Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-07-06

She looked up at him with startled
eyes. The family jewels But surely,
| am not the person to have them. Mrs.
Herbert"
lie interrupted her: Mrs. Herbert
wore them when she was the heirs wife.
Now she has nothing to do with them.
You have taken her place"
Il don't wonder she hates me !" she
said with emphasis. Then. with a sud-
den overwhelming sense of shame, "Oh,
what must you think of me, accepting so
much from you ~
James Stewart had once been told that
he should have been doctor, he had such
soothing power over nerves.
ITS hardly wise to waste your strength
on opening up that question just now.
We are on the field of battle 1t will be
a victory for you to wear the emeralds
to dinner tonight"
His treatment was wise, and her self
control was recovered.
The emeralds. she said 81 only
hope they aren't very wonderful"
He laughed. "They are indeed. The
necklace and aigrette are historical. The
wife of Sir James the cavalier fed from
him and from Orwell for fear that he
should let them go into King Charles
treasury. The bracelets are of later date.
but considered nearly as valuable. Mrs.
Herbert will be as green as they are when
she sees you in Them
But do you think it's fair?" MathiIde
protested. He was not to be moved.
"All fair in war, and this is war, re-
member. 1t was not who began it, and
| am only fighting for my rights His
face had grown stern again as he spoke
But we must not keep my father wait
ing. He said seven, and it struck just
now. Will you Gomez"
Down a long corridor they went to
part of the house shut off by baize doors.
hushed and still, with heavy curtains.
and dim with shaded lights, where in an
invalid armchair sat the helpless old man.
There was nothing unattractive about the
invalid; a rich down quilt covered his
helpless limbs his thin, white hands
moved freely, and the clear-cut features
that might have been carved in time-yel-
lowed ivory wore a kindly smile.
AS the door opened, the white head was
eagerly turned towards it, and one hand
NdS OulSllCbNhCh III ohNANlpdllOu.
Come in, come in, Jem," said a feebly
impatient voice; come and let me see
my new daughter"
The feeble old age and the word
daughter" touched a recent sore spot in
Mathilde's heart, anu with an impulse
that was wholly genuine, she came swiftly
forward, and kneeling by his chair, where
the light from the shaded lamp fell full
upon her, laid her two hands on his.
"Oh, will you let me be your daughter?"
she said, with the pathos of her uncon-
scious loneliness.
The old man gazed at her for mo-
ment in silence, ,then he said, in broken
tones, MY dear child, my beautiful child
James, why did you NOT tell me how beau
tiful she was? She is the right kind of
mistress for ORWELL" and the pride of
race strengthened the weak voice.
II kept it as a pleasant surprise for
you. father" the son answered. and Ma
thilde could tell from his voice how
pleased he was.
With a sudden. shy fear that her i'm
pulse would have seemed to him but act
ing. she would have risen, but the old
man said with a OBTAINING grasp; mo.
no. my dear, stay here in the light and let
me see you. | want to see you in the
ia mily jewels. Jem, hand me the case
with the emeralds."
What woman could suppress a word of
admiration at the sight of that wonderful
necklace, lying on the white velvet, with
the aigrette reposing in the middle
"Oh. how beautiful r' Mathide breath
ed. and Sir James touched them with lin.
gering fondness.
Yes, Jem's mother wore them, fifty
years ago, when she was presented. You
must wear them at the drawing room
next spring. Put them on for her, Jem."
Then and there, Mathilde would have
gladly sacrificed the necklace to have
prevented that deep wave of crimson that
dyed her face and neck at the touch of
her husbands hands.
With the light streaming full upon her
she was powerless to hide it, and she
knew that Stewart must notice it, though
he gave no sign, fastening the clasp with
a quick, light touch.
There, what color it gives you! :" the
old man said, triumphantly. Now, Jem,
the aigrette.'
This time she was prepared. and with a
light movement was CA her feet.
'Oh, let me do it at the glass He
will rumple my hair she said gaily. and
he banded the ornament to her in silence.
When she turned from the glass though,
he held a bracelet ready, and she put out
her arm for him to fasten it on.
There, father" he said, stepping back
to view the general effect, Il think that |
chose wife to suit the emeralds. Shall
we put them back in their cases." he
asked, watching Sir James intently.
mo, no." his father answered hurried
ly, as though keeping his courage to the
sticking point Il want her to wear
them to dinner tonight. l shan't be there,
but | shall know how she looks. and shall
think of the times when your mother wore
Them The other things she can look at
to- morrow. But, my dear" he went on
with timorous grasp at her hand, you
won't mind Flora sitting at the head of
the table, will you? 1t wouldn't seem
kind. would it,"
He looked up timorously at her, but
warmly:
''0h, no, l wouldn't dream of anything
else"
That's good girl. A good girl" and
he patted the hand he held. Thank God.
there are some children left me My boy
is gone, and your boy is gone. The chill
dren taken and the fathers left. God
send US children in the old home again,
my dear. The place is dreary without
children's voices, dreary." and the scant
tears of old age fell.
Mathilde stood there. decked out in her
splendor. but with fierce shame burning
in her heart. The cold touch of the jew
els on neck and arms felt like the ma
terial touch of her disgrace. But Stewart
was quick TO come 10 the rescue.
I'VE must not tire my father any more
now. We will come in the morning.
And with tender goodnight that sooth-
ed her heart. he let them go. They walk
ed in silence some little distance before
Stewart spoke:
How can l thank you enough for your
manner to my sather. You have com