Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-05-29

NAIcelOAu
1t was such contrast, too, to her own
costly and fashionable raiment, and yet
everything that Antonio wore came from
the hands of one of the most celebrated
drcssmakers in London. That was what
surprised Lady Betty so much, that this
girl, who came, as she phrased it, from
the wilds of nowhere" should have had
not only a marked individuality but a
certain knowledge of the world.
The gowns that Antonio wore made
her open her eyes, for, despite their sim
plicity, they were cut and shaped by the
hand of a genius.
1t was the same thing with the big
picturesque hats and the small Quaker
like bonnets which Antonio wore alter
nately. All this was gall TO Lady Betty.
IF she had been one of the cleverest
women in the world, she could not have
hit upon a more splendid idea the little
lady said to herself more than once as
Antonia's beauty was revealed, perhaps
in some new light. What the world likes
is change. All we other women seem cut
out in the same pattern. She stands
alone. What will Gerald think of her,
wOnder?"
She began to be quite eager for An
tonia and Mr.. Tenby to meet. She spoke
of him frequently. 1t was soon evident
20 the girl that this particular man oc-
cupied much of Lady Betty's thoughts.
His photograph was given the place of
honor in every room which Lady Betty
occupied, and Antonio was quite familiar
with the fact that great things were ex-
pected of Gerald Tenby.
Antonio listened to all this quite calm
ly, but as the days went by and Tenby
never made his appearance, the girl had
sense of bitter satisfaction.
Coward" she would say to herself
between her teeth. ''He can face the
whole world, but he dare not face me.
Well, l can wait-wait all my life, if
needs be; and though may never know
happiness, though l may never see HUI
bert again, will not 90 to my grave till
have punished this enemy"
This thought was in her mind more
prominently than ever one night as she
sat in Lady Betty's box at the opera
listening with dull ears to the voice of
a celebrated singer.
People came and went in Lady Betty's
box-but Antonio never moved until the
door opened to admit another arrival. and
the sound of Gerald Tenby's voice fell
on Der ear. Then a food of color spread
ovel her face, her little hands clinched
themselves round the fan she held. 1t
seemed as if, when she drew her breath
she were going to take some plunge. The
next moment she had looked around with
radiant smile and was holding out her
hand.
You did not expect to see me in Lon
don," she said, IS she noted that Gerald
Tenby drew back and hardly knew how
to approach her.
Lady Betty looked from one to the 9TH
er half impatiently.
"You never told me that you knew Ger
ald," she said.
Antonio smiled again.
II never realized that your Gerald and
mine were one and the same"
Tenby fixed his eyes upon her eagerly.
Those casual words of hers sent a kind
of fame to his heart. Her beauty struck
him as being greater than ever.
He looked at her eyes. They met his
feariessly, and yet half shyly, as if they
confessed that she desired forgetfulness
for that last time they had been together.
pardon for all those bitter words she had
hurled against him.
Gerald Tenby's heart beat wildly. 1t
seemed to him like some wonderful dream
to sit there and look at Antonio in her
soft white gown and to hear her voice
speaking to him gently. The rest of the
evening passed like magic.
When Lady Betty rose to flutter away
to half a dozen balls, Gerald escorted her
and her companion to their carriage.
Fresh wonderment and delight filled his
heart as Antonio put her slender hand in
his and smiled again into his eyes.
1t had needed but this to complete his
triumph. He had never realized till this
moment how much he had loved her.
The night was warm, and he determined
TO walk from the opera house. AS he
passed along his eye was suddenly caught
by the placard of an evening newspaper,
and he came to a standStill.
For an instant his brain reeled, He
could hardly decipher the big words clear
ly, then the mist rolled away. and he
stool facing the fact that his tSiumph
had indeed come, for this placard set forth
to the world the news of the death of the
great north-country millionaire, Sir Maui
rice Tenby-a death which had occurred
suddenly a few hours before.
1t was difficult for Gerald Tenhy to
draw his breath easily in this moment.
1t was the moment for which he had
stained his soul with sin, the moment for
which he had schemed and prayed. Now
thai it was come, he hardly dared grasp
it.
His limbs trembled under him. He
turned and hailed a cab. Just as he was
stepping into it, hand was laid on his
shoulder, and voice spoke in his ear:
Good evening, Sir Gerald Tenbyr
There was a strange sneer in the voice
Tenby's foot was on the step of the han
som, his hand was gripping the rail. So
he stood for the space of a long silence.
An instant before, his brain had been
reeling with delight; now darkness had
fallen upon him, utter, sitting darkness
the darkness of fear that was almost
despair.
Antonio Marchmont did a strange thing
that same night when she found herself
alone In her room. She looked about her
in wild. hunted sort of way, then she
tore from her right hand the delicate glove
that had covered it. and lighting a can
die, she held the glove in the fame till
the skin caught fire and smoldered to
ashes.
Il feel" she said to herself, between
her teeth. as if were as great a traitor
as he Shall l be able to carry this
through? Tonight, when he came near
me, l almost shudderedl Ohr' Antonio
cried, throwing out her arms, and walk
ing TO and fro restlesSly, how is it pos
sible that man can be so base. so
cruelf How can he sleep at night? Does
not Hubert's white, miserable face come
to haunt him?"
As long as she lived. Antonio would
never forget the awful moment when
news was given TO her of Hubert's dis
grace. 1t was her father who had spoken
that sad story, and for the first time in
| his life he had looked upon Antonio in a