Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-10-08

day / hate to go into fathers study
1t all comes back to me 50 rividly. Old
Mr. Charters was awfully angry about
the gagement being broken of, and Ber-
tram went away for a few days And
while he was away l was told-and
knew-something else, and-and his faith
er would not let him return. can't tell
you what else came out, Aileen, because
| am the only one here who knows, even
father was not told, though l think at
the time he had his suspicious. But then
we were all in such trouble about mother,
and, although / seemed to feel the loss of
Bertram. felt the shame and the degra-
dation still more, and there was Lulu to
take his place.
There was little pause; then Aileen
said slowly, as If she were bordering over
many things:
II can't understand how he could come
back and be so friendly, and-and for
getful."
HE was always like that He had
never any thought beyond the gratihca-
ton of a momentary within, and when he
forgot any trouble or vexation, he thought
every one had done the same. l remem-
Der mothers once saying that he should
have been named Reuben. Unstable az
water, thou shall not excel she quoted.
But you understand now. Aileen, why
feel so unhappy about his taking any no
tice of Bride. 1t pleases him to do so
at the time, and when he has tired of her
he'll go off quite gaily and easily, and
care nothing that he has made her like
him and that her heart is broken"
"0h, ] hope 1t won't be so bad as
that" 2 zen was frowning her firm
lips were closely pressed together. Her
own thoughts were far from reassuring
She looked once OF twice at Moyra, and
then decided to keep them to herself for
a little while. Il think we had better
send her away for a few weeks" she said
''She's really so extraordinarily pretty she
ought TO marry very well. Only she Is SO
simple"
she can't go before the Fentons
dance; but that is quite soon now. After
that she can easily go to the Hamiitons
for a time. She likes being there. l
wish Haywood Fenton would fall in love
with her, don't you? She looksd so sweet
in all those wonderful diamonds" Moyra
Wtul Vis MlLnOut nOtlIiHk tudL utI WISH
did not seem to meet with warm response
The mending was finished when the bell
for luncheon pealed generously through
the house. Aileen rose and stretched her
self lazily.
81 think I'll go to the pools for an
hour this afternoon" she said. by the
way, Moyra, Haywood Fenton'-Aileen
never spoke Of him in any other way, and
always addressed him as Mr.. Fenton.
whereas all the others used the familiar
"Billy"-"is laboring under the impress
sion that Angus is an acquaintance of
Bertram's"
''They have never met here. I don't
think so, although | remember that Mr..
Robertson was once looking through the
album and saw photo OF Bertfam taken
years ago, and at first ne thought it was
man he knew but when he heard the
name he did not know it. l think Billy
must be mistaken.
"Very likely" Aileen assented.
As soon as luncheon was concluded she
dressed and went off to "the POOLS"
Uhich lay on the other side of the low
hill that rose from the rivers edge. 1t
was warm, bright day, and there was
sweetness in the air that did not prom
Use much more skating to the enthusiasts
whom she could see skimning over the
chain of shallow marsh waters known
locally as the pools. She could see Lulu
in her scarlet hat disporting herself mer-
rily, and as she drew nearer she could
distinguish one or another whom she
knew but it was not until she was quite
close to the hut. beside which fire was
burning. that she saw Bride sitting on a
chair and talking very earnestly to Billy
1T is too bad !" Aileen heard her say.
"Moyra and Aileen are always stopping
my pleasure"
She looked up eagerly as Aileen ap-
preached, and look OF disappointment
came over her face as she saw who it
was. Billy, on the contrary, was radi-
ant.
How late you are!' be cried. Don't
let us waste any more time"-and he
FASTENED to put on her skates.
They were skimming over the Ice to-
gether, when Aileen said abruptly: WAS
Bride asking you about inviting Mr.. Char
| teris2"
Yes, poor child 1 was awfully sorry
to refuse she seemed so set on It.
say, if l told you something
at her doubtfuIly-"Pm afraid you'd be
annoyed"
Aileen looked at him anxiously.
"Is il about" she began.
Last night" Billy concluded. biting
his lip. They skated towards deserted
part of the pool IL hope you won't
think me interfering, or anything of that,
but l know you and Moyra don't like
Charters. and think he's awfuily low
class myself. You remember last night?
Well, after l left you l thought I'd just
go round the circle and the strawberries
and satisfy myself that there was no one
there. So l went round by your kitchen
garden and our glass houses, and by the
time l got back co the avenue the moon
was well out, and l saw some one going
up the avenue walking on the grass.
wouldn't swear to 1t. but my first impress
| sion was that 1t was Charters. OF course
| may have been mistaken. but
You were not" Aileen said quickly.
She put her hand into her pocket and.
taking out her purse, produced the broken
half Of gold sleeve link with an en-
twined "B. c." engraved on it. II picked
1 kQdl uU Oh TIC bCuOOA EOCAu nOONs sue
said, with q sob that seemed forced from
her. He was there last night, and she
never told US r.
| Billy did not know what to say to her.
He had no doubt that the man be had
seen was Charters. who had evidently
bes.. desirous of not being recognized.
: Yet what could have been his object In
maintaining such secrecy? He had not
/ been forbidden the house, nor was he
Brides acknowledged lover. They might
be mistaken, he said aloud. Perhaps
Bride had kept the broken link as love
token. and had dropped it unwittngiy.
But Aileen put aside such explanations
| impatiently.
The truth Is we have all gone the
wrong way with Bride" she said Angus
/ said We coddled her too much. and its
| quite true. We ought to have let her get
| her experience for herself, instead OF shell
tring her from everything disagresble and