Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-12-25
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
CHAPTER L

grove upon my table. Win IhElll VI
delight / recognized it. ara glanced Gag
erly round expecting to see Miss Duncan
with a book in one of the cosy chairs
Ny heart fell; there was no one in the
room but myself. She must have come
In to write a letter and left the glove
there by accident l took it up and put
1t to my lips. 1t was soft and cool and
sweet, with a delicate scent of spring
flowers. | laid it on my palm and looked
at il. There was the form OF her hand
in it: it had the tint of a fair skin. But
oh, in color, texture, form and sweetness
how poorly it represented the dear hand
that had worn it; it was charming to the
senses only because it suggested some
thing iHfnltel more adorable.
With some such rhapsody as this
pressed the glove to my lips again, ana
then, startled by a SOUND, L turned and
found myself face to face with Miss Dun
can, who had come back for her glove
There it was, within an inch OF my lips.
The position was embarrassing. What
was to be done? Would she take the
glove with my kiss upon it, or would
she turn her back on me and leave the
room in Indignation? She took neither
course, but stood there with deep blush
on her face and an unspeakable tender
ness in the glance that met mine, and
then she dropped her eyes, but still she
stood there. 1t was a confession of love
that | had not dared to hope for.
will you let me keep this glove till
] have told your father what has hap
pened?" l asked.
'Yes, Bernard" she answered. lifting
her eyes to mine and speaking quite
firmly.
l led her to the window that opened on
to the lawn, and for a moment before we
parted our hands chung together as those
cling which may never meet again. AS |
turned from the window the door opened
and Sir Henry Duncan entered the room
with the quick, abrupt movement habitual
to him. He glanced suspiciously at me,
for he might have seen his daughter cross
ing the lawn beyond, and then stood thun-
derstruck on catching sight of her glove
in my hand.
What on earth does this mean, Mr.
ThorneP he asked in a peremptory tone.
l IVES unprepared with anything clever
to say, and answered with the plain
truth:
Sir Henry, I am ia love with your
daughter, and this is her glove which she
has suffered me to keep"
Are you mad?" he asked, after looking
at me in silence for a space.
l thought that madness might be an
excuse for not loving Miss Duncan, but
I did not. say so, and he continued in
growing anger:
DO you forget what you are, and what
my daughter is? Do you know what she
is to me? Do you think l am careless of
her happiness or her interests? Answer
me-"
No, Sir Henry, / do not forget what
/ am. am your secretary, your servant,
with nothing beyond the vages l earn.
Your daughter has a fortune ins her own
night and is heiress to another. l know
that she is dearer to you than your life,
and that you would sacrifice everything
for her happiness and honor. ! may add
still more to the disparity between us.
She is of gentle if not noble birth my
fOrefatherS were smuggfers, and two of
them are now living within five miles
of this house"
And yet" said he slowly and with
whitening scorn, you dare TO think of
taking my daughter from me aud making
her your wife, knowing what you are
you have meditated dragging her down
to your level Knowing what she is. you
have had the insolence to offer her S>ur
love-you have taken the glove from he y
hand The sight of the glove mad
dened him. Give me that glove" he
cried, advancing OF me with white fury
give it to me-" he repeated it in a
still higher tone as / drew it back. /
ha 70 10 Nv 81
throat, when suddenly he checked him
self, and turning his back upon me stood
silent. trembling with the effort to con-
troll his passion.
He was a man of strong emotions,
which he habitually kept under control
BY constant watchfuiness and timely eff
fort of will. Only once before had
seen him give way TO immoderate anger.
and then, as on this occasion. the out
burst sprang from an event which seemed
to threaten his daughters welfare. Then
also by a supreme effort he governed his
fury at point when it menaced homi-
eide. He was comparatively calm when
he faced me again, but his forehead was
beaded with sweat and his face was ashley
gray.
How long has this been going on ~ he
asked hoarsely.
Il have loved your daughter three years
ever since | came into this house.
did not mediate making her my wife. If
she had given me any reason TO hope.
by one word or look. l could not have
kept my secret. l COZ ID not have STAYED
here"
That is TO say that now you keep your
secret no longer you do hope?"
Yes"
Hope what?"
Hope one day to make your daughter
nay wife. Listen 10 me, Sir Henry. |
have shown my position at its worst |
have told you that my mothers parents
were smugglers. but my father was sn
honest man. Your daughter can say no
more for you than that. My character is
unstained. l claim moral equality with
any man that lives; what more than love
and honor do you wish for in the man
who must one day be your daughters
hnsband?"
What more?-position, wealth. Your
moral excellence should enable you to
see that you cannot maintain my daugh-
ter in the station TO which she has been
accustomed On the SALARY OF secretary
Would you ask your wife 70 pay your
tsilors bill?"
Il must have money" 1 said. with a
fsltering voice. 81 never thought Of
eAat"
You should have thought Of that be-
fore you asked my daughter to be your
wife,
II have not asked her, snds' I added.
niQued by his tone, II viii not until
can lay fortune at her feet"
New. / believe that you are man
of principle" said Sir Henry. giving me
his hand with n cynical smile. II am
told there is perfect Golcoada in South
Africa. l advise YOU 10 go there and hnd
your fortune
t'I viii make my fortune or never see
y love again" l said to myself In des-
| ration as l turned my back on The
Chase: but in my heart / felt it was
forlorn hope.
IL