Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-08-14
CHAPTER XVIII.

Eagerly George Stanton hailed a cab
and gave orders to be driven to that lit
tie house on the borders of Regents Park.
He dismissed the cab at some little dis
tanoe from the house, and walked toward
/. slowly.
Twill you ask Miss Castella if she will
speak to me?" he said to the maid.
Miss Castella went away this after
noon sir. She left soon after lunch"
'rAnd she left no word-no message"
"Oh, yes, sir, l beg your pardon" the
maid said quickly: Il forgot for the mo
ment she left note for you, and
packet. She said she thought it very prob
able that you would call some time to-
day"
The maid tripped up the path to the
house. She was back again directly with
the note and the packet, and as she gave
them to him Stanton felt as if the earth
had, opened at his feet.
He had no need TO tear aside the COW
erirg of that fat packet, for he knew
whist lay within. 1t was the pile of bank
notes that he had carried to her the night
he claimed his promise.
lie put il into the breast pocket of his
coat mechanically and took her letter and
went away. A little way from the house
he tore open the letter.
BY chance" Sylvia wrote, Il have
learned to-day something that throws light
upon what was so mysterious. l under
stand now the source from which you
obtained so much money, and l fear l
understand also the reason why this
money was paid. asked you to swear TO
me that you got this money honestly, and
ycu perjured yourself-at least, that is
what | believe. So take back my prom
Use, and return you this money; but il
YOU can come to me, and you can tell me
that you have not had a hand in helping
Gerald Tenby to step into his Cousins
shoes. if you can tell me that you have
had no share in bringing about Hubert
Tepby's disappearance. | will marry you
whether you are rich or poor. not because
I love you, but because l gave you my
promise, and like TO keep my word
Stanton stood and read those words,
not once. but dozen times. Their mean
Ing ran like living fire through his veins
He had to lean against the wall. and
draw his breath with difficulty. He could
not bring himself TO realize that this was
the end. that he had lost Sylvia just when
he had gained her.
Nv what means had the truth come TO
her? BY what danger was he not sur
rounded? He vould so out OF England.
This money that Sylvia had returned
would keep him Ike king in other coun-
tries. Let him turn his back on all: let
him snap his fingers at failure; let him
show this woman that her Reputation of
him left him untouched. He would not
even return to Gerald Tenby's rooms; he
would 30 as he was. go he cared not
where, so long as he put distance between
himself and sill for which he had worked.
So he turned with a mocking laugh on
his lips, but an aching wound in his
heart. and before night time came he was
well away from London.
Antonsa met Gerald Tenhy on the door
step Of Lady Charlotte Sinsleton's house.
The girl would have passed In without
even speaking to him. but he stopped her
Forgive me-" be said; Il heard your
uncle was very III. l came 10 offer my
sympathy"
my uncle is dead" said Antonio. She
did not look at him; he faneied he saw
the old aversion in her face.
He wss good man 1 am sorry"
The girl tried to conquer her feelings,
bu, words would not come: indeed. in
this moment the old loSthing for this man
was uppernost. No; even for the sake
os what was to be gained could she con-
tiaue the part she had SCI herself 10 play.
She bent her head and passed into the
house. and Gerald Tenby turned away and
knew hst she wished him 20 be gone
Long after Gerald Tenhy had risen and
passed away, Sylvia and Ben Coop sat on
talking.
The woman hardly recognised herself IN
this hour. She felt a. u she had been