Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-08-04
CHAPTER XII.

After that interview with her hucband,
which in her own mind meant inalty,
Mildred Greswold's strength succumbed
suddenly, and for more than a week she
remained in a state Of health for which
Miss Fausset's doctor could find no name
more specific than low fever. She was
not very feverish, he told her aunt. The
pulse was rapid and intermittent, but the
temperature was not much above the nor
NAL limit. She was very weak and low,
and she wanted care. ave must watch
her." he said gravely. "She must not
be allowed to so into decline"
Miss Fausset looked alarmed at this,
but her doctor, an acquaintance of fifteen
years, assured her that there was no cause
for alarm; there vas only need of care
and watchfulness.
"Her mother died at six-and-thirty,"
said Miss Fausset-'faded away gradu-
ally without any ostensible disease. Ny
brother did everything that care and fore
thought could do, but he could not save
her"
Mrs. Greswold must not be allowed 10
fsde away" replied the doctor, with an
air of being infallible.
Mildred found that Pamela and Mr.
Castellani had seen great deal of each
other during her illness. They had sung
and played together, they had walked on
the cliff--in sight of the drawing room
windows the whole time Pamela explain
ed and with Miss Faussst's severe eye
upon them.
Mildred saw thae the case was hope
less, and she began 70 think seriously about
s1.,l r. -
impetuous grl, her husbands niece. eager
to cast in her lot with man who was
obviously an adventurer. living sumptu,
ously with hardly any OBVIOUS means. and
who might be a scoundrel. His advent
had begun the misery of her life. Had
she never seen him she never might have
known this great sorrow. His presence
was a constant source OF irritation, tempt
ing her TO questioning that might lead to
further misery. Fay's image had been
constantly in her mind of late. She had
brooded over that welded life of which
she knew nothing-ovsr that early death
which for her was shrouded in mystery.
And he could tell me so much. per-
haps," she said TO herself one evening.
sitting by the fire In the inner room. while
Castellani played in the distance yonder
between the tall windows that let in the
gray eastern light.
Her death Was infinitely sad"
Those were the words which he had
spoken of George Gre<wold's first wife.
OF Fay. her Fay. the one warm love of
her childish years. the love that had stay
cd with her so long after its object had
vanished from her life. That there was
something underlying those words. some
secret which might add new bitterness
TO her sorrow, was the doubt that tor
tured Mildred
Mr.. Castellani had behaved admirably
since her convalescence. lie had asked
no questions about her husband. had tax
en- her presence and Pamela's for granted.
never limiting q curiosity about this sud
cen change of quarters. Mildred thought
that her aunt had told him something
about her separation from her husband.
II was hardly possible thai she could have
withheld all information. seeing the Ia
w.iiar-t terms upon which those two were /;
and II might Be, therefore. that bis discre-
ton was the result Of knowledge
She spoke to Miss Fausset Of Pamela.
II am afraid that she admires MI.
Castellanis
why should she not admire hinF
but / suspect she Is IL danger OF fall'
ing In love with him"
Lat her Fall in love 'Fith him-lss her