Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-03-24
CHAPTER II.

There is a pause Everyone looks as if
in search of something once known. but
forgotten for years and years Hilary
alone smiles.
II declare l had forgotten all about
her" cries Nay, growing suddenly excit-
ed. But now / remember she is our
cousin-our first cousin, isn't she, Hilary ?
Her mother was our aunt-Uncle Lucien's
sister! Yet imagine" spreading her pref
ty hands abroad for a mere charming sec
ond. I'VE have none of US ever yet seen
her. Have you, Hilary? No? Then
where was she when last we were all
here?"
Where you ought to have benin the
school ROOM" returns her brother, laugh
ing.
You are wrong" says Mrs Clarence.
"She was in Paris with that precious
mother of hers"
rs she there still?" asks Everard
ooh. no! she is here now, as 1 tell
you. Has been here indeed for some
time: ever since her mothers death, which
took place about six years ago. She is
living in an old house seven miles from
this, with soma relations of her fathe
called Deane."
Fancy that" says Mary. Isn't it
ridiculous that one can't see her? Ones
own cousin, and only seven miles away ~
In great old rambling house." goes
on Hilary, taking up, Dolly Clarence's
revelations He has not as yet, however,
seen the house~of the unknown tousin.
a regular barracks of a place, I'm told /:
huge, empty; and with a dilapidated mill
at the emo &c the lawn, or somewhere"
Her father used to work it," says
Gilbert Grey "at least so l am told"
Her grandfather corrects Mrs. Clar-
ence Thank heaven they are neither
of them alive now. l suppose in a way,
they would be relations-of sort-too."
"A miller" puts in May a little dis
painfully.
'Well. yes and no. says her brother.
IF you sllude to her father, hardly that,
in the usual acceptation of the term, as
believe though be still made pretence
trievable ruin. He was a decent enough
sort Of fellow l have heard-connected
not so badly either on his mothers side
but not quite-you know" with & com
prehensive nod all round. "A bookworm,
too, which Is fatal IL one is not-exactly
you see! :"
PITY Sir Lucien won't recognize her"
says Gilbert Grey. who has a good heart
II very jealous one.
PITY he should recognize her now, /"
puts In Captain Adsre with a shrug. "If
be had recognized her long ago, some
thing might have been made Of her, but
now-she must be child of the son in
deed"
"A little touch of injustice somewhere. I"
suggests Eyerard with q pensive express
sion. II brings smile to the lips of
Ms. Clarence She knows him When
had he ever done justice 10 anyone?
"Well, I agree with Hilary" says
May in her little rushy way. AN inn
possible, vulgar, countryfed girl by this
time How is she to be accepted? Oh y
-impatiently. How could Uncle Id
cien's sister have married 50 drea6fully y
1--WE Just been telling you 1t wasn't
so bad as all that" says her brother.
HE was a miller certainly, 50 was his
father and grandfather. and great-grand-
father. believe, before him; and really
nowadays If one can show up three gen
erations one ought to get the Victoria
Cross. What the girl is like Is the cues
ton. Run wild. shouldn't wonder. The
old mill is standing still, | hear"
Very still" says Everard, with a
laugh. at was in the last stage OF de-
cay when we were here-how many years
agoy" turning to Mrs, Clarence, who
gives him a glance in return that makes
him laugh inwardly. We'll, when we
were here yesterday"
But what has all this got to do with
our mysterious cousing" asks Mr.. Nc
Grath. who has been weaving all the silk
en- things in the room into q sort of lasso