Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-11-02
oHApTER xvIII-(Continued.)


Agatha was looking at him strange
ly, but he did not appear to notice her.
Lord Netherville took up his hat and
prepared to leave. He took very 1T
tie interest in Miss Garland's love af-
fairs, and could not in the least un-
derstand why his cousin should take
them to heart.
Il know nothing about it; the girl is
a stranger to mel" he answered light
ly. Il was only repeating the gossip
Of the cay to amuse your wife. Good
bye. Ag tha How your grey hair al
ters you. Rupert" he added, as he left
the room with the master of the house.
NO one could possibly mistake US for
each other nowI What a pity you got
that knock over the head to spoil your
beauty! You know / always believe
that blow was intended for me-"
Rupert had gone with his cousin out
side the room. Netherville was going
down the staircase. Rupert followed
him down
BY the way" he said. when ne got
down to the hall. Il heard something
about those pearls the other day;
those I was bringing down to give to
Agatha. you know. 1 daresay she told
you about them. OF course you know
that was engaged to your wife at
that time, Rupert?"
"Oh, yes, of course, know all about
it," answered Rupert, carelessly.
Il was a good deal cut up at the
time she threw me over; but Iyssno
doubt she was right, old nan. She
chose the best man of the two. | am
glad l have been to see her. l have
pretty well got over it now, or you
know l shouldn't have come. You don't
owe me any grudge, I am sure! And
I hope you will let me be friends with
herr"
MY dear fellow, of counsel" replied
Carroll, cordially.
He did not go upstairs again after
his cousin had left. but turned into his
own little den on the ground floor, and
throwing himself into an arm chair, he
remained plunged in the most gloomy
and miserable thoughts of Irene and of
her probable fate. But 1t did not oc-
cur to him to think about Agatha up
stairs.
Agatha had got 10 from her sofa,
she was standing in the middle of the
room There was a tempest at her
heart, a tempest half love, half jeal-
ousy, and 1t was the jealousy that
caused the love she had vainly striven
to stifie to burn up into a fiercer,
steadier flame. There was a long mir
ror opposite to her; she saw reflected
in it the image of a pale, gaunt wom-
an, with shrunken cheeks and bag
gard eyes.
Il have grown hideous!" she said
aloud, slowly, perfectly hideousl A
happy woman-a wife who loves and is
loved again, keeps her looks and her
youth and her freshness. but / am not
loved, and l have lost 1t all-all! There
is nothing to win him now, he will
never love mel And this other wom-
an. this Miss Garland, who is the most
beautiful girl In London-it is her
whom he loves! Why did he start and
turn round 80 excitedly when Neither
Vile said she was going to marry some
rich man? Why did he cry out that
she must rot be allowed to marry him?
If she had been a stranger, would his
face have flushed and would his voice
have trembled. as they did? And had
she been only a mere acquaintance of
the past, should / not have heard her
name before? No; see it all now, 1t
is this beautiful Miss Garland. who is
In London now-I always knew that
the woman he once loved would come
between us again Once loved! All!
but he loves her now-nowi oh! what
am / to do? What am to do?' She
flung herself face downwards upon the
sofa in a paroxysm of anguish.
+ l.. -. \
torture the soul with superhuman pain.
was tearing at her heart. All at once
she realized that her husband might
meet this unknown woman at any mo-
ment, and that his love would doubt
less then be famed into fresh life by
a renewal of intercourse witt her.
He might even now be planning to
see her! How was she to keep him?
How guard that frail possession that
the law had given her for her own. bu,
that love had never ratified? Where
was he now? Had he gone out with
Netharville? Gone away at once. pc d,
haps-to her!
The horror OF the fancy took away
her breath She ran swiftly and softly
downstairs. her light steps making no
noise upon the thick carpet as she
went She breathed again when she
saw that his hat and stick were in
their place. Then softly she crept TO
the door of his study. She knew he
must be there. and alone.
She opened the door noiselessly Ru-
pert sat with his back = her. near the
table. his head was laid upon his fold
ed arms, his face was hidden. A terri
BILE shock overwhelmed her. he was
weeping!
She closed the door very softly
again. and crept away slowly upstairs.
She was very cold. her teeth chartered.
her liwAs trembled beneath her.
TT is too late" she said to herself in
misel able stified whisper. There is
nothing to be done. oh. IL l could only
die!"