Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-06-26
CHAPTER XII.

Antonio received the news of her faith
er's approaching visit with q sensation of
surprise
Il don't know anything about your
father" Lady Betty complained, but l
believe your uncle is not so considerable.
He has practically commanded me to be
here when Lord Marchmont arrives. Oh
you look astonished, but can assure you
it is a fact"
Il expect" said Antonio softly. eager
to make things right, that Uncle Edward
is thoroughly upset by the news that my
father is coming TO London. BY this time
you must know as we'll as we do that it is
very unusual proceeding on his part"
II know one thing" she said, irritably,
"and that is that you Marchmonts are
very queer lot. One never knows what
to expect from any one of you"
After that she and Lady Betty separat-
ed-the girl to go to her own room. to
sit down once again, and to tell over TO
herself the wonderful story that had hap
pened, and Lady Betty to go also to her
room to make her plans for the afternoon.
II must see Gerald" she said, between
her teeth sit makes me sick to see that
look on Antonia's face. She is so conf
dent. Gerald must act quickly. If go
now | dare say he will not have arrived
hIt l am sure he will come. My telegram
.1dst bring him. If he has not come.
then l shall have to return later on, al
though my dear husband has commanded
me TO be here. l must go out now, at
any rate Lady Betty unused on, restless
ly; Il feel ! shall go mad if l stay in
this house. Even though l may not find
Gerald, will go to his rooms. If l meet
Edward, l shall snap my fingers at him.
Te has dared to speak to me tonight as
no one has ever dared to speak to me be-
fore: bu. he shall be punished for it.
l shall wait and find my opportunity"
The carriage had scarcely left the door
and was rolling swiftly down the street,
when Mr.. Marchmont came out of his
study
Can you tell me where her ladyship
ISL" he asked of the butler, and the SER
want answered that Lady Elizabeth had
just gone out.
There was a curious look on Edward
Marchmont's thoughtful face as he turned
and entered his study.
His wife called him dull, stupid; she
treated him as she would have treated
doo-rrat, quite forgetting that there had
been days when this man of books and cul-
| ture bad laid his very heart at her feet.
The words he had spoken to her to day
had been a revelation to her; but she
would have been far more surprised could
she have looked into the mans heart now,
and realized the trouble that had gathered
there. For, blind. and dull, and unworld-
ly as he was, Edward Marchmont was still
man, TO whom honor would always be
| dear; nan 10 whom pride and dignity
had their fullest meaning; and to this
man there had come all at once a great
| awakening.
| Two days before an anonymous letter
had found its way to Edward March
mont's table. he had opened it and read
/ IL before he realized the purport of such
missive. His first impulse had been to
tear it into q thousand pieces, and this
he did, but TIE sting still remained
Till now he had never doubted his wife.
He had regarded her as a butterfly
beautiful. useless. and, he was obliged 10
add, heartless little creature who PLAYED
about his life just as butterfly hovars
about garden.
He had never supposed that she cared
! for him; but he never supposed that it
would be possible for her to care for any
other: but this poisonous letter had open
ed his eyes.
Ignorant of what was passing in her
husbands mind, Lady Betty Marchmout
ordered her carriage to set her down at
one of the largest shops in the West End.
Ii was shop through which she could
pass, leaving her servants at one door ig-
norant of her departure at another. And
| she sped swiftly through this shop, and
passed out at the other side. when she
Immediately hailed 8 hanson and WIS
driven te Gerald Tenby's chambers,
Just as she reached Gerald's door it
was opened and man passed out. He
looked both confused and annoyed 20 see