Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-10-15
CHAPTER XVIII.


The games were in full swing when
Moyra and Bride returned. The traces
of tears were still on the latter's face,
although she blushed and smiled nervous
~, as if she was ashamed of her outburst.
She accepted Bertram's laughing apollo
gies with downcast eyes, and, refusing to
play, joined her father and Lewiston at
the fire.
The Rector teased her a little on her
susceptibility to sweet discords," and
resumed his discussion of national educa-
ton while Bride leaned her head on her
hand and stared dreamily into the flames.
The professor did not accept the Rector's
challenge with his customary alacrity. His
eyes wandered again and again to Bride,
and when Mr.. Beresford was summoned
away, and they were left alone, he leaned
forward and inquired anxiously how she
was.
1T was silly of me TO be so foolish"
Bride answered. "But it was so dreadful.
/ seemed to see it all, and did not want
to do so"-with shudder.
ut was forced sentiment, Miss Bride
Mr. Charters himself did not mean it.
lit is pity to identify the singer
with the words" he said in his grave.
precise voice. "When you are older YOU
will learn that what it is easy to say
it is infinitely more difficult to do"
His words sounded vaguely full of
warning even to Bride. She looked up
quickly.
"Why, does every one dislike him?' she
asked, the color rising in her cheeks. II
cannot understand why you should all be
so hard--even you. He has been unfor-
tunate, but that is not his fault. He is
clever, you know that yourself, and he
is so handsome and so kind Every one
Is jealous of him because of his talents
There Is no one who appreciates him
save me-" she added, in a lower tone.
The professor sighed. After all it was
only natural that youth should believe
In youth, yet he felt sorrow natural
enough In the circumstances. Disillusion-
ment lay before this beautiful, guileless
girl, who took everything as real and
honest, and believed that in every one
was the sincerity that belonged to herself.
Lewiston felt very tender towards in
nocent Bride. with her child's heart and
simple thoughts. Perhaps of all who
knew her. he best understood the feelings
that Moyra had towards her loved young
sister. Bride needed shelter and protec-
ton. the storm and stress of life were
not for her. The other girls might have
the breeKes of the mountain top, but for
Bride TO be happy there must be the
sheltered, sunny valley, where only balmy
hreezes blew, and where the worlds wild
II Il
have set her fancy upon Charters was
indeed to be deplored, the professor
thought. He did not feel that Bertram,
agreeable as he was, possessed that power
which would entirely satisfy Brides
needs, while the lack of II would make
her utterly unhappy. And TO Bride hap
pinesS was life
Later in the evening Billy found him
self with Aileen a little apart from the
others.
do you know. feel an awful bounder
about Charters, and that dance of ours. y
he remarked. Il don't like him any the
! better. though l admit that he carried me
away bit in the school room. He ought
not to have sung that song-I believe
he did it for some purpose. But Bride
is so horribly keen about his going Sne
has asked me again TO invite him. OF
course say the invitations are from the
mother, bur she knows that it's just an
excuse
q won't have him invited" Aileen
said. ali the more sharply because she
felt that she might be unjust. He has
got a wretchedly strong influence over
her. l wish we had sent her away"
How does she like the idea of going
''She didn't say anything. but I'm
afraid we shall have a scene. I'm afraid
she'll get round father. He is so indul-
gent to her: he can deny her nothing,
even when be knows be ought to do 50.
oh. dearl wish she was safely married
to some one who was fitted TO take care
of her"
Billy opened his lips and closed them
again. After while he asked casually
is it true that Lew isson is going away
on Wednesday p
Aileen nodded. In spite Of herself, the
color rose in her face
He intended TO so on Moiday. and
then decided TO stay for your 4ance- II
VIII De very nice i; 1aSyus turns up,
won't itgs
But Billy would not take her lead. He
gazed gloomiiy at Moyra's favorite palm.
Il expect there'n be 8 good many things
settled on Tuesday night" he remarked
prophetically. II wonder how each one
Of as viii be feeling next Thursday even
| ing7r
Next Thursday evening win tell suff-
GENTLY early" Aileen answered. moving
away
Aileen felt that she had al her work
cut out for her in her self Imposed task
Of watching Bride during the next few
daya The girl was absent-ninisA -