Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-02
The Doctors wife
BY MSS N. E. BRADDON

BY MISS N. e. BRADDON

be repeated. st is rot for yourself,
then, that you want this money!
'Oh, no, indeed. What would / want
with so much money!
II thought you might be in debt.
thought that-ah, / see; it is for your
husband that you want the money"
''Oh, no; my husband knows nothing
about it. But oh, pray don't question
me. All, if you knew how much | suf-
fered before / came here tonight. If
there had been any other person in the
world who could have helped me l would
never have come here; but there is no
one, and | must get the money"
Roland's face grew darker as Mrs.
Gilbert spoke. Her agitation, her earn
estness, mystiied and alarmed him.
ISABEL" he cried, heaven knows
have little right to question you; but
there is something in the manner of your
request that alarms me. Can you doubt
that l am your friend-next to your
husband, your best and truest friend,
perhaps? Forget every word that
have ever said to you, and believe only
what | say to-night-to-night, when all
my better feelings are aroused at the
sight of you. Believe that l am your
friend, Isabel, and for PHYS sake trust
me. Who is this person who wants
money Of you? Is it your stepmother?
If so, my checkbook is at her disposal"
NO" faltered the doctors wife; lit
is not my stepmother but"
But it is for some member of your
family"
YES" she answered, drawing a long
breath; ''but oh, pray do not ask me any
more questions. You said just now that
you would grant me the favor l asked
you knew how painful it was to me to
come here"
Indeed! l am sorry that it was so
painful to you to trust me-"
"Ah, If you knew" Isabel muir
INJURED in a low voice, speaking to her
self rather than to Roland.
Mr.. Lansdell took bunch of keys
from his pocket and went acr 1ss the room
to an iron safe cunningly fashioned after
the presentment of an antique ebony cab
met. He opened the ponderous door and
took a little casket from one of the
shelves
Roland counted out some notes and
handed them to Isabel. She arose and
stood for a few moments, hesitating as
if she had something more to say-some-
thing almost as embarrassing in its ma
ture as the money question had been.
II hope you will not think me trou-
blesome," she said; ''but there is one
more favor that l want to ask you"
do not hesitate to ask anything Of
me; all l want is your confidence"
1T is only question that | wish to
ask. You talked some time since of go
ing away"
Yes, my plans are all made for an
early departure.
"a very early departure? You are
going almost Immediately"
acknowledgements morning. 1t
may be long time before 1 return
There was a little pause, during which
Roland saw that a faint flush kindled in
Isabel Gilbert's face, and that her breath
came and went rather quicker than be-
fore.
Then must say goodbye tonight, -
she said.
Yes; it is not likely that we shall
meet again. Good night-good-bye. Per-
haps some day, when l am pottering
old man, telling people the same anec-
dotes every time | shall dine with them,
l shall come back, and find Mr.. Gilbert
a crack physician in Wilmington, petted
by rich old ladies and riding in a yellow
barouche-till then, goodbye"
He held Isabefs hand for a few mo-
ments, as if in that frail tenure he held
the last link that bound him to love and
life. Isabel looked at him wonderingiy.
How different was this adieu from that
passionate farewell under Thurston's
oak, when he had flung himself upon the
ground and wept aloud in the anguish of
parting from her!
"Only one more word, Mrs. Gilbert"
Roland said, after a brief pause. Your
husband-does he know about this per-
son who asks for money from your
Mol should have told him-I
think-and asked him to give me the
money, only he is very i'll; he must not
be troubled about anything"
He is very ill--yOur husband is ill?"
''Yes-I thought every one knew. He
is very, very i'll. 1t is on that account
came here so late. have been sitting
in his room. Good night"
"But you cannot go back alone; it is
such a long way. 1t will be 2 o'clock
in the morning before you can get back
to Graybridge. / will drive you home:
or it will be better to let my coachman
my mothers old coachman-drive you
home"
1t was in vain that Mrs. Gilbert pro-
tested against this arrangement. Ro-
land Lansdell reflected that as the doc
tors wife had been admitted by his valet,
her visit would, of course be patent to
all the other servants at their next
mornings breakfast. Under these cir
cumstances Mrs. Gilbert could not leave
Mordred with too much publicity. Isabel
returned very comfortably to Graybridge;
but she begged the coachman to stop at
the top of the lane, where she alghted
and babe him good night
She found all dark in the little sur
gerry, which she entered by means of her
husbands latch key. and she crept softly
up the stairs to the room opposite that
in which George Gilbert lay, watched
over by Mrs. Jeffson.