Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-05-19
CHApTER XVII.

cir Luclen has elected to come late IN
his En private brougham, to Madam
O'F1aherty's hall, a decision that was
warmly encouraged by his nearest and
dearest. He has come very late indeed
when supper is we'll oz-but Madam, see
ing him, svoops down upon him instantly.
She is always beautifully unconscious of
the fact that he detests her, and has in
deed been often heard to say that she is
sorry she can't come oftener to see poor
Lucien."
$50 you've come. Better late than
never" cries she with all the loud bon
homie" THAI makes him late her. "Glad
Of it! Look here, there's old Lady Kill
Durn over there-see her?-in a brand
new white satin gown Go and ask her to
dance the next set of lancers. Do now !
It'll do you both good Oh, Amber, my
darling, here you are again, and looking
lovely-loyely. Your cheeks like lilies
blended with roses hope you are tax
ing care of Ter, Mr.. Everard?"
Il don't know" says Eyerard, who is
looking very distinguished, and extremely
quiet. "You must ask Miss O'Connell for
character for me-"
Amber, laying her hand on Madam's arm,
who lays her big fat one over the little
slender clinging fingers, and taps them
kindly, lovingly "Ohl !" with little sigh
of deepest content, Il feel so happy p
Come into the library-a rest will do
us both good" says Everard suddenly. A
well of feeling, such as he never known
before, has sprang up within his breast.
1t is the one pure passion of his life. This
child, so sure that all the world is good
so unsuspicious of evil, so ready to believe
in the sweetness, the goodness of life-so
ignorant of the evil
They move away, unconscious that
Madams eyes are following them. But
Madam's eyes are terrible things that
roam about here, there and everywhere,
seeking whom they may devour. Her dis
like to Mrs. Clearance is hardly stronger
feeling than that she entertains for Ever
ard. And to see that dear innocent
with him. We'll, anyway" says Madam
to herself with inward consolation, lit
will make Mrs. Know Nothing sit up a
bit !"
Turning, she finds serself face to face
with Mrs. KnowNothing, who is sitting
on lounge, with big fan and a general
air of almost insolent boredom.
Hope you are enjoying yourself says
Madam, with a malevolent smile and a
snort.
'Oh, immensely Immensely" responds
Dolly rapturously, making great matter
of sitting a yawn behind her fan.
you look it." says Madam tersely.
Then, "How's your husband"
81 don't really know" says Dolly. "He
always directs his letters to our place in
Sutherland, and so of course-servants
are so dilatory-I can't tell you if he
wrote last month, or the month before
that-or any month"
Expecting him homer" with Increasing
volume in the usually too loud tones.
II don't know. Sit down, dear Madam,
and let us talk about it You look very
fatiguei."
I'm my opinion,r says Madam, with a
burst of virtucus anger, he'll never come
home Never iud small blame to him
/ say it again. He'll never come home.
You know that, anyway"
Il don't indeed" says Dolly with more
truthfulness than she usually betrays. 1t
is to her extreme discomfort that she
knows her George is already on his home
ward way. She raises her long glasses
AM surveys Madam with an air of sur
prised Tut placid inquiry. you haven't
heard Is dead, have sou?"
MAZDA n, distinctly routed, makes ges-
ture of supreme disgust, and without
trusting herself to sag another word,
makes a martial stride past her, and see
ing a window open that leads srst to a
balcony, and then to the gardens beneath,
instinctively makes for it, with the idea,
perhaps, of cooling her fevered brow.
Really, all these Castle people are unfit
to be known That shocking little wom-
an, anC as for the man called Everard-
she reels it almost her duty to follow him
and Amber, and drag the dear girl away
from him, by force if necessary-but she
has gone through far too much already.
Now she will so and warn her. But
how to warn Amber, who is at times a
little difficult? She meditates; and then
a bright thought comes to her. Hilary
will be the very one to whom to tell her
doubts. OF all the Carrig party, he alone
is approved of by her. Yes, she will get
Hilary to look after Amber. 1t is just
when this thought has occurred to her
that she meets Hilary.
MY dear boy, you! says She She
had known him off and on since he was
very young. THE very one / wanted"
Cant you want me a little later.
MADAME" asks he, smiling. Pm in a
hurry now. I'm looking for your favor
ite, Amber"
"Ah! That's my want!'' says she.
$50 you don't know where she is, then p
No" A sense of fear lays cold
hand upon his heart.
"She went to sit out the last dance
with Everard," says Madam. THAT |
know I'd be glad. my dear Hilary, if you
could find her, and prevent her from sit
ting out the next with him. But from
what | could see, L."
She says a good deal more, but Hilary
does not hear her. He has gone back to
the house.
~e.-