Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1908-12-24
Through a
WOnan'S Heart.
BY Sidney Warwick.

night instead of coming to see you,
Hilda."
A little smile fiickered about the
corners of the tender beautiful mouth,
thrown up in the freight.
but it wasn't fair to punish me
| too, Jack"
ooh, l was feeling too heated and
| eXasperated to be fit company for
anyone just then-least of all for you,
| sweetheart, to whom l want to show
only my best side," he said. ct was
piece of il1-luck that when l came
over to Wildfell last night / should
run up against Hume and the row
should begin again. And l lost my
| head a bit"
| Jack Lathom paused an instant; for
a moment a hard look had come into
| the pleasant, boyish face. When he
remembered the insolent provocation
| he had received, he did not wondeT
that his temper had got the better
! of his self-cOntrOl.
He sat watching her, as he drank
! his tea, from the broad recessed win
| dow ledge of the long, low room; he
| liked to watch her-she made such
| dainty picture bending over the tray
| with it's quaint teacups and the Old
| Queen Anne silver, over which her lit
tie hands moved like white birds as
she dispensed tea. 1t was little after
3, but already the gray day was clos
! ing in; and tea has special delight
| all it's own on cold winter afternoon,
even as early as 8 o'clock
Great logs burned On the low hearth,
diffusing a subtle drowsy perfume
| that mingled with the breath of dried
roseleaves in the big pot pourr1 bowl;
| the squirting flames caught the blue
china on the walls and threw back
glittering reflections from polished
brass and silver, and cleaned red in
the girls dark hair. The black CEN
turies-old rafters that ran across the
ceiling and the .avender-sprlgged
chintz lent an old-fashioned atmos-
phere to a room that was wholly
charming Outside sad gray skies
|
snow was tapping with white fingers
on the loaded diamond panes, and the
wind was crying over the moors; they
only emphasized the peace and COST
ness within.
Jack took his cup for the third time
from Hilda's hands. Yes, he had
been a fool to lose his temper twice
with Philip Hume, he thought, as he
stirred his tea meditatively; and it
had worried Hilda-and that made
him sorrier still But Humes taunt-
ing insolence had angered him beyond
endurance. And since he has seen
Hilda two nights ago he had got
definite proof that the lies intended to
reach his fathers ears, of which he
had spoken to Hilda then, that had
nearly caused a breach between him
and his father, had been. as he sus-
nected. deliberately set afoOt by Phil
ip Hume. Young Lathoms face flush
ed hotly now at the thought. Of
course, he had taxed Hume with these
slanders-what else could he do?
eve won't talk about it any more,
Hilda." he said, suddenly. He wouldn't
think about the man any more. After
all, Hume's malice had failed of its
purpose; he had won what Hume had
sought to win. And at the thought
the hard look died out Of Jack
Iathom's face Hes not worth
thinking of-and all his jealous spite
hasn't kept US apart, sweetheart" he
whispered, tenderly.
He rose and came up behind her,
put his arms about her, and kissed her
cleaning hair Her two hands felt
for and found one Of his hands; she
held it pressed close against her soft
cheek; and for a space only the
silence that for lovers has many
voices.
They heard the front door open and
footsteps enter; then Stephen Ruth
ems voice speaking, and another voice.
isn't that the voice of Humes I'M
cle?" Jack said, suddenly.
A moment later the door was
opened, revealing the figures of Bon
holt Hume and the rector.
How do you do, Miss Ruthen?"
And Mr. Hume advanced and shook
Lathom held out his hand as the old
err man turned to him. Bonholt Hume
did not seem to see the outstretched
hand; it was none the less a slight
that the action had not the air of be-
ing a deliberate refusal to take it,
Jack flushed, and Hilda, looking on
amazed colored Indignantly.
81 wanted to see you, Mr.. Lathom.
I came to ask you for information
about my nephew Philip Mr.. Hume
said, in curt tones that were unlike
his usual genial voice-"since you ap-
pear to have been the last to see him -
81 am afraid I have no information
to give you," responded Jack Lathom,
) no less CURLY. What should l know
of him?"
! "It is known that you were with
him last night-that you made an at
tack on him"
Attack" Jack was keeping him
self in control with an effort. Il fam
cy you haven't got tne facts correct
ly, Mr. Hume That we came to blows
is. unfortunately, true; and, looking
back, | can't wonder that | lost my
temper and patience after the DELHI
crate injury he has tried to do me
with my father. 1 have proof of his
lies"
''How dare you make this monstrous
assertion to me?" cried Bonholt Hume,