Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-10-01
CHAPTER XIV.

AS long as the frost lasted. which was
for several days, the inhabitants of the
big house and the Rectory spent every
available moment on the ice, and there
Prof. Lewiston and Bertram Charters
were wont to join them, the former, how
ever. far more frequently than the
younger man. whose appearance both at
the Rectory aud on the ice were by no
means so regular as they had been.
Lewiston did not skate at all, and
Aileen was just at that stage of prof.
cheney when the penalties of learning
were over and the joys were treading
close upon each others heels. She had
the skating fever very badly. She was
on the ice from morning to night, and
Lulu declared that she practieed in her
bedroom Most certainly she was
credit to her teacher, Billy, who, it must
be confessed, could hardly conceal his
delight on learning that Lewiston could
not skate and had no intention of earn
ing,
The professor seemed astonished to dis
cover that his favorite scholar had so
much weakness in her. He shook his
head obviously when she declared rather
de6antly that she did not intend to open
book as long as she could skate.
Bride showed no objection to enter
tanning the professor She liked him very
much, in spite of his appalling clever
ness. He was very learned and superior
to her, and very often she forgot that he
was so much her senior and a very clever
man. and talked to him as freely and as
frankly as she would once have done to
Moyra. For even in the few days that
had passed a change had come over Bride
in her relations with her eldest sister,
and. strange and improbable as it seemed.
doyra fancied that Bride was avoiding
her There were no more tender conf
dences, none of Brides usual demonstra-
tive affection. The girl seemed even in
the course of few days 20 have grown
older, staider. and quieter She certainly
was much more reserved 1t was only
when she was with the professor that
she seemed to be as of old to the anxious
eyes watching her. Whether the Others
also noticed the change Moyra could not
tell, and did not like to ask. But there
were many times when she longed earn
estly for Angus Robertson's return. To
him she could tell all that was in her
mind without fear of being misunder
stood
Yet even in the thought of him there
was discomfort, She could not forget
the ruby brooch he had given her; it was
safely locked up in a secure place, and
many times she puzzled her brains over
it. Once she sounded Aileen on the mat
ter, but Aileen, who had her own idea
concerning it, only laughed and put her
of.
Perhaps he is millionaire in dis
guise after ALL she said, and wondered
why Moyra flushed so holly.
She did not know that her sister had
thought OF that eight hundred pounds
borrowed years before and never repaid.
HE may have done ii with the ruby,
but the money would have been so much
better" she thought. as she went over the
housekeeping books and thought of a let
ter received from Pat that morning. ask
ing her TO send him as much as she could
spare before the end of the week. Il
can't think how he spends all the money
be does" she sighed dolefully.
The day OF the congregational tea par
ty. so keenly desired by some, so much
disliked by others, arrived, and Aileen
had perforce TO give up an afternoons
skating and help in the preparations, cut
ting up brown loaf and currant cake and
setting tea urns aud cups and saucers in
order on the long. narrow tables that ex-
tended down the school room.
At five o'clock the guests OF all condi-
tons and qualities began TO arrive. some
on foot. some in carriages. At six O'Clock
the tea was in full swing. the whole
Beresford family and their friends acting
as walters and mattresses. At eight
o'clock the tables would be cleared and
the school children would give concert
and the clergy make addresses In the
opinion OF the Caterhamites. the whole
proceedings were magnificent. and the day
was marked as red-ietter one.
The evening wore on. The Rector made
his usual speech. there t~re songs and
recitatiOns from children in all degrees
Of nervousness and forwardness. there
were more speeches. there were piano
forte duets. The air grew close and
sitting. Moisture streamed down the
open windows. and Aileen gasped for
breath. The noise made her head ache.
and, rising quietly. she made her way out
OF the room. uno5served. as she fancied
| The fresh. frosty air outside was delight
/ fol. Several people stood round the
doorway. and she could distinguish Miss
Prior's voice amongst them Suddenly .
! tall form emerged from the lighted rool-