Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-11-17
Hidden
Perils
BY MARY CECIL HAY
CHAPTER X.-fContinued. !

Farrisseys repertoire in old times, ard
which came more easily to her at such an
hour than those modern ones which she
had learned at Una's instigation. And,
through and below them all, her thoughts
went on their own hayward track, and
gave the music lit might be- truer in
depreciation than hundred lessons could
have done.
Lost, lost is my quiet for ever;
Since Henry has left me to mourn;
To forget him, how vain my endeavor,
Alas ! will he never return?
All well-a-day, well-a-day!
All! well-a-day!"
So she was singing, when, into the
light beside her, a tall dim form came
with leisurely, soundless steps.
Lorraine" said Rourke, leaning on
the piano opposite her, and gazing at her
with sad intentness, you have told me
falsehood after falsehood. What purpose
have they seryed?'
oh this" said Lorraine, forgetting
even to misunderstood him, as she drop
ped her hands into her lap; this is an
old song which I've spent hours and hours
In practicing You don't suppose | could
spend that dms over many things, and
i must if ! pretend to sing at all. You
would not have sing this to people? 2"
You think" he said, with still the
treacherous calm in face and tone, that
i shall like you less if you can not give
me one pleasure which Una does. The
falsehoods were all useless, for, without
a touch of your fingers or note of your
voice. you can give me pleasure greater
than any music in the world could give"
Have you ever heard my Aeoian
harpY asked Lorraine, rising from the
music stool her face was pale as death,
with unutterable pain. II will place it
now, if you like to listen for minute"
Wait" Ii was not his tone which
stayed her, but the touch of his eager fin
gers through her thin sleeve. wait and
listen to me once-once, if never again.
Tell me what | am to do in this great
trouble. Oh child, beloved against my
will, against my honor, must it be always
this misery, or-Y
''Why did you come up here?' cried the
girl shrinking from him and covering
with both hands now-the lovely, truth
telling eyes Una is in the drawing
room. Go there You have no business
TO come here This is my room, only
NINE | sit alone here; II like to sit
alone here
1t was well to cover her eyes while he
searched them so.
Lorraine, is that truth, or another
falsehood: For l never know, when |
have only your voice to guide me. OF
course, this is your room; l know it, or
| should not have been here now. But
you said. very little time ago, that you
hated the memories that it brought when
YOU were here alone. Are even those bet
ter to you than having me here?"
Yes"
So cool the word was; so cruelty true
sounding.
Then will CO." He made a step or
two toward the door, but turned again.
moved by something stronger than his
will.
Lorraine is there no hope for me?
NV darling, beloved beyond all words,
look into my face a moment and see how
fearfully l am in earnest"
She was looking at him, for he obliged
her to do SO and her eyes, for all their
trying, had a yearning in their depths
almost like him.
Others have seen you in earnest too"
she said, very coldly Il mean others have
seen you really in earnest. Let me go.
I do not care for this idle play"
Really in earnestf" repeated Rourke,
pressing almost savagely the hands he
held Il tell you'll will tell you a hum
dred times and swear it-that l never"
Never intended to insult me when you
came up here" interrupted the girl, with
simple gravity; Il will believe that. We
are to be brother and sister; why should
we hurt and estrange each other now
with thoughtless, senseleSs words? Come
down to Mr. Lucas and Una, and papa
Miss Shefford is out"
Tonight" Rourke said, with intense
ouietness, as he dropped her hands, IL
shall tell Una all the TRUTH
''Rourke-oh Rourke," the cry came
from the girls lips in a sharp whisper
which frightened him. though he could not
measvre its acute and passionate pain
"you will never, never do that. Would
Won kill her? Would you break her low
Ing, trusting heart? oh, Una, my darling
our fathers darling. your chosen wife,
would you wreck her happiness? What
is mine worth beside hers? She is frail
and delicate. and am strong. She has
been guarded and petted all her life;
am used to neglect and GOODNESS. She has
always had happiness and love about her.
IL am not used TO it at all. IL
thought she was TO suffer"
'sThen," he said, and for a moment
both his hands were tight upon his head.
"implore Una to let i be at once, or
or let us wait a year. and l will go away
again; or, oh Lorraine. what shall it
be-"
ave need not decide that tonight.
Rourke." And now she offered him her
hand of her own free will. LET us go
dov rstairs."
1T shall sill be decided tonight" he
said. tonight before l so away again"
1t seemed an understood thing that all
who met at dinner that evening were to
90 TO the country in company on the NOR
row. Even Mr. Lucas had consented TO
run down to Rupert's Rest for few
days change.
That was ar unusually merry night at
Hampton House. and Lorraine caught
herself wondering how and why il was so.
Rourke's random gayety astonished Una
now and then. but hardly for more than
minute at a time Like every other mood.
il sat so closely upon him while il lasted
that she had lost the transient feeling Of
bewilderment almost as soon as it was
conceived Even 10 Lorraine his excite
ment seemed only a very little unusual
Lorraine was gay, too. in a quaint and
itful way, which WAS Characteristic of
her when moved at all. and was probably
the result of the training of her child
hood. when she had TO battle in secret
with all lis cares. and was keenly made to
feel that what TO her was so heavy WAS
to others tride-a feeling bitter TO
child as any can be TO US in after life. and
With only mothers care can quite pre-
vent.
Miss Sheford had not dropped into her
Sha nod Late ar