Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-10-29
CHAPTER Xxx

Lewiston were sitting. She was engaged
for that dance, she had told him, start
Ing up eagerly when the first strains OF
music reached the supper room, and he
had taken her back for her partner. But
the music rose and fell, there was an
eyer-moving whirl of dancers, and still
Bride sat expectant, until at length the
music ceased and the dancers surged OUT,
laughing and talking, into the cool nan
with its many lounges.
"Shall we follow themf" the professor
asked, sorry for the girls piteous eyes
and whitening face. at is growing SO
hot here"
BE felt he should like to knock Char
teris dswn. Never before had he felt in
such an aggressive mood as he did when
be pushed open the door leading into the
conservatory. They sauntered along I'M
der the huge Towering palms, Brides
hand lying listlessly on his arm. They
reached the end of the path, and turned
mechanically to retrace their steps, when
Brides hand frightened its grasp, the light
came back to her face.
Charters was standing at the end Of
the cross path. his face pressed against
the glass as if he were trying to pierce
the gloom outside. He started violently
as Lewiston uttered his name, and then
came forward with his own sweet smile.
Dear Bride, will you ever forgive
mef' he asked gently, as she looked at
him, her great eyes filed with reproach.
81 was so sorry to miss that dance; but
you will give me another, won't your
"Oh, yes :" Bride, poor. simple Bride,
said breathlessly.
She turned to Lewiston with frank
smile which, while her words thanked him
for his escort, told him still more plain
ly he was no longer wanted. He felt
very unhappy as he moved away, but his
unhappiness was, with the exception of a
tri1ing sense of loss, entirely for Bride
He was afraid she was building on very
shallow foundations.
He roamed about aimlessly, feeling very
much at variance with the gay, pleasure
seeking crowd. He had nothing in com
mon with these light-hearted young folks.
he felt pitifully old and lonely. Life had
always been so serious, SO grave a matter
TO him he had been weighed with respon-
sibilities at so early an age that it had
made him an old man before his time
And yet | am not really DID," he
unused. 81 am not bald, my eyesight is
keen, and l am more vigorous now than
/ was as an undergraduates l am an
older man now at thirty-seven than young
Fenton will be at fifty. 1t is my manner,
my loss of all those affections and ties
which complete and augment mans
life. /. am a horribly lonely man"
a little later he wandered again into
the conservatory, now almost deserted
He paced up and down, his hands clasped
behind his back, his head bowed, deep in
thOught-thoughts that brought a frown
TO his face.
Passing down one OF the side walks
he noticed casually that the door of
small orchid house had been left open
revealing glimpses of its exquisite treas
ures. Lewiston revealed ia flowers, and,
preoccupied as he was, remembered that
Mr.. Fenton had said something about
new and rare acquisition lately procured.
He entered the small house, that possess
ed no other door save the one by which
he had entered. He found the new treas
ure and examined 1t critically, saunter-
ing slowly round until he had reached the
door again, and then the sound of famil-
lar voices attracted his attention. He
peered through the leafy screen and took
a cautious survey.
Billy Fenton and Aileen Beresford
were sitting on lounge directly opposite
TO the door. and there was something in
their attitudes that made Lewiston. I'M
verSed as he was in such matters. realize
that to make his entrance at that moment
would be exceedingly upwise He looked
at the young couple dfspassionately. ad-
miring the pretty picture they made, and
thoughtfully criticising the play of the
subdued light on Aliens downcast face
and Billy's handsome features.
Aileen was really quite a pretty girl
he thought retiectively. For the first time
he seemed to look at her simply as a
woman and not as the product of modern
progress. He had always been vaguely
conscious that she was pleasanter to the
eye than the majority of her fellow stu
dents, but on that point he had never be-
fore appealed TO him. 1t had been by
her intellect, her extraordinary capabil-
ity, the renown as pupil that she would
give her master that had been first in his
thoughts concerning her. He had pro-
posed TO her, it was true, but 1t had beer
simply in Difference TO an absurd modern
convention that would not permit even an
Intellectual partnership between a man
and woman, master and pupil. with
out unpleasant rumor and scandal.
To be sure Aileen had been somethinv
of shock to him since his arrival in
Csterham West She had not manifested
her usual avidity for information. her
customary concentration of energies in
her reading. but be had excused her way
wardness on the score of youth and the
holiday influence. Until that moment.
when he saw her cheeks flushing and pal.
ing, when he saw Billy Fenton's ewes
fixed adoringly on her face and heard his
low, earnest voice, il aad not really oc
CURED to Eric Lewiston that Aileen was
"a woman. therefore 20 be won"
Aileen and Billy had long deserted the
lounge when he emerged once more into
the brilliantly lighted hall. A set of
lancers was in progress, and the various
resting places were almost deserted He
stood irreSolute for a moment. when some
one seized his arm. 1t was Bride. but
an astounding change had passed over her
Her face was white and drawn. and in
her eyes there was an anguish that wrung
his heart.
Bride. dear child. what has happened?
Are you ill?'
IF were only st homer she moaned.
Lewiston rose at once to the occasion.
BE glanced round, seized a shawl lying
on chair. wrapped il round the girl.
who was shaking from head to foot. and
drew her arm within his.
Come he said gently. I'VE viii go
home"
They traverSed the path between the
two houses IN silence The darkness out
side was intensified By the brilliancy they
had LETT; there was a dam3ness In the
air that betokened more rain. Now and
again strains OF music reached them, and
then Bride shuddered. and chung involun-
tarily to the strong arm that guided her.
1t was not until they had reached the
hall door that Bride spoke. ia a strained
voice. very different from her usual tones.
Don't tel any one !" she gasped.
4. II.