Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-05-26
CHAPTER xIx.-fContinued.l

she, 1 am ready TO near you. VIII YOU
come this way? 1t is very quiet in the
garden. Welli'' demands she. facing him.
She feels quite safe and full of courage.
Some instinct tells her that Hilary, who
had so reluctantly obeyed her wish, is
still somewhere near.
Well repeats he. as it we'll for
sou? You think you are going to marry
ths- fellow, Adare. You still think he
will prove true to you, when be knows
that if he does marry you, his uncle will
iisinherit him?"
Il don't think it." says she, in clear,
Intense voice. Il know it."
Il defy you to know it," his breath
coming more quickly. Until tonight,
although | have warned him of it, Sir
Lucien never quite believed that his
nephew'-with a contemptuous intona-
ton" condescended TO admire you %
Still, / know it" repeats she. coldly.
And as for Captain Adare's not know
ing that his uncle would probably dis
inherit him il he married me. l told him
so myself. But need not have done so :;
ne had quite made up his mind about it"
All" furiously, then you have prom
ised to marry him?"
No Even in this dim light he can
see the sad and grievous expression that
clouds her face Il have refused him"
Refused him y Deane stands back
from her, amazed, incredulous. This is
trick" cries he violently.
Cannot you see." cries she, turning
upon him in a passion of pain and grief,
that l could not marry him? love
him." She presses her hands as if in
pain upon her breast. II love him: but
with this stain upon my fathers memory.
l shall never marry him."
''You mean" persistently. ''that if
those jewels are never found you will not
marry Adare."
Yes, / have told him So" she signs
heavily. Deane breaks into a sudden in
solent laugh and then as suddenly grows
silent. Something in the very calm of
Amber's manner has at last convinced
him that any hope he has entertained of
making her his is at an end. But he
can, at all events, prevent her from ever
being Adare's. The day after tomorrow
he will leave; and, catching the boat on
Thursday next, be out of the country
before Sir Lucien is even aware of his
having left the Mill House. And. even
if pursued, what chance of convicting him
of having anything to do personally with
those stones? A man of quick resolves,
he now makes up his mind in an instant
on matter that might have taken other
men many an hour to decide upon.
mot him or any other man." says she
sI0u,ly Iou0h Of his opUaro1 hor
There had been distrust of Adare in it.
THAT lies in the future" retorts he.
"As for me. l have not mentioned it be-
fore, but Esther and l start for Austria
liza shortly. This is a secret | know l
can trust you with. 1t lies with you now
to either come with US or stay here
here, where you are treated with con-
tempt and despised, and where. if you
are in earnest about your refusal to mar
ry Adare until your fathers memory is
cleared, you will find yourself deserted
and alone. For"-with a strange glance,
menacing, yet appealing will new
err happen Those jewels Sir Lucien has
set his soul upon will never fall into his
hands p
you only convince me that you know
something of them," says she in low
clear tone. ~ feel it is useless to appeal
to you. but hear me If you do know
where those jewels are l swear | will not
marry Hilary, or any man-that will
die unmarried-if only you will clear my
fathers name Is that not bride enough?'
"Hah you have come SO far as that,
says he. "Well you must go farther.
Swear you will marry me, and"
She turns abruptly away. as if despis-
ing him too much 10 answer.
"Just as you WILL" he mutters sullen-
ly. However, a last word. If at any
hour you elect to come out to us-and
| believe Adare will fling you aside when
he knows positively what his marriage
with you will mean to him-then, you
will receive from me a cordial welcome.
Bear that in mind. my girl. 1t is worth
thought! And-another thing-if you
agree to cast in your lot with US. you
need not think that it must necessarily
lead to marriage with me. No! His
strange. wild face looks tragcally, hon
estly earnest at that moment. You
shall be free to choose betwixt me and
many another to"
You have not left me free this time"
saws she with faint smile. "But if you
are really going. Brian, good-by. We are
not likely to meet again.
"You forget-you are coming home to-
morrow"
..No. I had not forgotten. But to-
night Madam asked me to go and stay
with her for a week, and"
"Ah." cries he iercely, with the fierce
ness, of acute mental agony. "You are
dwelling ON the thought that this is our
last meeting. You hope for that! But"
in a choking voice. 'it is not our last
meeting in spite of you, | shall see you
again
1T would not be in spite of me, Bril-
an" says she very softly and kindly.
touched by the certain misery of bis
whole air. II only thought it would be
for the best for you and me not to meet
again. But il you wish to bid me an
other, more open farewell, shall be glad
to see you at Madam's."
"Let that rest" says he roughly, max
ing q gesture as If pushing something
aside. what | want to know is, what
are you going to do when | am gone?
Madam" with a glance at her. will go
too And you! Are you going to live
alone in that old houser'
81 have lived alone the greater part OF
my life" Her voice is very sad and for
lorn. 81 shall not mind the loneliness.
have had no time to think Of ii yet; az
I had no idea Esther would 90 back with
you this time. But / am sure old Mrs.
Blake and her daughter-you know how
poor they are, and how respectable
would come up and take care of me and
the house They are quite nice people.
and will not trouble me at all, and
think il will be help to them. SO you
see." with a rather naughty. il distinctly
puzzled glance. you need not be at all
uneasy about me-"
CHAPTER Xxx.
I'VE are going up to the tower 10 see