Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-01-07
A CROWN OF FAITH
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cHAPTER vI1I.-fcontInued.l

velvet and oriental pearls, watching the
dancers, her black eyes flashing fire, her
fhin lips smiling, her proud nostrils di-
batting. Arthur Calthorpe hung over Ella.
Mamma will not let me waltz" said
the heiress.
'Then will you excuse me if | run
aSay?" rejoined the heir. "See-there is
bliss Pritchard, the lady principal Of St
Martha's College, with thirteen of her pu-
piis and teachers, and some Of them are
deplorabIy shy"
Go, gop' cried Ella; lone OF them
mas nothing deplorable at all about her,
i mean that stately creature who has
chosen to wear dress Of black lace over
a paIe-primrose skirt. She is covered up
close TO the throat; she wears no orna-
nnent but a gold necklace and cross; she
fs like Spanish princess; she is very
handsome"
Five minutes afterward, Arthur Cal
thorpe, heir to the earldon of Beryl, was
whirIing round in the waltz with Leila
Leigh, under teacher at ST. Martha's Col
fsge for Ladies' The blind, blue-eyed
young man, the stately, dark-eyed girl,
booked into one another's 70 ces and read
volumes but it might be that those vol
u1nes were in an unknown tongue. They
paused, painting, In a little anteroom-a
costly gem of a chamber, where light re-
freshments were laid out daintily on an
iulaid table.
Arthur was handing Leila jelly, when
there entered a woman. She was young,
noe more than twenty. She wore black
a plain dress, made high to the throat,
with linen collar and cuffs Her light
bg'ewn hair was disordered and rough.
Her face was neither pretty nor plain,
end her blue eyes were sinister and cruel.
Her complexion was fair naturally, but
sts paIlor at that moment was surely I'M
natural. Arthur Caltho pc dropped the
seiIy he was handing TO Leila; the glass
@vas shiver,sd.
II must speak to your she said impe-
TiOusly-''at once-out there in the Lau-
rel Walk "
And without a word of apology, Arthur
Calthorpe drew the curtains from before
French window and passed into the
garden. Leila Leigh sat there, indignant,
silent, wondering, and waiting. Arthur
did not return. After a while she re-en-
tered the ball room. The night wore on
heavily For her. Her interest in the ball
was suspended while Arthur was absent.
Presently she saw him standing in
doorway. She started, looked again. Ar
thur. aud not Arthur; like and unlike.
The same height. figure, build, complexion,
but different eyes, different mouth, differ
-ent expression. This young man was talk
lug to her own brother, Lionel Leigh,
Who soon crossed the room and spoke to
Leila
Leila. that gentleman is Mr.. Cal
fhorpe's twin brother. He has been away
for two or three years, and now he wishes
so speak to his brother. Where is hef
lie was seen with you last"
Leila rose up and led the way toward
the little ante-room. Her brother went
with her. He whom we have known as
Dick harrington followed. ami there was
a buzz of recognition among some of the
guests.
"He went through that window said
Celia
Lionel opened the window, and Ar
thurs twin brother passed out into the
garden. 1t was a frosty night, with
bright, blinking stars keen, piercing air.
Leila wrapped her head and neck in her
opera cloak, walked swiftly along the
gravel path, slipped, and fell. Then she
returned hastily to the anteroom. passed
into the blaze of light and uttered shrek
which brought the guests thronging into
abe little chamber.
Her satin skirt satin shoes. and fair
hands were stained with that deep-red
stain which tells of the ebbing of a hui
man life, Then it was remembered that
Arthur had been missed for some hours
The little anteroom filled so full that the
guests surged out into the frosty laurel
path.
Leila lay back, faintng; but there was
one face amid the throng which burned
itself terribly, mysteriously, and-tso it
seemed-without reason, into the con-
seriousness of Leila Leigh-the naughty,
white fearful face of Mrs. Wyeherly.
Lionel Leigh towering above the heads
OF the crowd, came on toward where his
sister lay on the little couch. He sat
down near her and took her hands into
his.
what has happened, Lionely'
~'Mr. Calthorpe is hurt"
GLOW? BY whom2 Where is he?"
''They have carried him round to the
other side cs 'he house. He is in one
of the drawing looms, and there are three
doctors at the ball. | am going to send
Or. Dundas; the other two are with
him"
is he much hurt?'
''Frightfully, l should say he must
die"
Leila shuddered. She closed her eyes.
and wondered In dreary way what use
her youth and her beauty would be to
her now No word Of love had passed
the lips Of the earl's heir, He had writ
ten her two little notes, aud begged her
acceptance Of two splendid bouquets; he
had taken of his hat when he met her
In the lanes; and now tonight he had
waltred with her. and looked at her with
eyes which spoke volumes.
Tell me how il hapaenedg" she said
Il went out through THAI French win
dow with Dick harrington. | thought
he had gone to the Laurel Walk. perhaps
-yoG sd he had gone ont that way. We
walked TO the end, sad harrington shout
I'D. called him FILTER r-which was his
nickname when they were boys-and
there was no answer. Then harrington
ran down the Shrubbery walk 4 know
every inch of the place. be said. l came
back toward the house. stumbled against
something in the path. found {, was
man. dragged It toward lighted window,
and saw thar il was Mr.. Calthorpe. quite
senSelcSS. and with the blood streaming
from a wound AT the back Of ms head"
THAT Barrjng;ouy cried Leila, "or
tho woman in black"
What woman"
~ young woman who came into the
room, and heckoned him out-a horrible
looking creature, sly and cruel. rather
pretty, 50 far IS fair skin and blonde
tresSes Eo.'
Il carried aim round to the drawing
room. and went in 70 and the doctors,
and then yoo ran out and slipped on h,e
gravel. where i was wet with the poor
fellows hl0od. and came in here and
serc&ased.
E.iaael Aarriesi OF and sought pr. Dun