Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-11-26
Through a
WOr11an'S Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.
BY Sidney Warwick.
CHAPTER discontinued.

~ uON-Ju0 sui VI Olu JdIIlSS LdCAOuA
mill owner of Fellsgarth. Seen in the
daylight, there was a suggestion OF
strength about the rather boyish face,
a lazy good humor in the gray eyes,
that made good looks a superf1u1ty.
Only tonight, as he strobe along by
the girls side, there were little
frOwning wrinkles in his face.
''Oh, we'll, you haven't been near
us for weeks; Stephen was speaking
of it only to-day. What else could
/ think?"
81 came last night-as far as the
rectory door, that is" he responded.
"Only Through the window l saw that
fellow Hume Sol walked back
again to Fellsgarth."
Wasn't that rather a foolish thing
to do after coming so far?' with a
rather provoking GOODNESS in her
voice.
Perhaps" young Lathom said, curt
ly. Anyway, I should probably do
the same again. I don't like Hume. .
They turned down a short cut from
the church to the rectory, a lane over
hung by trees, their leafess, wind
swept branches a tangle of frosted sill
yer where the misty moonlight
touched them. In the dim light he
caught the white CLEAN of her face,
the soft curve of her cheek against
the dusk, the mouth clear-cut for ten
derness or scorn. Once as she STUN
bled on the frosty road he put out
his hand quickly to take her arm, but
the Girl drew herself away with lit
tie nervous laugh.
I've been away from home for a
week or two; I only returned yester-
day. The night before I left l came
over here-only you and your brother
were dining at Hume's place. l met
his uncle. Bonholt Hume, who told
me. He also told me something else"
Jack Lathom paused, as if he eX-
pected her to evince curiosity. If so,
he was disappointed,
81 am sorry if you object to our
friendship with Mr.. Hume" she said,
biting her lip and looking straight
before her. Her tones were cold.
Am I to understand you threaten to
deprive us of yours in consequence?
You have quite a stand-and-deliver air.
as though you were putting moral
pistol to my head"
He left the question unanswered.
IF kept away before that, you
know why" he said. You know how,
in nv disagreement with my father,
your brother sided with him and
seemed to think the worst of me"
You are not fair to Stephen Hilda
cried. quickly. HE thinks as I too
think-and surely such old friendship
as ours gives US a right to speak
that your fathers wishes are only rea-
sOnable."
Il didn't come to speak about that
now: and, Hilda, you know I should
never resent anything you might say
You couldn't be anything but kind
Only YOUR brother seemed to treat me
as if I were still a schoolboy, as IL
he were still my tutor"
And perhaps, on your side, you
were a little bit hot tempered, jack
Yes, | expect I was q bit hasty,'
he conceded, only, you see, a garbled
version of things had been told to
him and to my father. Oh, / know
I've been a careless fool and frlttered
awav chances, that all your brother
saws on that score is true enough. But
when you spoke of other things-of
certain misrepresentation that l
know had been deliberately soWn to
reach my fathers ears to injure me-
! lost my temper. Your brother ac-
cepted my word at once, but was
angry tina the needed my denial I'm
not a BLACKBOARD, anyway
She glanced at him quickly. Il
should not have needed your denial,
Jack" Hilda cried, impulsiVely III
had heard the garbled stories you
speak of. know you too we'll TO nave
believed them
THANK you for saying that" He
nausea; then, "Hilda. you spoke or
our old friendship just now; because
Of that old friendship | want to say
something coming between us. some
thing more than this disagreement
with nv father. You haven't been
inst the same. And it was that feel
ing that stopped me from coming III
last night when I saw that fellow
Hume sitting there"
She frowned impatiently.
You are talking nonsense" She
smoke very distinctly, very coldly.
"Hilda though I can't prove it, I
am sure I have Mr.. Philip Hume to
thank for the garbled stories set in
circulation about me to reach my
fathers ears
MIR. Hume? Oh, you are wrong
YOU must be wrong!" she cried.
He shrugged his shoulders.
81 suDpOse it's natural you shouldn't
believe it. Humes always at the rec
tory nowadays, isn't he?" Lathom
could not keep the bitterness out of
his voice.
HE is Stephens friend. Why
should he not come here?' she
flashed out.
'Why not, indeed, since common re-
mort says you are going to marry him
Even his uncle limited at it,
They paused at the end of the lane;
the rectory gate was little more than
a dozen yards away. Without a word
the girl turned as if to walk away. He
seized her arm.
"Hilda, is it true?" His tones were
harsh, unlike his usual pleasant voice.
Are you going to marry Philip
Hume?'
srMhat right have Won to aSk? she