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

CHAPTER XIV
"Oh, yes, | think you WILL" says Sir
! Lucien, coming forward and addressing
Amber. II quite sure you will" He had
only heard the last sentence of the con-
versation between Deane and Amber.
II don't think So" coldly.
when l tell you all the facts of the
case" says Sir Lucien, still very agree
| ably, FL am sure you will see your way
to another answer. The fact is that your
cousin here knows something about those
lost stones of our house. that your poor
mother was entrusted with in weak mo-
ment, by my father-and-"
Pray spare yourself the trouble of
| going into it," says Amber, with won
derful calm. II know all about it Mr..
Deane," with a glance at him from under
haughty, half-closed lids that should have
| w.thered him, Mr. Deane knows where
those jewels are. on which you have set
your heart, and the price he sets on their
delivery to you is-me WE'LL" turning
family upon them, with grief and tears
and terror and reproach in her beautiful
eyes. Il am not for sale!''
You forget one point" says Sir Luz
Glen, his voice perfectly cain. 1T is to
clear your fathers memory that we desire
this thing. If Mr.. Deane can produce
these gems, then the suspicion of your
fathers having made away with them is
at an end. If you marry this most essi-
mable cousin of yours, he has promised
to let me know where the stones are con-
| cealed. You see how the case lies" He
looks at her for the first time fully. "You
will consentw
NO" says Amber, for the second time.
Her tone is fuller now, however, and
much stronger.
| You refuse" Sir Lucien's face of af-
fected suavity now clouds into sort of
fury. You refuse who have been re-
ported as so anxious for the clearing of
your fathers memory in this matter"
/, My father" says the girl clearly,
would not have had me clear his memory
at the expense of my own happiness. He
loved me too much for that You !" she
| lifts her eyes to Sir Lucien's-"you. who
have never loved anyone, cannot, of
course, understand this"
'Hypocrite ~ cries Sir Lucien furious
F, ly. "You, who have paraded your longing
to see your fathers memory made sweet,
now, when the chance comes to you, re-
fuse to use it."
II am no hypocrite." says the girl,
standing straight and firm before him. Il
am no sycophant either. l feel''-she
turns and takes a step away from them
II shall be better at home. Brian" look
ing back imperiously at Deane, "go and
bring the dog-cart for me as soon as you
J can" Sir Lucien is about to give a hasty
consent to this order. when his glance
happens to fall on Deane. The strange,
forbidding, bnt handsome face is dark
with anger; stronger, more dangeroue
anger, tnan even the girls refusal to
marry him had called forth. As he looks
the older man gasps the truth. Any in
suit to Arnber-will be deeply, violently
resented BY this strange, uncouth man.
NO, no." exclaims Sir Lucien. with a
gesture of his hands. Il shall not allow
I you, my guest, my-niece-to leave
my house before your visit has come to an
end. There is no need for such violent
temper on your part"
She is silent. War is raging within her
| war between love and pride. To go is
to satisfy the latter. To stay is to sat
isfy her love Oh to be with him for
even a few hours longer! To see him, TO
be near him: though never, never, can he
be more to her than he is now. That he
| loves her, she knows. Her clear sweet
| instinct has brought that home to her,
! though not word has been said by him
to her that she can dream upon. Nothing.
| except that kiss upon her hand last night
What magic lay in it! what wondrous
charm! she-she alone can tell.
And because of that sweet knowledge,
and with its power full upon her, she
wrestles with. and overcomes her pride,
ard, as all true lovers will. let's love stand
t-iumphsntl
',SSs you WISH" returns she coldly. to
Sir Lucien. My visit, however. will be
over in few days"
In the meantime" says Sir Lucien.
who is afraid of Deane's frowning watch
fulness, you will, l hope, understand
that you are a very welcome guest within
my DOORS
She lifts her eyes to his for a moment :
it is little time, but his sink before hers.
Then, turning away from both men, she
is soon lost amongst the trees and bushes.
n lEOuutcSumc suuJcCl.
Glen, struggling his shoulders as she dis
| appears, and turning to Deane, whose
gaze is still fixed on the corner where the
| last inch Or so of her gown had been seen.
You have courage. my good Deane! You
might make a better bargain with me, per-
haps.
Her or nothingw The answer comes
clear and stern. Sir Lucien suppresses
very eleverly an expression of deep dis
gust. What fools some men are, he tells
himself, and all for the scke of a woman.
You have given me yogr word that
can have the girl in exchange for the
gems. That's good enough for me. But
il will take time and help
1T shall be as you will." slowly-ieily.
AS 1 will What about her? Can
you compel her to my viill?"
Il think so. But tell you that she's
in love with that nephew Of yours. and
that 1t wiz take You al suur time to get
her to marry me-"
in love with Hilsryg'
II don't know WHIT his name IS" says
Deane sulkily, but I'm talking of your
nephew. anyway"
Il am sure you are mistaken"
Are youi, with snarl. I'm not.
You think you kuow lot, don't your I
tell you she is in love with him. and |
tell you once more, he is in love with
her -
"No. no, Impossible I have wsfcfed
them. Impossible. tell you. And evea
| if it were trues-reading and answering
the look in the other mans face-'it shall
come to nothing. His life. his future, lies
in my hand. Lies" {holding out his ex-
0uisitely shaped old hand and pointing to
the hollow of the palm) here :"
His voice has fallen very low. but his
| eyes tell good deal They at all events
| convey to Deane the certainty that u
1 A6ara Shs,uld r.e-xsSf IN HE ,,.S srf,f,,,S