Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-05-05

CHAPTER xIII.-foontinred.,

dead silence, whilst these two-the
young girl and the old man-face each
other resoiutely. The affected conyersa-
ton between Everard and Hilary has leng
ago fallen to the ground. May is look
ing little faint. Mr. McGrath by his
sisters efforts alone is prevented from
giving a loud and tremendous clap for
Amber A slow red flush has risen to Sir
Lucien's cheeks. His frown deepens, but
his eyes waver. They fall.
true we have not met until now"
This is a distinct come-down. II hear,
however, that, though you have not met
me, you have met some of my guests
SHE has met some of her cousins, :"
says Hilary, walking straight up to her
"Ah, so.' Sir 7.ucien gives him keen
glance. Yes, OF course her cousins /
have lso"-turning deliberately to her
had the pleasure'-with a sneer-"of
meeting some of your cousins. Mr.. Deane,
for example. I suppose l am too new a
friend with a curl of the lip--te con-
graduate your
Amber raises her large dark eyes to
his Her face has grown rigid-haughty.
At this moment, the strange, the almost
extraordinary likeness between them is so
plain, that it strikes everyone III the room.
i do not understand you"
mo? Have / been indiscreet? Mr.
Deane, however, informed me to-day that
he rs DESTROYS of marriage with you. That
in effect the marriage is arranged. was
glad to hear OF it. A most excellent ar
rangement IN my opinion. He is, I IN
derstand, very well-to-do in Australia"
He smiles languidly, and glanoes at
Hilary, who is gazing at Amber with
compressed lips and dilated nostrils. A
lie! A lie. Why can't she speaki
Brian may be well-to-do or the re
verse, for ali / know" says she at last
very quietly, absolutely indifferently in
deed; lit is nothing to me. II he were
the richest man on earth, should not
marry him. and / certainly am not en-
gagged to him"
And ] really think" breaks In May
with gentle indignation, that to speak
like this to Amber. just on her arrival"
She looks helplessly at Dolly.
"Barbarous says Mrs. Clarence,
promptly.
II see l have been little premature"
says Sir Lucien, smiling. He is abomn-
able when he smiles. Young ladies do
not like having their little sentimental
secrets wrested from them before the time.
But / still hoper-shaking his long white
hand before Amber's face and taking on
quite q jocund air-"that presently-7pres-
ently-when things are q little more for
ward, you will take me into your conf
dence," and he turns away, strolls
through the window on to the balcony and
90 70 the gardens below.
Don't mind him." says May eagerly,
throwing her arms round Amber's neck.
Amber has sunk down into the chair
tn which SIZE was sitting before Sir Lu-
cicn came. There is some lassitude in
her air.
HE has frightened you," says Mrs.
Clarence very kindly. Her kindness is ex-
traordinary, as she very seldom goes out
of her way 70 help anyone.
"Oh, no." says Amber, lifting her
charming chin so that they can all see
the delightful smile that gives extra
beauty to a face that hardly needs it.
Il am not afraid of him, Very softly
-''am not afraid of anyone"
Hilary, who is beside her, wonders if
she means Deane by that very emphatic
anyone
Dinner goes of very well considering
all things, chiefly perhaps because of the
fact that Sir Lucien seems too pre-occu-
pied with his thoughts to give him leis-
ure to act the sxeIetCn at the feast. or
to spread broadcast among them. as is
his charming wont, such flowers of cruel
satire, such touches of open venom, as
flow so easily from his bitter tongue.
He had come back fresh fropl last in
terview with Deane, to meet Amber in
his drawing room. This interview had
been momentous, and during it, Deane
had made the strangest proposal. SO
strange. that even now Sir I.ucien trifes
with the courses before him, rather than
partakes of them.
Up to to-day Deane had defed Sir Luz
Glen, had refused to give any information
about the missing jewels, had indeed
strenuously denied all knowledge of them,
but In so sneering, so insulting fashion
as to make Sir Lucien. who has a good
deal of brain. still believe that ne has
some information in his possession that.
should he get at 1t, would enable Sir
Lucien to lay his hand on them should
the fellow choose to speak.
Sir Lucien had gone far before to-day.
He had actually offered a bride to Deane.
But the storm of rage that followed upon
that proposal prevented him from ever
making another. He had even begun to
believe in the mans ignorance, when to-
day opened his eyes.
To-day the most marvellous thing had
occurred. Deane, instead of sneeringly
rejecting the idea of ever having seen or
heard of the missing gems. had confessed
stolidly, openly, that he could tell where
they were if Sir Lucien made ii worth his
while The condition was Amber The
girl was held up between the two men to
be bought and sold.
Amber once his wife-fiye nssnutes af-
ter the ceremony-the Jewels should lie
in Sir Luriens hands. Sir Lucien had
come home intoxicated with this hideous
bargain. The girl should be sold. What
was she in comparison with those price
less gems that meant fresh fortune to
his house? His brain was on Ere as he
sat down to dinner. To marry the girl
to Deane! Why il was a most simple
thing To marry her into her own low
set, as he called il.
A whisper. a mere breath Of Hilary's
admiration for Amber had come to him
chiefly through Deane. who had not, how
ever. spoken freely for many reasons. He
had directed all his attention TO Hilary
demeanor towards her during dinner. but
beyond that one impulsive step he had
taken in the drawing room, he saw moth
ing that would point TO attachment of any
sort. IL there had been anything. which
he doubted, 1t was mere young mans
fancy, bound 10 ga mere midsummer
msdness, nothing more--nothing more.
And the girl shall marry Deane.
Hilary's demeanor indeed dispels all
fears. He grows calmer as he looks at
him He has been watching him closely.
Hilary is not sitting beside Amber. and
hardly looks at der. Sir Lucien takes
special notice of this point
And il is true. TOO. Hilary does not
leok at Amber. Yet there Is somethin.y
about Adare--a touch of sudden gaiety-
Of unsupported happiness, a certain buoy