Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-12-31
CHAPTER VII.

Leila Leigh was French governess at
st. Martha's College. She had plenty OF
work from dawn till dusk in these short
November days. She had classes before
breakfast. classes after breakfast, half a
dozen music pupils; she gave lessons IN
water colors, she taught embroidery, she
toiled incessantly but, after the O'Clock
tea. her time was her own. Then she
might write letters, or read novels, or sew
for herself, or practice on the piano or
the harp. On both instruments LioneFs
beautiful sister was a proficient.
On the evening when the attempt at an
eIopement from the sacred precincts of ST.
Martha's was frustrated By the opportune
arrival of Messrs Cummington and How
Ter. Leila was not writing letters nor
reading fiction, nor trimming hats. She
sat idly enough before bright fire, which
glowed on the hearth in her small apart
ment-a neat little room, where the plain
ness of the school furniture was clothed
and adorned by the fine taste and delicate
handiwork of the poor little teacher.
Ry 10 o'clock everybody in St. Mar
thas was in bed and all the lights were
out. 1t was Z o'clock when Leila sat be-
fore her coy fire. Her cheeks were flush
ed, her eyes shone, her heart beat fast.
In her hand was a note received that day.
II was not signed, but there was mono
gram at the top, and coronet. The note
came from Beryl Court. The writer of
the note was Arthur Calthorpe, heir to
the Earldom of Beryl Tears fell upon
that little note. Leila read it, folded it
nm. read ii again, then sat looking into
the fire. All at once came little, sudden
rap at the door.
Come in" said Leila; and there ran
in a little, white woman about twenty
seven, with heavy plaits of brown hair,
and wearing green dress.
.Oh. Miss Gregson - said Leila, get
ting up and offering the little lady chair.
IL am sorry. but l had forgotten all
about It."
Nevertheless, dear, you must tell me
this story am sure there is great deal
IN il. am writing a novel, and | feel
convinced there are the elements of a plot
in the strange history of your youth aud
your handsome brother"
Miss Gregson took out a pocketbook
and pencil, prepared to make notes on
what Leila Leigh had to relate. Leila
looked down at the little note folded in
her hand, then once more at the fire.
Then she began her tale:
Mamma died the day | was born. and
her loss saddened all my fathers life.
wrapped him in gloom from which he
never emerged for single day. Mamma
died in Normandy. in little village cali
ed St. Pierre des Montagnes. / was put
out TO nurse with a family of good Nor
man peasants. and papa went away with
NV brother Lionel. When l was seven
years old, papa came back TO St Pierre
DIES Moutagnes with Lionel. After awhile
/ went home to Chateau Moreauvile, a
gloomy old mansion four miles out of
St. Pierre.
"Niy father took possession of Chateau
Moreauville-that is to say, he rented it
from the proprietor. who was absent in
Italy. Papa was tired of wandering
around the world. lie was a writer OF
scientific and philosophical subjects, and
he earned a few hundreds yearly. Some
of this money he saved; but be was very
anxious about the education of his chill
dren, and very ambitious that Lionel
should shine in some department of sci
ence or literature. He was taken with an
Illness. a slow fever. nos violent, but lin
gering. prostrating, BY Sint of care aud
watchiulnesS. he began to recover. In
the midst of October, just when the for
est was golden, and the scarlet gerani-
INNS, which ran wild in the uncuitured
gardens. were abloom and ablaxe, papa
came down into the drawing room. We
bad large FIRE. and We crowded about il
Lionel. papa and myself How pale
and gsunt was that dear face which we
loved so ten6srly, and yet which always
seemed 70 me awful. with the shadow of
n secret. which looked out now and anon
from the depths of his moarnfuI ewes
Suddenly he spoke.
"'My children. have doae you an in
Justice. When | die there win not be
more than Eve hundred pounds left. after
my debts are paid. and neither OF you
have finished your education. had hoped
70 live until Lionel was Il msr; then ]
would have told him the story OF his
mother. and | would have asked him To
renounce land. gold. title, for her SAKE
Title. cried Lionel. starting 70 his
feet. oh. father. who are You.
Then papa struck the gold-headed
stick vigorously against the iron CRATE.
Strength seemed to come into his feeble
hands. ere seemed to fash out OF his
sunken eyes.