Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1907-03-26
CHAPTER XXI.

feared that he Shot hedio A-
fred by him, and that Sir Henry was
hit. | attributed the shot rather 70 poacn-
err In Sir Henry's preserves, and MS aD-
scnce TO the pursuit of them. All doubt
as to his safety was removed by MS COM
ing over to the cottage the following
morning.
He was quite elf-possessed; his man
ner, indeed, was almost apathetic as ne
gave me his hand, and then dropped into
the seat on the lawn The only trace OF
that agitation which had unnamed him
the previous night was in the haggard,
worn and old expression of his face; ne
looked like a gambler who has played
long and lost all.
There was a shot in the park last
night" he began. You may have heard
it. L thought my daughter might be
alarmed and 50 went in. Quite as we'll,
you will say, seeing that l was not more
fit to be at large than a maniac. she
knew what was the matter with me, and
brought me -oInd as only she can, ne
repeated slowly, "as only she can One
OF these days, Mr.. Thorne, you may know
the value of my daughter Ethel; then,
should you be threatened with the loss or
her, you will understand my feeling. Fan
cy. If a man came insolently to you and
said he loved your wife and meant to
take her from you if he could, how you
would feel toward that man; and II, In
addition to that, your wife admitted the
probability of being taken from you, how
would you feel toward the whole world
You are speaking now of the love OF
a man for his wife,
well, SIR" he returned sharply, may
not the love OF father for his daugn-
ter be as deep and strong as that OF
husband for his wife? The love | bore
her mother is centereG in my daughter
ali the love of my heart"
He turned his back upon me for mo-
ment; then, glancing round the garden,
he asked
Where is she-that other unloved
soul?'
| explained how she slept duri-g the
day, being unable to endure the light al
ter livi~g so ,ong in darkness.
Twelve years without light or love,
he said, visibly moved "a month would
kill me. She loves you, Ethel tells me-
THAT is only natural, as she knows
none but me-
1T never occurred to you that she
might be your wife?"
How could IL occur to me, loving your
daughter as l dor
He knitted mis- brows as he buried his
face in his hand, his elbow resting on
his knee. Raising his head after min
ute's silence, he said;
ut isn't right that the girl should live
here alone with you. l am not speaking
from any conventional consideration of
propriety, but with regard to the girls
future. You are strengthening the tie of
affection which presently is to be snap
ped. You ought TO weaken it, so that
when the shock comes it may not break
her heart"
II hope to find her family or friends ;
until then she must stay with me-"
mot necessarily" he said, his eye
Frightening. Let her come to us. Ethel
is deeply interested in her. Let her dan
gerous affection for you be replaced by a
sisters love-"
with all my heart! / can wish
Psyche no greater happiness than to live
with your daughter.
1T would ne a healthier life for her, y
he continued, with growing excitement
'She would got to know the world she
is to live in We could take her abroad
while you are looking for her friends"
He looked eagerly into my eyes while
he made this proposition. There was a
wonderful change in the expression of his
face; apathy had changed to keen inter
est. 1t was still a gamblers face, but
If wore the lock of one who sees the
yvay TO retrieve a fortune by poaching a
nireon. For the first time doubt of his
honesty rose in my mind , believe he
saw il. for his eye quailed before mine
and he rose, muttering something in q
deep self-deprecatory tone that l could
not catch. He paced across the lawn
with his head lent, and when he returned
the evil look was gon. from his face. As
lie reseated himself again beside me he
said;
1T wouldn't 90, TkoTne. l understand
and sympathize With the girls feelings
more than you can believe. She must
not leave YOU at once like this. What
have YOU done toward finding her fam
ily?"
| told him of the advertisement had
nnblished and the answer l received.
.sYou had no other answer" he asked
"No."
And what 10 you propose to 10 now ~
Advertise again, if l find no farther
notice taken of the last. There may be
n letter at the postofice now. shall &c
over presently and see"
Yes. it's not unlikely. Some sharp
lawyer may see his way TO making money
through It. The man who got rid of the
child would be only too glad. one may
suppose. to claim her and put her out Of
the way more securely Have you thought
of that?"
YES. am not certain that have
not already played into the hands of thai
man or his agents.
II dare say you have" he replied
caeerily. AT any rate. you see the de n
Ger of advertising in that way. 1t woul,
be- far safer 10 put the affair into tn,
hands of a good solicitor. DO you know
oneg"
only your solicitor, Mr.. Andrews, a
Bonpor;.'
"a good man but not at all suited Il
an investigation Of this kind. You hsC
better leave il TO me. l viii see An
In the profession 20 employ. ii you like.
accepted the offer at once.
Then you will take no further step:
present?"
Il shall be very happy to leave i en-
tfrely in your hands"
Good" He seemed pleased with my
renewed confidence in him. He wa.
leaning forward. with his elbows on hi.
knees, looking on the ground. After s
moments pause, without raising his head
he said
.Some one will be going up from tn,
house 10 Towerbridge in the course a
the morning. Shall he inquire at III,
postoffice if there is any letter for yous'
assented to this, giving him the nam,
10 which answers were TO be addressed
VERY well, tina. is settled h. said
drawing a long breath and rising IL hi
feet. Let us walk. There is somethin,
else | want 20 say 70 YOU You tolC
uc you had found some sor. of treasur
II those caves. What do you value
atse