Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-12-15
Hidden
Perils
CHAPTER xvu.-fContinued. i,
By MARY CECIL HAY
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matter-given our love to Lorraine Cav
eston. We both dream-perhaps madly,
as you said to-night-of a possible flu
ture when we may call her wife. We
neither of us could prevent this love grow
ing in our hearts, so how can we blame
each other? If she chooses you, | shall
know that she never would have been
quite happy with me. If | were TO win
her, | suppose you would feel the same"
Never | shouldn't 1t is best not to
think what l might do; l should be
selfish coward, any way. Athol, old fell
low, | often wonder how you Jan bear
to have me near you-knowing how l
try to win the girl you love, and have
loved for so many years. All. | remem-
Der It; the story you told me on that
evening l returned to England-before l
saw her. Our words often come back to
me now. | was glad you loved her then;
| said it would seem as if you married
my own sister. Sometimes, We're, | try
to go back and feel so again but / never
can. We're, why don't you answer" he
added, after his pause of restless silence.
No words you could utter would be so
full of hopelessness as silence is. Tell
Will that bill pass? Athol, you know
you remember-that, last year, the ma
jority against it was nearly thirty less
than il had been the year before. There
will be surely just such a decrease again
this sitting"
Yes, there may be- Athol said his
answer very quietly following the eager
question.
THE law that prohibits marriage with
a deceased wife's sister is a monstrous
and iniqutous law" said Rourke, with
suppressed passion. 1T cannot stand as
it is"
No answer from Athol.
Il have bothered you to death, | know,
Athol, and what have we proved"
Just what we had no need to prove
at all" said DR.. We're, with his pleasant
smile, that, however we may think diff
ferently on one point, we are true friends
always"
True friends always repeated Tren-
ham; "and let us promise that whether
/ mean. in any case, nothing shall break
that friendship. Athol, old fellow" he
added, little brokenly, you will never
take that from me as all-good things
have been taken"
Our friendship can never end but with
death-if then" said Atho, with steady
esrnestness.
Thank you. Now shall we go?"
At breakfast time next morning Win
terfed was crowded with Trenham's con-
stituents, and the meal was taken in a
great clamor and excitement.
Many times did Dr. We're glance in
wonder at his friend who seemed so
light-hearted and so confident of success.
81 must go now" said Atiol. speaking
low to him before the breakfast was over !;
II ought to be at the ln6rmary this mo-
ment. ] shall soon see you in town."
Every soon. Don't desert me to-day"
Athol laughed. "My only fear is that
shall haunt the poll like lunatic," he
said.
And he did; for between the visits he
had to pay he always found himself rid
ing rapidly back to Alton, lowering about
the long wooden booth where Trenham's
name stood, and stopping eagerly and
proudly before the polling list
At three O'Clock he was obliged to at
tend an operation at the Infrmary. and
then the names stood as they had stood
all the morning, only the numbers had
altered
Trenham ................. 1,OI1
Newley ........ 1,04S
How are the votes?' asked a medical
student of him as he entered the hos
pital
"A majority of twenty-three for Tren-
ham,
That's right What a ferment the
town is in They say Trenham has just
walked across the square with an old
woman's arm round his neck"
"True enough" laughed DR.. We're.
"All the country seems to be in to-day
except Miss Gaveston. What a shame it
isl Her sisters husband, standing for
the county, and she not paying him the
compliment of coming in to see the cleo
ton, / suppose, being so pretty. she
thinks she may be whimsical.
Athol passed on without answering.
Only he could understand the feeling
which kept Lorraine at home and the
painful anxiety which was making this
day seem like year to her.
Four o'clock, and the polls closed.
Newley ...........-...... LII
Trenham ..s...-.......... los
Rolling along the crowded streets in
his great luxurious carriage. blue ribbons
fying from the heads of ais four gray
horses. blue ribbons flying from the
dresses of the ladies' who sat with him
went Horton Newley, NJ. p, bowling
bareheaded to the obsequious crowd.
AT the hotel door, waiting while Brent
brought round his 6ogcart. the defeated
candidate stood in the midst of another
crowd. listening with lazy indifference to
the scofing of the opposition beyond and
acknowledging with quiet courtesy the
sympathy of his friends, his eyes clear
and unshrinking. his tones even more
leisurely than their wont.
When Brent at last drove the bays up
through the crowd Trenham stood aside
while Mr.. Gaveston took his place in the
loscart, then slowly followed him. laugh
ing to che very last moment with the
gentlemen who stood around. Raising
his hat then with cool deliberate cour-
tesy, he took the reins from his servant
and easily and skigfully guided his horses
through the crush.
But when the long day was over, and
he was left alone at the farm, he sat
through the whole night upon his solitary
hearth, his head lying heavily back in his
clasped hands. and his face like the face
Of man smlttsn down upon the battle
Geld by a wound which he knows TO be
mortal.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Lucilla was still away from home when
DR.. We're returned to the Cottage. after
dining with Rourke Trenham. and when
she arrived she was in a state Of ire
prsssible excitement: her wrath against
the electors body making her eyes
fash. and her cheeks burn. until nature
asserted herself through Art. But next
morning some other memory held sway,
and gave her certain suppressed delight
which Athol was too much engrossed TO
detect.
"Lucills. would voc mind putting
-, Il Aa 81