Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1907-11-21

neham wore so disturbed an expression
II for moment he felt angry With
on his comely face. He was at a
standstill, and knew not what to do.
his wife, the remembrance of her
words-her pale, wistful, face lying
On his breast came over him, and
all anger melted away.
AS he was bordering over what to
! do and perplexed by many thoughts,
Barbara Earle entered the room-Bar-
bara whose noble soul-lit face looked
serene and cam. For a moment Lord
Bayneham's whole heart seemed to
go out to meet her There was no
mystery, no concealment here, not
hing but clear, glorious truth in the
/ dark eyes raised to his face.
What is the matter, ClaudT she
asked gayly; you look as uninterest-
ing as possible-almost cross, in fact.
Surely you are not thinking of this
nonsense about Hilda's bracelet?
Lady Bayneham has just been telling
where you found il"
! And how should you imagine ii
came there?" asked the earl of his
cousin
Il should never try to discover re-
piled Rarhsra. rPerhaps-, Hilda,s
maid took II to be cleaned or repaired.
or something else, and dropped it;
or perhaps Hilda walked in her sleep.
| tell you what, Claud, | should i'm
agine every combination of strange
and singular circumstances before /
dared to think even the slightest
wrong OF one SO pure and gentle as
your wife"
But it seems strange" said Lord
Bayneham. ''The thing that puzzles
me most is, that she seemed so
frightened-she trembled at the very
mention of the word.
us She frightened?" asked Barbara
earnestly. Then my idea is a correct
one. Rely upon it, Claud there is
some little mystery, and Hilda is
shielding some one else from blame"
"She ought to at least confide in
me" said Lord Bayneham.
Perhaps She fears your anger for
the real cuiprit," said Miss Earle.
Il do not think so,' replied her cou-
sin; "she talks So tragically to me,
poor child. that I am afraid there is
something not quite straightforward
She tells me she cannot explain
Then" replied Barbara, with gen
erous spirit, "if she says so. Claud,
never seek to know the rest When a
pure. guileless woman, like Hilda,
wishes to keep secret, be noble, and
allow her to do So Rely upon it, her
motive justifies her"
you love my wife, Barbara" said
Lord Bayneham
That | do replied Barbara, truly
and Warmly. l have implicit faith in
her. Why, Claud. remember that
sweetface. What could it hide?-no
sin, no error, no wrong. | am sure.
Depend upon It, this little affair of
the bracelet, so perversely magnified.
is nothing after all. Most probably
Pauline has been careless, and HiIda
, shields her from blame"
Lord Bayneham kissed his c< usin's
hand, loving her better in that MON.
ent than he had ever done before.
She smiled as she quilted the library.
leaving the sunshine of her brave gen.
erous words behind her
! No one loved or believed in LADY
Hilda more strongly than her husband.
He wanted to make his mother share
that faith. For himself Barbara's
words almost satisfied him. If he
could but convince Lady Baynehami
/ He resolved TO see the maid herself
and question her; he did so.-and she
looked very pretty and smiling as she
stood before him.
! Il am thinking OF ordering a Jewel.
case for Lady Bayneham." he said
Il wish to surprise her with 1t. Give
me the size of the one she uses"
With smiling coquettish grace the
maid complied; there was nothing like
even a shadow of fear on her face.
Il am afraid the case In use is not
secure one" continued Lord Bay
neham; and | have some reacun for
believing that her ladyship's jewels
are not well kept"
Pauline ventured respectfully TO
desy the assertion, asking as was
natural, what the reason was.
, Il found a bracelet in the park
this morning" said Lord Bayneham
/ which had evidently been dropped
yesterday"
IF bracelet was found there
said Pauline. who did not seem dis
mayed, my lady must have dropped
It, believe she walked ont for a
few minutes last night; she has done
so once or twice before
Lord Bayneham made no comment
and Pauline, proud of the young earls
attention to her word, chartered on
gaily.
Il believe my lady walked in the
garden few minutes" she contin-
ued "she sent me away early. and /
saw her afterward going down the
north staircase. perhaps she drup