Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-07-03

ward except that | feel l must have some
sympathy"
Lord Marchmont looked at his daughter
very coldly.
Explain yourself, Antonia.' he said.
You are speaking very strangely
The girl turned to her uncle. 1t chilled
her suddenly TO realize that what she had
to say would find but little tender treat
ment from her father.
Last night" she said, 81 was absent,
Uncle Edward, for dinner. / fear you
must have thought this very strange; but
1 explained all TO Lady Betty when
came home. / met with an accident as
was driving back from Lady Charlotte
Singleton's. You see, cannot move this
arm very easily. That was not what
kept me so late, however; it was a strange
and wonderful thing, uncle. You have
heard me say that l believed that Hubert
Tenby was not dead?"
Both the men who listened started, and
Lord Marchmont's brows contracted
sharply.
We'll, dear Antonio went on, her
voice gaining a little confidence, last
night my faith was proved to be true, for
met Hubert Unexpectedly. He had
come back to see his father, to claim his
fathers forgiveness, to prove his limo
cence. We talked for long time. | had
to tell him that his father was dead. 1t
was dreadful moment, yet when he
would have faltered, and have gone back
to his obscurity, l told him." Antonio
went on, very quickly, that for the love
he bore his dear father he must remain to
claim his title and his proper place but
even while / did this, l felt instructive
ly that | was urging him to face a ter
rible future, and, Uncle Edward, l was
right. Oh l was right" There was a
break in her voice. Il don't know what
it was | feared, but | did fear for him.
Something has told me all along that if
Hubert came back there would be great
difficulties to overcome; that the enemy or
enemies that sent him to his ruin would
never let him work unmolested."
Il can scarcely believe my ears" said
Lord Marchmont, in a cold, hard tone
Are you telling US the truth. Antonio 3?
Are you speaking of facts? Is it posi-
bic thar my daughter can have so far for
gotten what was due to herself as to pass
hours speaking with a man who is moth
ing more or less than a felon and an out
cast? Is it possible that you, my child,
are daring to link yourself even in SYM
pathy, with one so degraded as Hubert
Tenby has been proved to be?"
And is it possible" she said, in a low,
clear voice, that you, my father, should
be so miserably prejudiced and unjust as
to condemn a man without knowing the
truth, as to turn your back upon one
whom you have known from childhood,
and deny him those rights open to every
man."
Silence! How dare you speak like this
20 me? | did, indeed, do a wrong thing
when l let you come to this house. You
shall not remain here an hour longer than
is necessary. Get your things put to-
gether, and be ready for me when / re-
turn. l am Mortified beyond measure that
my daughter should have acted and spok-
en- as you have done"
He walked to the door, despite the pro-
tests his brother made. He took no no.
tice of Edward Marchmont's words pass
ed out, and left the house instantly. An
tonia smiled in wan fashion.
Let him go, Uncle Edward" she said.
Though he is called my father, you see
for yourself what the bond is between us.
Let him go, and give me your attention
instead. Oh, Uncle Edward l am very
unhappy. An hour ago / thought life
most beautiful and now-now I hardly
know what to think, what to fear most"
Edward Marchmont took her two trem-
| bling hands and drew her into his arms.
Speak out, Antonia," he said, gently.
Let me help you if l can"
Aud she told in broken words all her
story, till she came to the moment when
this letter she held in her hand had been
sent round from the hotel where Hubert
was staying. 1t was from Ben Coop
| Only few words, yet they seemed weight
ed with pFesentiment of evil.
MY dear child" said Edward March
mont kindly, Il think both you and this
good fellow are making a great mistake.
! What If Hubert has not returned from
| his visit to the lawyers? 1t is now early
afternoon; he may have had to wait, or he
may have been detained by a thousand
and one things. There is really nothing
| to alarm yourself in this absence of HUI
! bert's."
Il feel" said Antonio, II know Ben is
| right. Something has happened. / feel
that Hubert is lost TO me just as l have
found him." and she shivered as she
spoke. 1t was as if some chilly hand
had touched her, bringing her a message
of woe