Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-07-13

VI Tic otIdallOu.
The first time that Mathilde had been
alone with Stewart after the evening of
their arrival, Miss Feason formed the
topic of their conversation. They were
walking through the beech woods, chat
ting, when Stewart gave an abrupt turn
to her thoughts by asking:
What did you think Of the surprise
last night?"
What surprise" she retorted, al
though she guessed what he meant.
"The temperance upon the scene of
my first. love. l wonder why it was
DONE" he went on thoughtfully. Then,
after a moments pause: Did you think
me very brutal to her?'
Mathilde's face had hardened, and her
voice was very cold.
Il supposed that there was some feel
ing on your part which caused, and per-
haps justified, your outspoken remark.
Otherwise, must confess | think it nigh.
have been better left unsaid.'
He cast keen, sidewise glance at her,
and then laughed gaily.
you thought it the ground-swell of
some past storm of lovers quarrel. Poor
little Nellie! She was about as much a
present issue in my life as the rabbits l
petted as child. No, my remark was a
preventive one as to any mischief that
they might be up to with you"
Mrs. Herbert did try it a bit after
dinner" she agreed, in a less stony voice.
But why should you include Miss
Fearon? She mus have cared for You
once. even if meeting you again in that
fashion was not painful to her.
Again he laughed.
IF you will persist in constructing a
romance out of the affair." you must have
the whole of it. You needn't distress
yourself about Nellie's feelings. If she
minds anything now, it is the loss, not of
me, but of the heir. Then, she was glad
enough to have a good excuse to get rid
of me. for she had had bit of success in
town. and thought that she might do bet
ter than younger son. And l, for my
part, had been learning her unreality for
so long that after her valedictory letter
she seemed to fade from my mind like
an old photograph. The loss of her, GER
tainly, hardly added pang to those of
the debacle."
But that does not explain why you
distrust her now"
ITS not so easy to explain. It's more
an instinct than a reason, but your safest
plan is to take her enmity for granted"
THAT seems a rule of universal appli-
cation" she answered, bitterly.
What, not losing heart already, when
you have swept all before you with my
father?'
Il am not losing heart" was the proud
answer Then she added somewhat visit
ally: 81 really think he likes me-
Improbable as it seems, really think
he does" he retorted, looking into her
face as he put out his hand to help her
over a stile, with a glance that brought
on one of her shy fits, and set her talking
to the Irish setter. Nomad, whom she had
adopted as her own special follower and
friend.
The first change in the situation came
when, one morning at breakfast, Stewart
looked up from his correspondence, never
very large, to announce generally:
Here's a letter from Norman, saying
that he is coming over from Paris to see
me- Wonder how he heard of my getting
home. for though l have been meaning to
write to him ever since l came, l haven't
done So"
Mathilde, looking up as her husband
spoke saw a tell-tale change of color. on
Nellie's face, saw, too, an interchanged
glance between the two women which left
her no further doubt as to their secret
alliance.
1t was only a momentary thing, then
Nellie spoke in her pretty, babbling fash
ION.
"Oh, | hope you won't thing me a
dreadful gossip, but was writing to him
the other day about some old paste but
tons that he is getting me, and l put in
all our news to fill up. How you had
come back after all sorts of hard work
and roughing it, with a Canadian wife
who looked like princess, and had taken
everyone's heart by storm"
Mathilde had heard them speak before
now of this Norman Stewart, cousin, and
after James, heir, now attache over in
Paris.
This news of his approaching visit filled
her with grave misgivings, for his tastes
were said to be artistic, and she feared
what role shall | have to play with
him? My Paris life must be altogether
hidden. l supposeT she asked her hus-
band anxiously, as they paced the south
terrace, sunny and sheltered on this win
ter morning. and we'll removed from all
chance of listeners.
1--WE been thinking il over" he an.
swered. land | don't see why you should
not be altogether your self with him. As
| said before, the more you stick to the
truth about yourself, save for the last
five years, the simpler it all is"
"A large exception" she said. "Then
the role of the 'habitant' woman is alto
gethed dropped"
THAT is what wished from the firs., y
he agreed gravely.
She paced on in silence. staring ont
over the quiet, dim winter landscape that
stretched below. with eyes that had in
them the sullen fire of one held in bond.
age.
Suddenly she spoke. What are your
feelings about this cousin? Do you con-
slider him a friend or an enemy?"
He was not quick 10 answer her.
I'VE grew up together, and were al
ways chums. When the crash came, be
tried, in a mild way, to help me, and
came and saw me off at Liverpool.
have every reason TO consluer him a
friend. and his letter is very cordial; and
yet-he is the next heir TO me, and is in
communication with those two. He might
very well think that he, too, would have
a shy at the dispoSable cash. Yes, we
must both be on our guard"
''0h, what a wretched ENHANCEMENT il
is she broke out. How much better II
would have been If you had come homs
alone and faced it out. Anything would
! have been better than this
"Not at ALL" he remarked with urban
ity. Fancy life in this cheerful man
sion. unenlivened by your society. or by
the uncertainties of warfare"
THAT is what pickpocket might say.
she retorted.
Exactly So he agreed. Il always ha6
| a strong fellow-feeling for the crimina
classes. But l am forgetting one piec,
Of Good news for Won Nv father has ths