Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-06-08
CHAPTER v.-(continued.)


felt such brute this afternoon"
She flushed holly, and her voice was
sharper, as she asked: "Why?'
How could | help it when l knew that
/ was the cause of your being shut up ia
your cabin all the afternoon? l pictured
you wailing and gnashing your teeth, and
could see the same idea reflected in Hud-
sons wrathful eye"
You need not be afraid. 1 shall not
trouble you with any low spirits, now or
IN the future"
1t was a strange wooing this, with the
barely yelled luminosity of the woman,
and the cynical GOODNESS of the man.
Il am not afraid Of your low spirits"
he answered, composedly. Il know that
II you once take up thing you will car
~ it through with pluck"
This was the second time tonight that
she had been called plucky, and the con-
trast between inward feelings and out
ward aspect was strong enough to bring
mirthless smile to her lips.
Its good thing" he went on casual
ly, shat we have two or three days more
of the voyage in which to settle things.
There is a deal to think over and talk
over ahead of u.s.
"A sort of alphabet Of deceit to be
mastered" she suggested but If she had
hoped to annoy him she did not succeed.
Something like that" he agreed.
Was it a nightmare, she wondered to
herself-this scene where two people were
tying themselves mutually for life, with
no more signs of feeling than If they
had been playing game.
. &c 81 har rrhar
their talk was shortly interrupted, and
when she could regain the shelter OF her
cabin.
Like a WORKOUT child, she crept into
her berth, and slept through the long
hours of the winter night lulled by the
rocking of the waves.
Ii was a strange bewildered awaken
ing the next morning to the realization
of a new scheme of existence; but as
that scheme crystallized itself before her
she found herself facing it with fresh
courage. 1t was, perhaps, her perfect
physical health that enabled her to shake
off the shadows of the day before.
However it was, the change was OBJ
vious, and brought a pleased expression
from Mr.. Stewart when he found her
alone at the breakfast table, the captain
having departed. and her neighbors being
late
That's right" he said, cheerfully. 81
can see by your face that you have had
a good nights rest, and l feel less of q
culprit than l did last evening" Shall
we organize our committee of deceit this
morning.
IF you like" she assented. as careless
ly as if it had been a request to pass the
mustard.
Good morning. These are nice hours
to keep" addressing Charlie Hudson,
who had just made his appearance) and
as she turned to him the veil of cold re-
serve dropped from face and voice.
Charlie Hudson considered himself
very unhappy this morning He had, for
the last three or four days, been indulg-
ing In q sentimental devotion to the wom-
an, a good five years older than himself.
Yesterday had revealed to him the fact
that he was only chorus in the playa
looker-on at some crisis-and be had not
liked 1t any better than most people
would, and was rather sorry for himself
In consequences. 1t was adding insult to
injury, when Mr.. Stewart remarked:
You look as though the ships cham
payne hadn't agreed with you"
He made a rather sulky retort, and the
breakfast proceeded silently.
mo hopes of a morning on deck
Stewart reported later on. Our native
land is sending forth the welcome of
hopeless drizzle to meet us"
Your native land,' she corrected.
Mine can boast of twelve months sun
shine In the year"
Wbv did cha oil NJ puca co in
tensely national--so opposed to every
thing English ?-she wondered to herself
She started back from that momentary
vision to find Stewart watching her in
tently. All he said. however, was:
"As you cannot go on deck, have put
your rugs in your own corner. We can
hold our parliament there"
And il was held there, for the Others
who had stroled in with social intent
drew back before the signs If an absorbed
IrH BIT OF EMBROIDERY,
tete-a-tete. With true feminine instinct.
Miss Thorne had armed herself with
bit of embroidery that kept eyes and fin
gers busy.
The man glanced at it impatiently
once or twice, but said nothing. as lean
ing his elbows on the table, he opened
aud glanced down the pages of a note
book I've been thinking. he began
that | had better write out careful
table of names, dates and places. for you
TO have by you. 1t will help to keep
you from making mistakes"
How are you counting to supply my
want of local knowledge of the North
wess?'' she asked ironically.
He looked dubious. 1T is certainly
rather a weak point" he acknowledged.
lone among many"
But" he went on, at any rate. YOU
know thoroughly the general life of the
country. enough to supply the differences
which exist in the Northwest"
Her interest N the game was beginning
10 awaken. THAT general knowledge
would hardly get me safely through ave
minutes conversation with anyone who
had been there"
I'VE must avoid such people"
THAT might not be always possible"
Possible enough ar Orkville, where so
few strangers ever come. You must re-
member that the difficulties only exist in
Mrs Herbert's company, and of that we
shall cndesvor TO have as little as pos
sible Who. in general society. is going
80 put you through your PAGES about
dates and places? You are Canadian;
that fact is easily accepted. but you are
hardly likely TO meet three people who
would understand that the difference be
tween Calgary and Montreal was any
greater than the difference between Ply
mouth and London. Aad another thing
that l have been thinking Of he went
on. that il would only be creating use
less difficulties for yourself 10 attempt 10
plxy the role Of" he heSitated. of that
habitant woman. ! have had no reason.
from their letters. 10 think that they had
the faintest idea Of what she really was.
am sure that the letters could not have
been so cordial if they had OF course.
the intelligence of the hedged-in country
dame. only stage or 50 less bucolic than
the peasant, will have difficulty in grasp
L. .ha &c. that q Canadian can h q