Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-05-12

CHAPTER XIV.


moisture = rising from the leaves lying
on the sodden ground Amber, picking
her steps delicately, not on the wet path,
out on the spongy moss that skirts it,
goes on nsr way through the almost leaf
less wood, her head little bent and
smile upon her lips that is half sweet,
half sad, and full Of a new wonderment.
The night gone by had been a strange
one for her. For the first time In all
her curious grIhood, she had. for one
thing, lain wide awake as hour by hour
went by, thinking. thinking. and her
thoughts carried her far, and far, but
always back to one center.
That kiss upon her hand 1t had gone
from her hand TO her heart and stayed
there What did it mean? That is the
burden of all her thinking. Does he love
herr Can he love her? Her her 1t
is a tremendous question, and takes great
answering. A whole sleepless night long
lying with sleepless eyes working it
outs surely but a very short time to
give TO so momentous, so wonderful, So
She hardly knows what sort of question
it is
At breakfast, held in bondage still by
this worrying thought, she hardly dares
to look at Hilary; and breakfast over.
had slipped away to the eternal comfort.
and rest, of the silent woods. Here she
will work 1t out. Here she viii be able
TO think indeed.
Softly, but with a little chill in it,
blows the wind. Now there are but few
leaves left to play with it. to make a
pretty fight, to shake their green and
tender pennons in its face with saucy de-
fance
Will she ever forget? All at once,
walking quietly through the woods, she
knows that she never will. She knows
that she loves him. Such knowledge is
an education in itself. The girl stands
quite still staring straight before her.
She loves him, and he loves her. She is
quite as sure of one as of the other Her
soul seems to soar to heaven as this blest
thought enters into 1t; and then all at
once, in the twinkling of an eye as it
were, it sinks to hell.
To love him. to permit him to love
her, will mean ruin to him Sir Lucien
would not hear Of a marriage between
them-and-Sir Lucien has it in his pow
er to dsinherit him. Mr.. Everard had
told her that. And-and of course there
is something to be said for Sir Lucien.
She will be fair Quite fair. A girl
whose father is accused of doing away
with very valuable jewels that in no way
belonged to him, is hardly a girl one
would wish ones heir to marry. Unless
the Jewels are restored. and her fathers
name cleared of dshonor. all joy and hope
in her life ere at an end.
1t is at this point of her sad reflections
that she lifts her eyes and sees Brian
Deane standing a few yards away from
her. She is conscious that she starts
little at his sudden appearance, but go
ing quickly forward she gives him her
hand, which he takes and holds, staring
eagerly at her face.
Alone 20 says he. All the love for her
that his wild untutored heart undoubted-
ly knows, does not prevent the touch of
sarcasm that enters into his voice. Not
even the handsome cousin to keep you
company. Or, perhaps" with sudden
darkening of his frowning brows, you
are on your way to meet himf'
II have come out to meet nobody, says
Amber coldIy, and with a glance of scorn.
I'm glad to hear it. l have been
waiting about the place for days In the
hope of seeing YOU"
''Why should you do that? Why not
come straigh to the house and ask to see
me? You," with little rush, as though
the thought is distasteful to her-"you
are my cousin"
with all that lot round you? No.!
/ wanted to see you alone. You remem-
Der that last conversation / had with
your"
to forget it,"
Your wisdom doesn't seem to have
helped you," says he with an ugly sneer.
"It's hard TO forget-isn't it? Does any
one forget, wonder? / would to heaven
1t weren't so hard, for then l might per-
haps be able to forget you! But can't,
you see. That's what it comes to.
can't pu. you out of my mind
''Why do you talk to me like this,
Brian" says the girl very gently, when
you know that it is so uselessT
What | know" says he. his pale.
dogsed face now dull crimson, lis that
it shall not be useless. No! Mine you
shall be"
Suddenly catching her by both her
arms, he compels her with brute force so
to turn that fuller light from the dull
sky falls upon her face.
"You think you love that fellow You
think that he loves yea. tell you, you
s2e fool. Doubly a fool"
Take your hands away, Brian" says
she at last, not sa-rily. not nervously-
but with COLI courage, a naughty com
mand. that seems TO go to his very soul.
He releases hes instantly. ''0f course /
quite understand that you hardly know
what you are saying or doing she goes
on; therefore l forgive you. and shall
bear you no ill-will" She lightly brushes
down the sleeves of her coat where has
hands bad held her. All the most violent
words OF contempt or anger she could
have showered upon him could not have
conveyed TO him half 50 clearly as this
slow and simple gesture the state of her
mind towards him. 1t is casting him
from her into outer darkness Indeed
"Ill-will from you TO me Why. am
the one who loves you You-are the only
thing | love on earth-the only thing /
ever have loved You think that Captain
Adare viii marry you. l tell you he
neither will nor can. His uucls would
disinherit him if he did so But love
you -
Il am sorry" says she very kindly,
very sweetly. but as be feels, finally.
What do you meang" cries he tiercely.
BE sorry for yourself. When he shows
you plainly at the last, that his uncle's
thousands are more to him than penni-
less girl-a cir, too. with the story Of her
fathers dsshonor hung round her neck,
as her only wedding ornament''-here he
laughs, wildly, how win it be with you
theny"
Listen TO me-" says she, her voice
vibrating with some hidden feeling. let
me speak. l tell you l shall not marry
Captain Adsre. or any other man, until
my fathers memory has been made clear
You alone can clesr il. If indeed''-here
she pales percepfibly-'you speak the
truth. She goes nearer to him-her eyes