Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-08-07
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him NHen Ne entered the room at nrSI,
and he gave great start now. The blood
rushed to his face, and then receded.
You are back early" he said.
Yes" said Stanton my work was
quickly done. | have come to-day to give
YOU one pleasure, at least. You are heart
lily sick of seeing me, you fret at my pres
| ence. | propose that we shall separate
for a short time. | have fulfilled my
share of the work we undertook, and l
want to rest awhile | intend to go
abroad within the next twenty-four hours,
but before l go 1 wish to make arrange
ments with you by which a regular income
will be paid to me of a sum large enough
to satisfy my requirements"
These words were enough to sting Ten.
by into something like his old self
You have had your last penny from
me" he said, firmly; only the other day
| gave you quite fortune if you have
been foolish enough to pass this money on
to woman like Sylvia Castella, you need
not think that you can drain me for
more"
who told you about Sylvia Castella %
Stanton asked.
Il overheard her myself only this
morning telling some man with whom she
appeared to be very intimate, that you
had bought her promise to marry you"
Stanton's breast heaved. He bit his lips
till the blood came
who was this MANI" he asked savage
ly; 'Tenby, if you are lying to me-
why should lie to you about this?'
retorted Tenby. You must be aware that
~
you yourself have not given me any infor-
nation"
Stanton sat very still in the chair: his
eyes were closed; he looked as if he were
suffering, and Gerald Tenby stood and
gazed at him moment in silence. Some
thing in the other mans expression touch
ed him.
George" he said, 'be open with me.
You care for this woman?"
so much" answered Stanton. in a
quiet, calmer way, that for her sake |
have done what l have done. 1t NAV
not be noble view of love-" he went on.
bitterly, but it was the best | could do. !"
He was gone before Gerald Tenby could
speak, and had let himself out of the
chambers with quick sigh, as though he
were glad to escape from them.
1t was now in the middle of the after
noon. The sun was hot, but ND in Svl-
Was garden the trees grew thicklv TO
Eether. 1t was her hour for resting; he
would not even ask to see her; he would
only sit in that little garden and look
up at her window.
A new rush of passion had been born
into his heart as he had listened to Ger
aid Tenby's sighting words of her. By
what means Tenby had learned the truth
he knew not, but one thing was very sure
it would need far more than this TO tear
Stanton away from this infatuation. He
was a clever, cunning, practical man. and.
had his senses not been bewitched. he
might even have saved himself yet. As
it was, he went blindly forward. content
to snatch at any satisfaction that should
come in his way, content even to accent
the grudging submission of one whom he
knew only too well despised him even
as he adored her.
Antonio did not leave her uncle's sick
room. There came to her a kind of peace
that was almost comfort as she sat by
the bedside of Edward Marchmont and
remembered all his manifold goodness.
From the first moment that she had
looked upon him Antonio had not deceiv
ed herself. She knew that before many
more hours had passed this noble heart
would be silenced forever. In the early
part of the afternoon Lady Betty came
in again, with great rustic of silken
skirts.
Go and rest for awhile. Antonia." she
said. Il will stay with Edward"
1t was on the girls lips to refuse. She
had no desire to rest, no desire to leave
this darkened room; yet it was not possi-
BILE for her to refuse, and then the Thought
came to her quicklS that perhaps the sick
man might find a CLEAN of JOY in the
knowledge that his wife was sitting be-
side him. So she rose.
Il do not need rest" she said, "but
will so into the drawing room, and if YOU
want me, please call me-"
You are so good, dear Antonia," muir
INJURED Lady Betty; but you look so
tired, so worn"
Antonio walked softly along the pas
sage, and as she did so Betty Marchmont
passed quickly out of her husbands room
She turned as if to go into her own apart
Il want some de-Cologne," she said.
hurriedly. Edward seems TO be fainter"
She spoke hurriedly, so hurriedly as to
run her words into one another, and An
tonia looked at her for an instant. Then
without word she pushed on and entered
her uncle's room.
The first thing of which she was con-
scious was that the atmosphere was charg-
ed with a heavy odor-a sickly scent,
something that Antonio had never expert
enced before.
Her brows contracted, and unconscious
ly her hands stole together. She advanced
TO the bed and looked down upon the man
lying on the pillows.
There was very little difference in his
attitude, and yet Antonio knew that
great change had taken place. He lay
sunken among the pillows, his eyes were
closed, his head little fallen on his
breast.
She bent over and whispered his name
and as she did so that strong scent seemed
to come more powerfully to her senses.
As she raised herself, while cold hor-
riole feeling crept into her heart, Betty
Msrchmont stole into the room again.
She carried large flask of eau-de-
/ Cologne.
This Will revive him" she said: but
as she advanced to the bed Antonio turned
and gripped her by the wrist.
Leave him - she said. in A harsh.
strained voice. You have done enough -
Lady Betty LOOKED at her in a furtive
sort of way. She wrenched her hand free.
What do you mean?" she asked. why
do you speak TO me so Strangely
For answer Antonia threw her hands
up 10 her face. sank down into a chair.
and bent forward. covering. SIS il were.
beneath some heavy blow; and Lady Bet
~ stood and looked at her with venom in
her eyes, and Yet with fear.
Quickly she reviewed the position, and
she saw herself at the mercy Of Antonio.
unless she took means TO silence the girl
Il think you must be out of your
mind, she said, speaking distinctly. "All
this trouble has turned your brain. Be
cause your uncle iS-asleep-"
Ms uncle is dead" said Antonio s'and