Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-11-09
CHAPTER XX.-(continued.l

CHAPTER .-(Continued)
She hated herself for yielding to the
temptation, yet she was unable to re-
sist 1t. She unfastened the letter cas-
fly and slipped it quickly out of its en-
velope-and read as follows:
Il have seen the announcement of
your engagement, and though / have
no right to address you. ! am writing
to implore you to see me once more
Perhaps you have forgotten me, or per-
haps you hate met would not be
wonderful if you did--yet IL you knew
all, you might forgive, or at least, pity
me, for 1 am the most unhappy man on
earth.
Il will go to Burlington House to-
morrow afternoon and wait there be-
tween and o'clock-wili you NEE.
me there? i will wait in the second
room under Leighton's great picture.
Look for me there, and speak to NE.
implore you. I am a changed ,naii-
You will see at glance that | am not
the Rupert Carroll that you once knew
yet IL you can bring yourself to say i
few kind words to me for the sake OF
the past-I entreat you TO do SO"
The letter broke off there-there was
no ending, and no signature. Agatha's
breath came quick and short, her
pulses throbbed-every nerve In her
body tingled. Suddenly she heard her
husbands step along the passage
She thrust the letter back INTO us
envelope, fastened it down again. and
went quickly to the open wi-ooW.
When Rupert entered, her back was
turned to him. and she was busying
herself amongst some pots OF mlgno-
nette and scarlet geraniums that STOOD
on his window sill, picking off the dead
leaves. He looked a little surprised 10
find her there and he threw an anX-
ious glance at his writing table put
apparently his letter had not been
touched.
He stamped his letter and put it in
his pocket-tool1 his hat and stick,
wished her a careless goodbye, and
went out.
For some moments after he had
gone. the unhappy young wife remain
ed motionless. where he had left her.
She seemed to be stunned with her
misery-every word of Ruperts letter
to this unknown woman whom he
loved, seemed to burn itself into her
brain. She cast herself down in his
empty chair and buried her face in her
arms. Then suddenly she sprang to
her feet again.
The letter by this time was posted,
ard on its way-they would meet
again-he would explain the past to
her-tell her how and why he had for
gotten her-the story would appeal to
her for compassion and for forgive
ness-she would love him anew and
break off her engagement for his sake.
ooh. no. mol" she cried aloud. wild
ly striking her hands passionately to-
gether 1T shall not be. they shall not
meet, it will be death to all my hopes
of ever winning his heart If they do
and even this strong tie which Is to
bind him and me together in the flu
ture will be as nothing to him If he
sees this woman and explains every
thing to her. They must not, shall
not meet. But how am l to prevent
it? How am | to make her still be-
lieve him false and unworthy of her!
what can / do? / have no friend to
help me, lam powerless.'
She paced wildly about the room.
Suddenly a thought flashed through
her BRAIN No friend ?-yes. she sure
ly had one-one who had told her only
the other day that TO his life's end he
would always help her and stand by
her Netherville would see this wom-
an for her-prevent this interview.
"Ah!" she cried. as a sudden inspira-
ton came to her, what fool l am!
Why of course the likeness between
theEl!-of coursel Why did l not
think of 1t before?" She rang the bell
violently and in the reaction of her
delight she laughed aloud. THE Vic
toria at once, | want to go out" she
said 20 the servant.
Twenty minuthes later the carriage
stood at the door. Agatha jumped in
to 1t almost with girlsh alacrity
ITO Lord Nethervilles rooms in Vic
toria street. as fast as you can drive"
she said to the coachman. And Miss
Carrall only came upstairs from the
kitchen Just in time to see her drive
away from the door.