Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-01-02
CHAPTER XXI.

not! In these enthusiastic natures SEN
tlment may take any unexpected form.
CHAPTER XXI.
After that scene In the church at
Hurstonleigh Roland Lansdell went
back to Mordred, to think, with even
greater bitterness, of the woman he
loved. That silent encounter-the sight
of the pale face, profoundly melancholy,
almost statuesque in its air of half
despairing resignation-had exercised no
softening influence on the mind of this
young man, who could not understand
why the one treasure for which he Ian
guishec should be denied to him.
He was sitting in the library by the
lamplit table one sultry June evening,
when George Gilbert had been Ill about
a fortnight, soft, subdued light shin
ing dimly. He had been brooding over
his books, but scarcely reading half
dozen pages ever since o'clock, and it
was now half past II. He was stretch
ing his hand toward the bell in order to
summon his valet, and release that per-
sonage from the task of sitting up any
longer, when that gentleman entered the
library.
Would you please to see any one,
sir?" he asked.
''Would l please to see any one"
cried Roland; who would want to see
me at such a time of night? Is there
anything wrong? Is it any one from
from LowlandsY'
mo, sir; it's q strange lady; least
ways, when / say strange lady, l think,
sir, though her veil being down, and a
very thick veil, should not like to speak
positive think it's Mrs. Gilbert, the
doctors lady, from Graybridge."
Mr.. Lansdelps valet coughed doubt
fully behind his hand and looked dis
creetly at the carved oaken bosses in
the ceiling Roland started to his feet.
Mrs. Gilbert" he muttered, 'at such
an hour as this. 1t can't be; she would
never. Show the lady here. whoever
she is" he added aloud to his servant.
There must be something wrong; it
must be some very important business
that brings any one to this place to-
night"
The valet departed, closing the door
behind him, and Roland stood alone upon
the hearth, waiting for his late visitor.
All the warmer tints faded out of his
face, and left him very pale. Why had
she come to him at such a time? What
purpose could she have in coming to
that house save one? She had come to
revok her decision. For a moment a
food of rapture swept into his soul, warm
and revivifying as the glory of a sud
den sunburst ON a dull gray autumn day.
MY poor ignorant, innocent girl; how
hard it seems that my love must for
ever place her at a disadvantage" he
thought.
The door was opened by the valet with
as bold a sweep as if a duchess had
been entering in all the glory of her
court robes, and Isabel came into the
room. One glance showed Mr.. Lansdell
that she was very nervous, that she was
suffering cruelty from the terror of his
presence; and it may be that even before
she had spoken he understood that she
had not come to announce any change in
her decision. There was nothing desper-
ate in her manner. She stood before him
pale and irresolute, with pleading eyes
lifted meekly to his face.
AZ hope you are not angry with me
for coming here at such time" she
said, in low, tremulous voice; II could
''It can never be anything but a pleas
ure for me to see YOU Roland answered
gravely, "even though the pleasure Ia
strangely mingled with pain. You have
come to me, perhaps, because you are
in some kind of trouble, and have need
of my services in some way or other. l
am very much pleased to think that you
can so far conhde in me; / am very glad
to think that you can rely on my friend
ship"
Mr.. Lansdell said this because he saw
that the doctors wife had come to do
mand some favor at his hands. and he
wished to smooth the way for that do
mand. Isabel looked up at him with
something like surprise in her gaze. She
had not expected that he would be like
this. calm, still, self possessed, reason
.ble mournful feeling took possession
of her heart. She thought that his love
must have persisted altogether, or he
could not surely have been so kind TO
her, so gentle or disp8ssionate
You are very, very goo not to be
angry with me-" she said. Il have come
to ask you favor very great favor.
and l.
She stopped, and sat silently twisting
the handle of her parasol, the old green
parasol under whose shadow Roland had
so often seen her. 1t was quite evident
that her courage had failed her altogeth-
er at this crisis.
cit is not for myself l am going to
ask you this favor" she said, still hest
tating and looking down at the parasol;
sit is for another person, wno-it is
secret. in fact. and"
"Whatever it is, it shall be granted"
Roland answered, without question,
without comment"
IL have come TO ask you to lend me
or at least l had better ask you to give
it to me- for indeed don't know when
] should ever be able to pay it-some
money, a great deal of money-ffty dol
lars"
She looked at him as if she thought
the magnitude of the sum must newt
ably astonish him, and she saw a tender.
half-melancholy smile upon his face.
MY dear Isabel-my dear Mrs. Gil
bert--if all the money l possess in the
world could secure you happiness. 1
would willingly leave here tomorrow a
penniless man. would not for the
world that you should be embarra ssed
10r an n0uf. NHilc nave HoIe money
than | know what to do with. / will
write you check immediately-or bet
ter still, half a dozen blank checks.
which you can fill up as You require
them"
But Isabel shook her head at this pro-
posal. You are very kind" she said.
''but check would not do. 1t must be
money, if you please; the person for
whom l want it would not take a check"
The person for whom you want it"