Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-11-07
Continued.

tended; he saw but one way out of
his trouble; he must see Lady Hilda,
tell her all. and rely upon her fears
for observing the secrecy necessary
for him. He wrote a note, as fol
lows - d
Il pray you to keep silence over the
little incident that occurred this after
noon until see you. can explain it.
The honor of family-my life almost
depends upon your silence. Will
you grant me an interview? | knew
your parents, and have much to say to
you. Will you meet me in the library
after dinner this evening? / will not
detain you long"
He wrote the note, never thinking
that there would be any difficulty in
giving 1t to her, but he found it pos
sible In the drawing-room she was
surrounded by visitors. Sir Henry
Atleigh, of Comble Abbey, took her
down to dinner. After dinner she
held little court, and there seemed
to be no room for him in the group.
He never realized before the difficulty
of doing anything underhand.
At last his opportunity came. Sir
Henry Atleigh spoke of a photograph
he had seen lately from one of Art
Scheffer's finest pictures.
I'VE have one like it, I believe" said
Lady Hilda, rising and moving toward
the large table on which books and
rare engravings lay scattered.
Let me assist you in looking for
IT," said Mr.. Fulton, who had long
been waiting for this chance. He fol-
lowed her to the table, and in giving
her the photograph she sought, laid
his note upon It, He read the hesita-
ton in her face as she half threw 1t
from her. For your own sake" he
whispered, "for your husbands sake"
and her hand closed over it.
1t was adroitly managed but 1t hap
pened unfortunately that the Countess
OF Bayneham witnessed the little tran
saction, unseen by them. She was
seated in her own favorite chair at
some distance from the large table;
but she was watching as he rose, and
saw him PLAINLY offer the folded note
to her sons wife. Her first impulse
was to rise and demand to see it. her
second was to laugh at her own folly.
1t might be a memorandum, or thou
sand other things; why should she sus-
pect anything wrong? She smiled,
and blamed herself for her unjust sus.
pieion and folly.
II the countess could have seen the
burning indignation on Lady Hilda's
face as she read those few lines she
would have judged her more charitably
hereafter. No, certainly thousand
times over, she would refuse to meet
the stranger, who month ago. was
unknown to her. Why should she?
If he knew anything of her parents.
let him tell il to her husband. At
least her suspense would be ended
then, and she had lived lately with a
sword suspended over her head She
tore up the note CONTEMPORARY and
flung 1t to the winds.
That night Mr.. Fulton sat until late
In the library. but Lady Hilda did not
come near, and he grew desperate,
Il must see her" he said to himself;
she will betray me; how madly have
acted! She must see me, and know
who I am"
This was more easily said than done
Lady Hilda carefully avoided him the
next day. She had not decided what
soourse to pursue she longed to tell
her husband all. but dared not Then
Paul Fulton wrote again.
II must see YOU" he said reasons
both sacred and important. compel me
TO speak to you. ask you. for your
dead mothers sake. to meet me to
night; not In the house. where | can
not perhaps speak to you alone. &C
after dinner to the Lady's Walk,
pray YOU and let me see YOU there"
With this note, carefully folded, he
haunted the drawing-rooms, but nc
Lady Hilda appeared Fortune. how
ever, favored him again Going III
the grand staircase he met the coun
tess with her daughterin.law. He
passed them with a deep salutatior
and some testing words placing the
note on Lady Hilda's hand as he die
so, unobseryed, he believed, but seer
again by the watchful eve of Lad,
Bayneham. She made no remark, re
solving to know soon what this myster
ious correspondence meant.
When Lady Hilda read the secont
note she was almost In despair. wha
could he know of her parents, thi.
strange man whom she dreaded? VIII,
should he summon her Tor her deaC
mothers sake? She must go: Their,
was no help for IL.
They dined alone that evening, anC
only LAZY Bayneham watchful eye.
saw how worn and anxious was tn,
expression OF that young face, OF
which a new shadow had fallen
Lord Bayneham left the ladies early
he. had been riding all the morning
and was tired, he fingered for few
minutes by his wife's side, WATCHING
hes white slender fingers. husily en-
vngai with n t,rpttv r,{NNa - =, e4tt,, ~