Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-11-17

things, Miss Shefford; you know what
mean. The marriage is fixed. Rourk e
and she arranged it this evening. Not
quite seven weeks from now: it win soon
be here, won't 1t, Miss Sheford?'
TOO soon for US, dear. For Rourke
and Una not at all too soon, suppose"
Not at all too soon,' echoed the girl,
softly. Il was very glad-very glad Miss
Sheford."
Glad yet you have always shrunk
from the subject, and said that when you
should lose Una you should"
But | think differently now" inter
rupted Lorraine; Il am glad. Would not
be naturally glad for Una's sake? And,
as | said, Miss Shefford, we've been TALK
ing about it; | told her / was glad then
Il hope she understood me-"
She would, of course. But you have
talked so long, dear, that you ought to
be in bed now, especially as you have a
journey to take tomorrow"
1T is about that journey l want to
speak to you, Miss Sheac-i. I want to
go from home somewhere for a little time,
and l want you to make it smooth for me
to co. not to let papa forbid me at the
Aocl LhOHCAA, anu HOt " icI y ouOpCNt-
be surprise,i, l mean-and insist on going
with me, or--or think it odd that should
go and only take JOAN"
well, we will talk to Una about it
to- morrow" said the old lady soothingly.
Miss Shefford," the girl pleaded, with
a gasp, please don't ask Una; please
don't give her the opportunity of prevent
ing it; please tell her you think it best
for me to go; and that she-she must
go home with papa and Mr.. Lucas and
Mr. Trenham."
But it would seem more natural for
her to 60"
Then l could not go at all, said Lor-
raine una must not leave Rourke now,
when he has only been few weeks in
England, though dare say she would not
make any trouble about it, because she
is SO kind and loving. Oh! Miss Shelf
ford, should so like everything disagree
able and dismal kept from Una just noGy."
Lorraine, my dear'-the old lady had
risen from her pillows and her arms
went softly out and clasped themselves
about the slight, chill form which leaned
beside her bed-'I will come | will take
you. / will require change and ask you
to come with me; now kiss me and go to
bed. my child / will arrange it all, and
we will go tomorrow to the sea-"
Such a truly grateful lingering kiss it
was which Lorraine gave in the darkness;
and so straight from her heart came the
few words of thanks.
Need she have taken this decision into
her own hands? Could she not have left
it to Rourke to tell Una what he would.
and left it to Una to act as she thought
best?
That was, in simple words, the doubt
which began to distress her now, and
was to distress her again and again
through the time to come; but it did not
visit her only in that simple form.
Miss Shefford and Lorraine had nct
been three weeks in Brighton wien
letter from Una decided them on return
ing home at once. A short, rather vague
letter it was, announcing the death of
Mrs. Trenham, of Hohve. in Rourke's abb
sence, and expressing Unas great wish
to have her sister and her old governess
with her now,
'We will go at once. We shall never
be in time for the first tram" But,
thanks to Lorraines deft fingers and fleet
stems as she guided Joan and helped Miss
Shefford the very first train to London
took their al three with it on their way
home.
Una, standing on the steps at Rupert's
Rest, welcomed them there as the hour
was slowly striking from the great turret
bell at Hohve.
Whose doing is that?" asked Lor-
raine, raising her head to listen.
Mr. Newley's. of course; he pays the
deepest respect for Mrs. Trenham's mem
ory."
"Oh ~ said Lorraine, uttering the word
with the keenest contempt of which her
young lips were capable. Then Mr..
Spencer need hardly trouble himself to
order a muffied peal from the church.
Where's Rourke?'
Not come yet" answered Una, regret
fully.
Not come? Was not the master sent
for in time"
HE did not come in time" returned
Una. with sadness.
''Then he was not sent for Newley
only pretended to telegraph or sent the
message to a roundabout address, or some
thing to serve his own mean ends. How
dare he?"
Lorraine. DEAR" put in Miss Sheford,
ryou should not censure in ignorance"
WAS it sudden death?" asked Lor-
raine with a change of voice, as she still
stood looking across at the battleme7ted
towers of Hohve,
mo: Mrs. Trenham had been failing
for some time"
Then / know that Newley had pur-
posely kept the illness concealed from
Rourke," cried the girl, the passion of
anger rushing back into her eyes. why,
he Is only in Scotland. He could have
been here any time in one day; and do
you suppose he would not? Did not he
tell us in London that he had good rea-
son to know his return was not wanted
until the two years for which he went
away had fully expired? Have not they
kept him away between them, and has it
not been beyond doubt for some wicked
purpose of that steward'sg"
Lorraine. how keenly you despise
him." said Una. looking astonished into
her sisters face; land without knowing
him. too. Is il quite justF'
Quite just" returned Lorraine, firmly
''Kut. at any rate. speak kindly of the
dead, dear"
Il can not. What killed her? / know
she was not poisoned by Newley. because
that would not have furthered his despica-
BILE plans"
Hush. Lorraine. don't say such things.
Mrs Trenhau has been an invalid as one
may say, for years. Ii was gradual de-
cay Of nature, DIR. Thorne says"
'NDr Thorne :" sneered Lorraine. What
Rad he to do with it? Where was Athol
Veref"
Il don't think Athol ever attended Mrs.
Trenham."
why not? His father was always
physician at Hohve: and if Rourke were
ILL"
ssOh he vould call in Athol of course"