Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-09-17
CHAPTER x


tered the drawing room to find Moyra
fits only occupant. The lamps had been
lighted, but we're burning very low, and
she was lying back in a big easy chair
evidently taking her ease.
I'm not asleep, only lazy" she said'
opening her eyes as he hesitated whether
TO advance or retreat. Il am quite de-
serted. The school room crew has gone
TO see Lulu's old nurse-they always 90
on Christmas day-and Aileen has van
ished | don't know where"
She leaned forward and poked the fire
into a vigorous blaze, and he saw tears
shining on her eyelashes, even as she
talked cheerfuliy about the cold and asked
how they enjoyed their walk and where
they had been
II think l should have done better to
have gone out, too she said simply, as
she noticed be had seen she had been cry
ing. Zone always grows sad when one
looks back, and, although she does not
know it, to-day is Lulu's birthday. She
was born on Christmas day, and mother
died two days later. Father forbade any
mention of it at the time, SO we always
celebrate Lulu's birthday in the summer.
We all do our best to forget it now, but
who one is alone He saw the tears
rise again as she looked into the fire. i
was so miserable at that time" she con
tinued. almost as if she were thinking
aloud. II was in great trouble, and
mother was so kind and good to me.
thought then it was the greatest trouble
/ could ever have, and l know | was
dreadfully impatient and worried her
fearfully. And then, not week later,
the little trouble was all swallowed up
In the greater" She paused for a sec
ond. Il shall never forget my mothers
last words to me as l stood beside her
with poor little Lulu in my arms. She
must be your baby, MORA. Heaven
knew your trouble :.nd has sent you con
solation And she has been that-my
baby. 1t is so strange. isn't it," she
asked after a little pause. how things
change in one? have been looking back
wards this afternoon, and | am so sorry
for the old Moyra who suffered so fool
ishly and so needlessly. The present Moy-
ra is so thankful that her young foolish
self did not get her DESIRE
Then you do not now regret?" he
asked involuntarily.
"Oh, no / know only gratitude now
that the decision was taken from me, and
that | was shown clearly this is the
way; walk We in it, But it is too bad
of me to talk like this. You mist exer-
else some charm over me, Mr.. Robertson
She never called him Angus" as the
others did, nor did he ever address her
save as Miss Beresford. You make me
talk OF things 1 have generally kept -
lent about"
81 feel very honored by your conf
dence," he answered gravely. He won
dered who the man had been-for he
knew she had been speaking Of an inter
rupted love story-and what the trouble
had been. She must have been very
young. He felt tenderly sorry for her,
but he was conscious of secret feeling
of relief that it had been interrupted,
and that there was still a chance for an
other man. And you have mothered the
family?" he said, after a pause.
Il have done my best, although Lulu is
of course only my very own. The Irvine
were quite big when Lulu was born, and
they can remember mother we'll 1t is
a great responsibility, but l think I may
be proud of my family. am a regular
matchmaking mamma"-with a little
laugh Il often build castles in the
air about their marriages, and think how
/ shall visit first one and then the other"
And do you never make plans for
yourselfT He could not prevent him
self from asking tho question. 1t was
evidently a revelation to Moyra, she look
ed so astoniShed-
"Oh, no." she said simply. pushing
back her chair as she heard Hammond
bringing tea. II shall never leave father
and Lulu. They could not spare me-"
Vera Fenton, who arrived with com
mendable punctuality, proved herself to
be very charming and unaffected child
a year or two younger than Delda. She
soon lost her shyness GA being introduced
into the school room. Christmas evening
was always given up to the children, and
it had really resolved itself into a chill
dren's party composed of some of their
most intimate friend, and of which Aileen,
as the posscssor of the greatest knowl-
edge of games and no lack of good sug-
gestion, was always the moving spirit.
1t was she who planned the tableaux, ar
ranged singing lancers," and knew the
best places to hide the thimble, and so
1t was not surprising that the Rector,
bringing in Mr.. Haywood Fenton, who
had been kind enough to call for his sis
ter at ten O'Clock, should look round Tor
Aileen, that the young man might be En-
PRODUCED to the mistress of the revels.
But Aleen had vanished, and Mr.. Fen
tons face fell ludicrously, which was un-
accountable to the Rector.
Perhaps she has gone 70 dress some
OF the little ones" Mr. Beresford said
cheerfully
The men of the house formed a very
favorable impression of young Fenton-
Billy Fenton. as his friends and acouain-
tances called MIN, perhaps because his
name was Alan Hamilton Haywood Fen
ton, and Billy was more suited TO the
needs of daily life He was simple.
unaffected young fellow who possessed
many friends and very few enemies. He
was cleverer than he gave himself credit
for being, his attention having been de-
voted TO the getting of goals and the neat
finish of his "feathering.- rather than to
the acquisition of medals and scholar
ships. He was in short, absolutely nor
NAL until he had performed the feat
most astounding to his intimate friends
of falling in love with the hluest Of blue
stockings.
Little did the worthy Rector imagine
the tender interests her" father
that he aroused in his visitors breast
little did hs imagine that il was not his
own attractions that made Mr.. Eentou
linger unil Moyra came in Co say Vera
was quite resdy and was afraid her nam
ma would be getting anxioas at the delay.
half an hour later Afoyra, going into
Aliens room. was surprised to hnd her
IN bed.
"oh, called down Good night Didn't
you hear meT' she said. in answer 70 her
inquiries My head achsd after 50 much
noise, and was glad to slip away qui-
city. What a visitation that young ian
made with an elaborate yawn. ~
thought he was never going
$50 did l" Moyra confessed frankly.
"But be is very pleasant, so natural and
unaffected" There was a Srroo-.sSaS