Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-07-24
CHApTER xyIII-fContinued. !


since he was child. | know that he
was a miner in the coal pits close 20
which was my home; but l call myself
honored and pleased to have such man
for my friend"
Sylvia drew back as they reached the
door, and Antonio turned and stretched
out her hand.
''Good-by," she said. I should ike to
meet you again some day."
She saw that for some reason of her
own Sylvia preferred not to walk with
her to the street so, with her rare tact
Antonio passed on by herself, and in a
little while had turned in the direction OF
Lady Charlottes house
A few minutes later Sylvia walked to
find hanson. Yielding to longing that
was not curiosity, she told the man to
keep Antonio in sight She wished to
know where this girl was to be found, for
there stole upon her a strange kind of pre-
sentiment that Antonio and she would be
brought together again before a very long
time.
Late that night Ben Coop rang the
bell at Lady Charlotte's house, and asked
IL he could see Antonio. The girl half
expected him, and her h art beat almost
TO suffocation as she ran down the stairs
to greet him.
One glance at his face was enough to
tell her that his journey had been fruit
less. As she saw Ben before her, bag
gard tired and grave, Antonio felt the
last CLEAN of hope die out of her heart
mo, lass, there's no sign of him, and
the grand gentleman who owns Mill Cross
Court was not there neither 1 went and
asked for him; he had gone to London,
they told me, and they did not know
when he would be back North again. The
house looked desolate. 1t seemed as if it
mourned for the old master. No one had
been nigh the place, so ] was told, save
for some little old woman who, it seemed
had travelled from London with some i'm
portant papers for Sir Gerald. This
learned quite casually, and | took it all
in, Miss Antonio, because you see, when
a mans got such doubt as | have, any
thing and everything may be of use to
him, and 1t struck me strange like" said
Ben, that an old woman should have
Travelled from London to carry papers to
Sir Gerald Tenby. / got into conversa-
ton with the servant who told me about
this. and without seeming curious, / tried
to get cut something more about this, but
all | could find was that this woman seem
ed poor, and was in a mighty hurry to get
back to London again l am afraid there's
not much in that that will help u.s."
Ben" Antonio said you have been
working very hard now it is my turn. |
want you to be prepared for strange
things. If you see me walking with Ger
aid Tenby, smiling with him, seeming to
be his friend, you must bear with it, no
matter how much it may hurt"
Don't think / am blaming you, miss
you see clearer than / do, and perhaps
you are right I'll stand by anyhow. and
wait till you call TO me for my help"
AS Ben went Antonio called him back.
took both his hands and pressed them to
her heart, and then bent and kissed
them.
God bless you!" she said, and she
watched him go through a binding mist
of tears.
Though sleep had not come to him
save in snatches through all these four
long, terrible days. Ben felt it impossible
TO go back and seek his bed.
He walked restlessly through the crowd
ed streets. At one theater the crowd seem
ed greater than anywhere else. Carriages
that the audience was fashionable in the
extreme.
Ben turned aside and stood awhile
watching the people dispense He asked
a policeman who was near BIZ what the
alter it was, and the man gave him the
name, with a faint smile at the question
Surely you don't mean 10 say you
don't know the Kings Theater, where
Sylvia Castella acts?"
I'm a stranger" Ben answered si.nply.
''I've never been in London before"
Several hansoms were waiting in the
narrow street, and close TO where he stood
was a dainty victoria, with a pair of
beautiful horses. Ben felt q touch of ad-
miration for these animals, and he smooth
ed their satin skins with his big, strong
hand.
While he was standing there some man
came out through the doorway of the
theater and approached the carriage.
Miss Castella desires that you will go
around to the front entrance" this man
said in low voice to the coachman; "she
will be there in about FIVE minutes"
Just as the cOachman was trying to
turn the horSeS-not very easy task in
such narrow passage gentleman an
preached the carriage.
Where are you going?" he asked al
most sharply, and there was an air of an
thority in his voice.
The cOachman bent forward a uttIa
Miss Castella has sent word N sov
she is coming out through the front ar.
trance. sir; suppose she wishes TO avoid
the crowd here"
George Stanton muttered something I'M
der his breath.
Go on" he said, and he himself mans
ed and watched the carriage as il rolled
down the street.
He was yard or so away from Ben.
and his presence there was at once re-
marked.
Two young fellows of genus hitherto
unknown TO Ben's simple manhood were
smoking and chatting together, evidently
waiting for some of the theatrical element
10 join them.
"See that chap" said one 10 the other.
indicating Stanton; that's the Castella's
latest admirer. He just haunts her. You
know the fellow l MANIFESTATION. he's
called. or something like that. Secretary
TO that awfully rich chap, Tenhy. There
he goes, following her carriage. Good
looking fellow. too. isn't hep
Ben stood a moment or two listening to
a few more words, but the conversation
had changed, and the name of Tenby was
not mentioned again. He had heard
enough. however, to make his heart beat
wildly.
Acting on an impulse OF the moment.
he turned and followed George Stanton.
He took careful scrutiny oE the nan in
front OF him. and once. as Stanton paus-
ed under The light of lamp, Ben gaEel
eagerly at his face. as though hoping 10
gather some clew from this.
Ben watched Stanton 80 forward aud
stand a little in the background There
was an expression on the rams face
which he did not quite understand; il had
something of a desperate look upon il.
suddenly the swing doors were held
open, and a wSman passed out into the
xfreet She moved rapiilv toward her