Mrs. Gilbert
at Graybridge-heard her name linked
with that of some stranger staying at
Nessborough Hollow, who had been
known to send letters to her, and to meet
her after dark. Heaven only knows
how country people find out these things;
but these things always are discovered
somehow or other. | defended Isabel
l know her head is a good one though
by no means so well balanced as it might
bel defended Isabel throughout a long
discussion with the lawyers wife; but
riding home by the Briargate road, / met
Mrs. Gilbert walking arm-in-arm with
a man who answered to the descr;ntion
had heard at Graybridge"
when was this?
THE night before last 1t must have
been some time between 10 and II when
l met them, cor it was broad moonlight
and l saw Isabers face as plainly as
see yours"
And did she recognize your
Eyes; and turned abruptly away from
the road into the wasted grass between
the highway and the tall hedgerow be-
yond."
For some moments after this there
was a dead silence, and Raymond saw
the young man standing opposite him
In the dusk. motionless as q stone figure
white as death.
"Shake hands, Raymond" he said, in a
dull, thick kind of voice; 81 thank you
heartily for having told me the truth
1t was much better to be candid; it was
better to let me know the truth. But
oh, if you could know how l loved her
If yOn could knowr'
Roland Lansdell got up by and by, and
walked to the open French window.
There was silyery simmer of moon
light upon the lawn, and the great clock
In the stables was striking 10.
Good night, Raymond" said Mr.
Lansdell, turning on the threshold of the
window. lyon can make some kind of
apology for me to my uncle and Gwendo.
line. won't stop to say good night ia
them"
But where are you going?"
"To Nessborough Hollow"
Are you mad, Roland?"
"That's a great deal too subtle a cues
ton to be answered just now. | an
going to Nessborough Hollow, to see
Isabel Gilbert"
CHAPTER XIV.
The moon was slowly rising behind 8
black belt of dense foliage-a nobl,
sc~aa, Of nlD, and haanb tb,+ - .I4....