Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-07-10
CHAPTER XVI.

without coming in contact with Lady Bet
ty-for she could not but feel that her
first instinct of doubt for Lady Betty
would be proved a true one.
1t had cheered her to receive Lady
Charlotte's tender and yet practical sym
pathy; nevertheless, it was not until she
was safely lodged in this friends home
that Antonio fully grasped the magnitude
of the step she had taken.
1t was the morning of the fifth day
since Hubert had disappeared. As yet
the search had lain only in Ben's hands,
aided By one of the porters at the hotel
who had volunteered his services.
Had Ben acted on his own RESPONSE
bility he would have gone instantly to
Gerald Tenby and have bluntly demanded
if the cousins had met, but Antonio quick
ly objected TO this.
mo, no, she had said; I'VE must 90
on different tack, Ben. You must go
to Mill Cross Court, l understand, from
the newspapers that Sir Gerald Tenby is
still there. The papers are not always
to be relied upon. Find out for me if he
is there, and if he has been there ever
since the funeral"
As she crossed the drive and walked
slowly toward one of the smaller paths.
she became conscious that some one was
following her. Acting on a sudden i'm
pulse, she turned and found herself face
to face with Gerald Tenby.
For an instant everything was black
before Antonia's eyes. She drew back.
Had she yielded to the first instinct that
pressed on her heart she would have
turned and left this man without even
acknowledgment of his presence; but in
the brain of most women there turks a
certain faculty which gives them knowl-
edge how TO act in the most supremeIy
difficult moments.
You startled mo, Sir Gerald" she
said, with a very faint smile ;"haye You
been following me for a long time? /
did not notice you till just now. What a
strange sensation it is when one realizes
one is not quite alone !"
She stretched out her hand as she spoke,
and laid it in Gerald's.
why should l not get him in my
hands, work him as l will, and so learn
the truth?" she thought.
Il want to ask you to listen to me, to
try and forgive me if you can," Gerald
said. II understand that you are sep
arated from your father; that there has
been a terrible quarrel between you, and
that you have left your uncle's house"
Antonio bent her head, but said moth
ing. She waited, and she had not long
to wait
IAN this is grief to me-" Gerald Ten
by said. Perhaps l ought not to breach
the subject to you; but l wanted you
to know from my own lips that / would
sooner have sacrificed my own wishes all
my life than have been the cause of such
2 quarrel as this"
Then it was that Antonio awakened
from her dreams and looked at him.
Il don't understand You, Sir Gerald"
she said, coldly. What have YOU to do
with the quarrel between my father and
myselfY'
II fear 1 am treading on delicate
ground" he said, but / hope yea will
forgive me. Were it not for my earnest
desire to see you restored to your father,
would never venture to bring up the sub
ject myself. l knew even when | spoke
to Lord Marchmont that was fool /;
that though he might, as he did. entertain
my proposal, you would never listen 20
any declaration from me yet We are not
always strong or wise"
You are telling me something that l
learn for the first time, Sir Gerald she
said. MY father never spoke 10 rue of
the-the honor you have done me. We
quarreled on another subject entirely, in
sense, trivial one"
Gerald Tenby's heart beat so quickly
that for moment he found it impossible
to speak. Before he had framed SEN
tence Antonio had spoken again.
I'm afraid / must leave you, Sir Ger
aid. | am a little late already. Lady
Charlotte Singleton will be expecting me.
She is good enough to let me stay with
her for little while. Will you call a
hansom?"
Il thought she would have said some
bitter words" he said TO himself, but she
seemed almost touched when she heard
that l had made a proposal TO her faith
er. Were she any other woman, should
quickly set down her past treatment Of
me to cleverneSS; but Antonio is honest /:
she melted ont TO me the treatment she
considered l deserved. What can have
changed her l have not the slightest idea /:
but certainly she is changed / cannot
help feeling that she told me where she
was staying in order that we should meet
again"
For an instant smile played on Ger
aid Tenby's lips.
IF this should be-" he said to himself.
between his :eeth, "if l should win An
touia for my wife. then all the rest might
so, for that would be the real triumph. f"
He rose restleSsly and walked from
the park again.
Sylvia Castella was a bold woman. aud
strong one. She had laid the secret of
her great success 10 the fact that she
had never allowed her heart to interfere
with her head. She and Stanton stood
te-etb4r in the little drawing room, and
the lamp light fen upon Sylvia almost
ruthlessly.
She looked. as she could not help look
Ing, most beautiful woman. but a WON
an OF her years, woman who could be
haggard as we'll as hard.
Il have changed my mind" she said
TO him. abruptly L don't want your
money; only wish 10 remain free
THAT won't do. Sylvia" he said.
There must be no going back. / have
fulfilled my share Of the bargain. and |
shall keep you TO yours You said you
would be my wife il could give you a
hundred thousand pounds. Here is the
money"
Sylvis Castells drew a deep breath.
She reexaied suddenly from the large en-