Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-06-16
CHAPTER I

bdlu me ldOy, WIN Silgnt pettlShne8S
in the tone of voice that was naturally
sweet
How can she bore us, love? She Is
only o child, and you can do what you
like with her." said the gentleman.
My dear John, you nave just admit
ted that she is between thirteen and four
teen-a great deal more than a child
great, overgrc IN girl, who will want to
be taken about in the carriage. and to
come down to the drawing room, and who
viii be always in the way. Had she been
q child Of Mildred's age, and ap layfel-
low for Mildred, l should not have OBJ
jected half SO much"
I'm very sorry you object but have
no doubt she will be a playfellow for Mil
dred all the same, and that she will not
mind spending good deal of her life in
the school room"
The scene was large old-fashioned
drawing room, in an old-fashioned street
In the very best quarter of London. The
lady was sitting az her own particular
table, in her favorite window, in the
summer cleaning; the gentleman was
standing with his back to the velvet
draped mantelpiece. The room was full
OF flowers and prettiness of every kind
and offered unmistakable evidence of ar
tistic taste and large means in its pos
SCISSORS. wye e-
FIhe lady was young and fair, tall
slip Of a woman. The gentleman was
middle-aged and stout, with strongly
marked features and a resolute, straight
forward expression. The lady was the
daughter of an Irish peer; the gentle
man was a commoner, whose fortune had
been made in great wholesale firm, with
its mandatory at Lyons, bgt with which
John Fausset had no long9f any eoDnec..
ton. He had taken his capital out Of
the business, and had cleaned himself
: from the stain of commercial dealings be-
fore he married the Honorable Maud
Donfrey, third daughter of Lord Castle
Cornell,
She wore loose cream-colored gown,
of softest silk and Indian embroidery, and
there were diamond stars trembling
among her feathery golden hair. The
flowing garment in which she had dined
alone wish her husband was TO be chang
ed presently for white satin and old Mech
lin lace, in which she was to appear at
time having for once in a way dined at
home, she considered her mode of life in
tensely domestic.
The 7-year-old daughter was roaming
about with her doll, sometimes in one
drawing room, sometimes in another. To
stop az after o o'clock was an unwonted
Joy for Mildred, who went to bed ordi-
narily at Z.
rs there no one else who could take
herr" asked Mrs. Fausset
'There is really no one else upon whom
the poor child has any claim"
Cannot she remain at school? You
could pay for her schooling. of course.
should not mind that"
This was generous in a lady who had
brought her husband a nominal FIVE thou
sand pounds, and who spent his mopav as
freely as if it had been water
''She cannot remain at school. She is
a kind Of girl who cannot get on at
school. She leeds home influences"
~ gu mean that she is a horrid rebel
lious g;rl who has been expelled from a
school, and whom l am to take because
nobody else will have her."
S"Let the little girl come, mother"
pleaded Mildred, elambering Oh to her
mothers knee.
She had been sitting with her head
bent over her doll, and her hair falling
forward over her face like golden rain
for the last ten minutes. Mrs. Fausset
had no suspicion that the child had been
listening, and this sudden appeal was
startling to the last degree.
s,ANtS1np, hos s,,okan fror, ,,e IL ut,e.,.
rosy lips" said Fausset. coming over to
the window and STOPPING to kiss his child.
They met again at luncheon, and talk
ed of their previous nights experiences,
and of Indifferent matters. Not a word
about the expected presence which was
so soon TO disturb their domestic calm
Mr.. Fausset affected cheerfulness, yet
was evidently out of spirits. He looked
round the picturesque old oak dining room
wistfully: he strolled into the inner room,
with its dwarf bookcases,s pictures and
bronzes, its coy corner behind a six
fold Indian screen. He surveyed this
temple of domestic peace. and wondered
within himself whether it would be quite
as peaceful when new presence was
among them.
Surely girl of fourteen can make
no difference" he argued. even If she
has a peculiar temper. If she is inclin-
ed to be troublesome. she shall be made
to keep herself to herself Maud shall
net Be Isldered unhappy by her"
lie Weht 5al Son after lunch. and
came ho3s egain st lftssn}Gn tea tims
with girl in block iEock. She Vas
tall toz her Age, aad very Tia and her
small face had p'ests1 losxs which
made tie great b,sST ewes, look larger.
shs WAS a cecSAsSs looking girl. with an
olive tint In ssE complexion which limited
at linessS hot altogether English. She
vas hsdls dressed in the best materials,
and hS6 look of never having been
mncA cared for since she was born.
Tbs IS Fay said Mr.. Fausset, try
50 10 be cheerful
!. Ills wife held out her hand. wAica ms
girl took oddly. but not shyly. She hat
an air of being perfectly self-eesSessed
Her name is Fay, is its What 4
pretty namel By the bye. yea die MOI
tell me her surname"
"Did / nots Her nanae II Faasset
She is a distant relation 81 sny family
Il did not understand Dat last night,
said Mrs. FausSet. vssA poxz.ed air
"You only talked of friend"
WAS that so? 1 should have said
family connection. Yes. Fay and ] an
uamesakes. and k7adrea.
He patted the girls shoulder cares
inslv and made her sit down by the III
= lie red table in fro1t OF the teacups an
cakes and buxs. The buns reEainded bur
of ms daughtea.
Where Is Mildreds"
'.She Is AZ her music lesson; OUT 50
viii be here in minute or two'
doubt" answered his wife.
Poor LITTLE mite. 10 have 70 eeSl
lessons 50 soon: the chubby little hnger
stuck down npon the cold. hard keys. IN
plane Is 50 uninviting at seven year
eiaS xucl. = world Of .abor for sacn