Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-04-14
CHAPTER VI

getting away from the others, goes
straight TO where, across the shaver ten
mis- courts. the slender figure is bending
over the bank.
After all, in spite of your unfriendly
wish, you see we have met again." says
he, in low tone.
She starts as one might who has been
suddenly Ioused from a dream filed with
the saddest import, and some light leaves
that she had been holding, drop with
little jerk into the stream and sail away
hurriedly, as if In desperate haste to get
to the end of all things. This momentary
sign of agitation is all she shows. Her
face is calm, if smileless, as she turns it
to him.
What a strange task you have allot-
ted YOURSELF" he goes on, pleasantly
land on such an important occasion, too !!
Casting leaves into a river Is this do
ing your duty to your neighbor? Is there,
then, no one here to whom you will deign
to speak"
There are only very few here" says
she, with a clear enunciation born of
great courage. and perhaps greater pride,
who would deign to notice me ~
What folly is this?" asks he, with a
frown. WHO is there here who would
dare"
''Ah, you forget" The pale pink of
her face grows paler. "All the county
knows of the loss of these jewels, that,
after my mother, should have come to Sir
Lucien. That knowledge has branded my
fathers name with infamy, and r.
spreading her hands a little abroad-"as
/ reminded you before, am my fathers
daughter"
This must be put an end to-"
1T is very difficult to put an end to
SANDERS" says the girl, gently, If bitter
ly. Many here believe in that stupid
lie"
But this is monstrous," says Adare
Il thought -ths-idea-th old
story-was confined to our family alone
A mere diseased fancy of Sir Lucien's
brain, as of late l have learned to re-
gard it, You mean to tell me that the
people-the idiots-round here hold you
responsible for"
"Oh no, you must not run away with
things. l really do not know what they
hold me responsible for; but | do know
that they will not receive me-"
yet you are here to-day?" He ques-
tions her gravely, anxiously; it would be
impossible to find fault with him.
Madam is a sort of cousin of mine.
you know, as she is cousin of yours,
too. Let us say she has a more liberal
spirit than most. The very fact of her
being connected with Inc should have
initiated against her being attentive to
me- don't know why l accepted her
invitation, why | came here to-day. The
moment | answered it | regretted SO mad
a step. But Madam insisted on it."
Then she-Y
"She is the one kind friend have
on EARTH" says Amber. her earnest eyes
on his Adare is conscious of a shock
of surprise. That big, awful, ungainly,
inQuisitive creature, to pose as protector
to this desolate little thing--sureiy hui
man nature is strange to the verge of
comedy. Anyway, Hilary tells mself
he will never forget Madam's kindn ess to
this poor little cousin of his
"It's abominable," says he. 'I'll take
care II shan't continue. I'I"-in his We
hemence, his rage, his pain he goes
little too far-"make the old man ac-
knowledge you"
She winces slightly; then with flash !:
There is no acknowledgment to be
made am his niece, quite as much as
you are his nephew. He can't lie about
that"
II know know hastily, seeing his
mistake. but this scandal That can
be put an end to by his receiving you"
"Oh dont!" cries she. fercely-if in
very low tone. Her face has lost all
its color. you mean to be kind know
you do but every word--it hurts so oh
can't you see that l will not be received
as favor by the man who has made my
fathers name byword in the county?"
81 can see. indeed. But look here,
Amber; sit down here for a moment"
pointing to the grassy bank, "and let us
talk 1t over. None of us, you know,
can afford to defy fate. We are almost
strangers, and / feel / have no right to
dictate to you line for this or that; but
in spite of what / say, l implore you
for your own good-yours only-to &C
cept any olive branch that Sir Lucien
may hold out TO you"
"I beg you will take no trouble of any
sort about me- She rises. Her face
is clouded, and her beautiful lips show
sense of great resentment. 1T would
be the merest waste of time. / should
never accept apology, or hospitality of
any sort, from the man who. SO cruelty
and openly, maligned my father"
You are sure be did so openly?"
"Quite sure"
And your motherY
"She was spared. though the Jewels
were always in her possession, not in my
fathers. But. them" with curl Of her
lip. my mother CHANGED TO be Sir Lu-
ciso's sister, and of course no suspicion of
disgrace could be allowed 70 touch her !"
as that so bad sentiment. after an?"
says Adare, purposely ignoring her real
meaning-the selfish regard of Sir Lucien
for his own responsibility "She was his
sister. OF course he would protec: her:
that is the meaning of kinship. DO you
think, to take another case, thar finding
you now TO be my cousin, / wouli not
protect your
Is there touch of passion in his zone!
For a moment they stand looking into
each others eyes. and then, slowly, Am
Der gives way; her glance falls from his
face to his shoulder, and then to the
ground.
II must 90 back to Esther" she saws.
quietly, taking step forward. that shows
him even more than her words that she Is
bent on leaving him.
Miss Deane is here?"
Yes, she is over there
Adare glances in the direction indi-
Gated, and looks hard at small. fragile
woman sitting on garden chair. She
looks entirely harmless, but second
thought conveys to him the impression
that she could be obstinate. or firm. or
determined; there are so many terms for
it Certainly her chin, short and upturn-
ed, looks a little unscrupulous. His glance
wanders idly from Miss Desne to the
man standing next to her. 1t is Deane
That strange, unpleasant fellow whom
Sir Lucien win persist in believing is in
league with the purloiner of those abom-
Unable and troublesome lost stones.
ssGood-hy," says Amber; my cousin. I