Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-07-20

tnree couples, apparently quite content
with each other, for the parson was in
vited nearly every night for the obvious
reason of making up an even number.
The local resources at Orwell were not
large, and the family mourning still fur
Their curtailed them.
1t had been to Mathilde's mingled dis
appointment and relief that Stewart had
made no attempt at a few quiet words
before dinner, and she went dow by her.
self with a sullen resentment burning at
her heart
In her present humor the newcomers
talk was a welcome distraction, and it
was relief to make such answers to the
semi-patronizing queries as to the voyage
and such, with which he began the con-
versation.
"And so you spent Christmas Day at
sea? How very strong-minded and sensi-
bic in you ~ Norman said. 1t was begin
ming to dawn upon him that Mathilde
was not a lady whom it was wise at pat
ronize.
''I'm not at all sure" she returned,
that we were either strong-minded or
sensible. Even at sea one doesn't seem to
escape the contagious sentiment of the
day. Solitary confinement would be the
only way to avoid doing or saying some
thing that one would afterwards regret."
Il should think that on board shin the
oppoCtuliti of getting into mischief
were Elaited," he suggested.
His large experience of charming mar
ried ladies made him quick to see that her
words were meant for her husbands ear.
and he was beginning to enjoy the play.
'Oh, no; they are only concentrated
Stewart looked steadily across at her.
Are you going to confess to having gam
bled away private hoard at poker?' he
asked.
She looked back at him as steadily.
"You must agree that | had not much
luck in my ventures
I'm not so sure of that" he answered
carelessly; and the words seemed to her
such taunt on the material benefits that
she had taken from him, that deep,
painful flush burned her face.
Norman, feeling the atmosphere too
electric, interposed. ''One should never
spend Christmas in England. Paris or
Nice are the only civilized places
LES, L dIlS lSu sue duSWeIeu
absently. her thoughts going back to a red
sunset on Christmas Eve over the Lux
embourg gardens.
'You know PARISH" he asked in sur
prise. Il thought"
'You thought that had never been out
of the backwoods," she laughed. She had
recovered her self-control, and was walk
ing warily now. What should you say
if you knew that have been an art stu
dent in PARISH"
She had now, without any doubt, at
tracted the attention Of the whole table;
but with quick glance towards Stew
art, she knew that he approved of the way
in which she was playing her cards.
While the others listened, Norman an
swered with all due Difference to your
veracity, l should say that l have seen
art students in Paris, and that l cannot
imagine you among their ranks"
1.-THE poor students = she laughed ''But
perhaps l had not time to acquire the
griminess of the type"
"You certainly had not" he agreed,
with conviction. MAY 1 ask how long
your studies lasted?" and he looked at
her keenly.
Il worked there one winter" she an
swered, and again she saw in her hus-
bands face that she had answered right
IAN art STUDENT" Norman scoffed.
"You had finishing lessons for winter
Was not that itT'
THE same thing with different
NAME" she agreed; and then Nellie broke
in:
"How naughty in you never to tell us
that you were an artist! am sure that
you must have lovely pictures of the
fess, hasn't she, Jem?"
Not that l know Of" he answered.
readily. Mosquitoes in summer and
billiards. in winter are scarcely conducive
to picture making"
What a dreadful country it must be T.
Are you glad to get away from it?' Mel
lie lisped.
This is certainly an improvement on
it." she answered; and to avoid hearing
more, Mathilde turned again to Norman.
She was beginning to feel friendly to-
wards this man, who looked at her so
appreciatingly and led up so well to her
converse tonal effects, and she was quite
content to settle down to play bezique
with him after dinner, although she saw
that Nellie was doing her best to draw
him away TO the piano.
Stewart had been called out of the
room, and Miss Fearon had her choice
between solitude and the ecclesiastical
couple The game was amusing and long,
and their good-nights were gay and
friendly. When the end of the following
day had come Mathilde laughed to her
self as she bethought how much of it mad
been spent in Norman Stewards company.
The greater part of the morning had
been passed in the library over fine col
lection of miniatures, which she found
with great professions of surprise that
she had not yet seen. These he made
more interesting with scraps of family
history. intermingled with a collectors
bits of out-of- the-way knowledge.
when you come over TO Paris you
shall see my own poor little collection
Nothing to equal this. but still l have one
or two good things. There is head OF
Madame de Reca mier on a snuf-box lid,
he added tenderly.
While they were thus occupied, both
Jem and Miss Fearon made separate sal.
lies into the room, but each retired or
| finding that their attention was not &c
be diverted In the afternoon there was
a long walk through the beech woods and
although Nellie was with them, hfr part
was distinctly that of third person.
But Mathilde was not to get through
this day without an interview with hel
husband. She was skilfully intercepted
in twilight visit TO Sir James. and fol
lowed from the room by him. How mad
" her heart thumped as she walked along
the duSky passage at his side.
There was seat running round the
recess of a window through which could
be seen a young moon in the pale west
ern sky. against which the tree branche:
| drew s. dark tracery.
DO you mind stopping here q mo
ment?" Stewart said, motioning toward:
| the seat.
why? 1t is so cold and dismal here
| And she shivered.