Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-11-14

that gentle quileless girl, whose mind
and soul were as pure as an un.
stained lily?
He tried to make himself feel sure
that Hilda would clear away all the
unpleasant mystery by a few simple
words. Twice he went to the door
of her room, and heard with half i'm.
patient satisfaction that she still
slept; and it was long after midday
when Pauline told him her lady was
awake, but seemed very i'll. He
looked with uD''tterable establishment
upon the cha e in the fair young
faco, wrought in these few hours.
Could it be mere II
that had blanched even the lips and
darkened the violet eyes with so deep
ashadof? Was it illness that caused
my mother thought that on
her to clasp her hands when she saw
him, as one does who prays in mortal
agony?
"Hilda." he said, you look as
though you had suffered terribly.
What is it? No trouble can. have
come to you without my moving it.
What makes you ill?<~Why do you
look so strangely at me? What has
come between us?"
He waited, but she spoke not, a
word.
"You would never keep any secret
from me, | know" he continued, "or
| should fancy that something ter
rible weighed upon your mind. Do
not look SO sad. Raise your eyes to
mine, love; and if aught troubles you,
tell me.-let me share it."
He clasped one arm round her, and
drew her golden head close to him.
Has any one insulted or annoyed
your he asked gently.
No. she replied,-'what could
make you think of such thing?"
Are you sure, Hilda," he asked,
that you have been subject to annoy
ance from any of our guests?"
mo, she said again; but he saw
her face flushed with pain. 'why do
you ask me so strange a question,
CLAUDE"
my mother thought that on two
two occasions Mr.. Fulton had an
noyed you by slipping noneensical
little notes in your hand" he re-
peated. us it true, Hilda?"
He saw her pause before replying
to his question.
ut is true he gave me two little
notes." she said, in a faltering voice,
but they did not cause me any an.
noyance. Claud."
May / see them?" he asked
They are destroyed" she ans
wered, in the same low constrained
voice.
will you tell me their contents?"
he asked againI
II IcannotyT she gasped.
He knew not what to say; never
once had the eyes wherein truth and
love shown so brightly been raised to
his. The long dark lashes dropped
on the white cheek, and she spoke
as one under ycompulsion.
Perhaps" he said, 1T was nothing
that concerned you,- some little
affair of his own. Was it SOP"
She answered not word, and
Lord Rayneham continued.
Il am no jealous husband, Hilla.
interfering and prying into your con-
Germs. Since we have been married
l have never sought to know anything
of your letters. l have trusted you
implicitly in all things, as real and
loyal men do trust l should not in
terfere now, but that / have been
told that those not were almost
forced upon you,-that you received
them unwillingly; and 1t has caused
me to wonder much what they con-
tanned"
She raised her eyes to his face,
and their worn. wild expression
struck him painfully.
Il cannot tell you, Claud," she re-
piled, Il would if it were possible
DO you know, Hilda," he said,
gravely, that nothing can justif
you in keeping secrets from me- We
should have but one mind and one
heart between us. You have no
right to withhold anything from me.
My idea of married life is one of per-
feet confidence, trust and unity. 1
cannot imagine separate interests"
He saw a look of intense pain steal
over her gentle face, but she made
no effort to answer him.
Il suppose it is useless for me to
repeat my wish" he added 81 can
not force your confidence, IL you will
not give it to me. | must be content
to know there are depths in my
w;fe's heart hidden from me-"
Lady Hilda shudderer as she re-
membered what those depths were.
He noted her gesture and said, Il am
not angry, Hilda; am grieved,
wounded, more deeply than | can
tell you. What secret can by little
wife be keeping from me?"
She made some slight movement.
as though longing to throw herself
at his feet and tell him, On her lips
the words trembled. Il am an i'm.
poster convict's daughter. l have
no right to he here-Sand ma ouav >.