Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-11-12
CHATTER XIII.

afternoon there was a constant stream
of callers both at the big house and at
the Rectory, and when Moyra set cut
for the Band of Hope meeting she was
podnced upon by Miss Prior as soon as
she emerged from the avenue.
"Such shocking thing" she began at
once. II ventured TO leave my card al
the big house TO express my sympathy.
Mrs. Fenton was not seeing visitors, the
butler told ne. He did not seem to know
much of the affair; be was most uncom-
.nunicative. Tell me. my dear, Is IL one
hundred thousand pounds worth that mas
gomez"
Hardly so much, l believe, and they
were fully insured" Moyra thought it
was the wisest plan TO give as much In
formation as she could, otherwise Miss
Prior would certainly manufacture 1t.
1.-The historic associations enhanced their
value"
"Of course, of course hear that
one of the necklaces belonged to Mary
Queen of Bloody Mary as they
used to call her. A blessing IL was they
were not all murdered !" she INTERCEPTED.
But I suppose you feel safe as
rock now you have Mr.. Robertson back
again"
Mr.. Robertson ~ Moyra stopped short
In her surprise. ''He is still in Londof..
What made you think he was with u. =
Because | saw him last night" Miss
Prior answered.
The color leapt into Moyra's face and
her heart beat a little quicker as she per-
sisted in her denial Of Angus return. But
Miss Prior was equally obdurate, though
for some time she fatty declined to say
where she had seen him but at length
the truth came out that, overpowered by
curiosity, she had been wandering round
the big house. trying TO get some glimpse
of the paradise within, or at least TO see
the guests arriving.
And very disappointing sight AZ was,
too, for nearly every one was wrapped
up in a big clsak," she commented. And
all the blinds were drawn: so when the
show was over | just walked round the
house TO get warm, and | was standing
quite accidentally near the dining room
window when | saw Mr.. Robertson com
Ing across the grass from your house, as
/ thought. He had a light overcoat on.
and n crush hat. OF course / am not
mistaken. lie is too tall and ugly to be
easily taken for any one else"
yet / am quite sure it could not have
been Mr.. Robertson" Moyra persisted
firmly. HE was not at the dance; he
was not at home"
Il saw him palmer than l see you"
Miss Prior repeated stubbornly.
Although Moyra did not believe it,
Miss Prior's assertion never left her brain
as she went through the business of the
evening. 1t seemed to weigh her down
with a premonition of evil, of coming
woe and certainly as she left the school
house she felt more nervous of her lonely
walk home than she had ever done in her
life. She wished she had asked Gerry
or Terry 20 meet her.
The mists that had hung about all
day had vanished. and the clouds over
head had cleared. leaving a darkly blue
sky pricked with silver points and grow
ing moon climbing to high heaven. Moyra
reflected with unusual satisfaction that
once past the trees that marked the crest
of the hill she would have open ground
only to traverse. She entered the shad-
ows and came to full stop with a little
cry as she ran into Bertram Charteris.
He apologized laughingly.
II was just taking constitutional af-
ter the Aorrid day we have had" he said,
turning on his heel to accompany her as
a matter of course. 1T is late for you
TO be out alone, Moyra. / suppose you
have been performing one of your sweet
acts of charity. / wish / had as good a
past record as yours"-with little sigh
and a glance that gained no response from
the girl beside him.
They walked on in silence for some
time. Moyra saw that the young man
was paler and more thoughtful than
usual, and when he spoke there was a
depth of feeling In his voice that rather
surprised her.
How is Bride, Moyra?"
She answered briefly, and after a while
he said slowly:
Il am afraid | hurt her last night: 1t
was purely by accident. but she did not
seem to believe me when l assured her so.
She Is so very sensitive, and she takes all
one says so seriously that she inevitably
misconstrues ones meaning"
in that case II would be as well to
put the meaning so clearly that II is i'm
possible TO misunderstood it." Moyra an
swered. with little touch Of scorn which
Bertram was quick to hear. He Redeemed
angrily. Bride is not clever girl"
Moyra pursued
Il am not to blame Cor her foolishness.
however" he began.
Moyra looked at him very steadily.
"0f course not. You never were 70
blame. No matter what was the wrong
or fault, there was always an excuse for
you-in your own estimation"
How horribly unjust. how cruel. YOU
good women can be I" be exclaimed, twist
ing his moustache in futile anger. Be
cause l committed youthful indiscretion
you have never forgiven nue.. Your preiu-
dice against me condemns me utterly, and
Jet you cali yourself Christian"
A youthful indiscretion ~ she repeated
slowly. II say nothing of the unfortunate
girl whom you deceived. and who threw
herself from the pier That may have
been youtbscl indiscretion Can YOU
say the sause OF your forgery of your
employers name, of your nearly success
full attempt to put the blame on an in
nocent manl Was that youthful indis-
erection only? Ii was hushed up, admit /:
my father heard nothing definite. But the
shame of it killed an old man whose only
fault was THAI he had been too kind to
you. too iudulsent, You call me hard and
unjust. Bertram Charteriss Is il likely
l could be anything else when l see that
you have put the whole matter cut Of
your mind. that you have expressed no
repentance, made no reparation? l have
been too indulgent. should have teld
my father sn and saved Bride from your
ettentions-attentions which were insult
ing But was weak. ! did not want 60
let her know that s fair exterior was not
Always criterion of what was within
Because OF my love for her l have been
crud in being kind. and yet have warn
ed hs"
The truth Is you were jealous of
Bride. You hated TO see me with her be-
cause you yourself had been ousted."
Moyra raised her head and laughed
The scorn in her tone made Bertram
vrithe. so utterly contemptuous was il.
Jealous, Jealous for vouf Why the