Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-07-27
CHAPTER XIII

piece OF water II the country side. Stew
art bestirred himself, ordering fires on
the bank and refreshments there. 1t was
the first stir of life about the place since
the death of the eldest son, and although
the widow looked patiently resigned, and
ostentatiously retired into seclusion, ev-
eryone else, household and servants,
seemed relieved and pleased.
Mathilde would have welcomed any
thing that brought action and kept
thought at bay. She had not slept much
at night OF late, indeed had often paced
the floor until the small hours but If
wakefulness had left dark lines under her
eyes, they only seemed to accentuate her
beauty.
She wore tight-ftting dress of gray
velvet corduroy edged with dark fur.
and admiring comments followed her
movements, for she had from childhood
been show skater of the Montreal rink.
Mrs. Herbert's paraphernalia of Grape
and jet bristled more ostentatiously than
usual, and it was with her most widowed
smile that she turned to Mathilde. II
did not know that you were leaving of
your mourning so soon."
Mathilde stared in rather bewildered
way. Her thoughts had flown to her
dead father and to the autumn days of
sorrow, not taking in the idea Of either
the dead child or of her husbands broth
er.
II have not left off my mourning" she
said, rather Indignantly.
1T was l who persuaded her to get
that dress l hate to see her always in
black" Stewart came promptly to the
rescue, although he had apparently been
deep in local politics with Norman.
'Oh, if you call that mourningr' Flora
responded with plying smile.
But these little pin-pricks had no pow
er over Mathilde now. The only bitter
ness was in the remembrance how Stew
art had come in when she was looking
over the tailor's patterns, and had insist
ed on the choice of that one.
The lake in its sheltered dell was a
bright scene that afternoon. Several par
ties arrived in carriages, and Mathilde
and Stewart had necessarily to play the
host together, an outward bond over the
inward discord. Young and prosperous,
welcoming others to their future king
dom, many one that day admired the
couple and many a one envied them.
lHe eAlleu prince WeicOlDeu DICK 10
his own" Norman Stewart said in a low
voice to his cousin Nellie, as they skated
about at the further end of the lake.
watching the groups near the landing.
Although these two skated well, and
knew that they looked we'll on skates,
there was none of the animation of the
scene on their faces as they loitered there
together, whirling about idly in long
curves.
''They have everything their own way.
What is the good of our thinking that
there is something queer about her, when
they both have Sir James under their
thumb? I'm no earthly help to you, and
might as well write TO know when l can
60 to the Harpers."
You must not leave before l do" he
said. with calm authority. when you
brought me here, thought yours and
Flora's idea of some mystery very far
fetched; but now / am sure that it is
So"
But what could it be that would mat
ter? They must DE married" she inter
rupted pettishly.
Scarcely needing her, he went on. 81
can guess at nothing, though several times
during the past week / have felt as
though on the point of putting my finger
on the mystery. The one thing that l am
certain of is that she never was on that
ranch of his"
"Why?'
81 couldn't give any definite reason,
only l am certain Of it,
"But where did she come from, then ~
81 think-mind you. only think-that
she is some Divorce, an Englishwoman
of rank perhaps, whom he has picked up
In New York or Montreal"
"But the missionary, and the wife and
child"
That's all some mistake. The child, |
am sure, never existed
But say it were so; how would il
benefit u.s."
Only by our bringing out some scan
dial that would set Sir James against
them, and make him prefer to leave you
and me the money. Fancy the wrath OF
the pious Flora !"
Nellie laughed with real enjoyment
and Norman went on.
MY only hope lies in her betraying
herself in talk Only leave her to me-
well, haven't | left her to your" she
answered with fresh pettishness. "You
must confess that it's rather hard on me
booking at you flirting with her, and al
Floras pious spooning with that gaun,
parson of hers. She's going to marry
him, you know -
is she? Whether she gets it or not p
"0h, yes. She has plenty anyway OF
her own. Greedy creature! How she
loves money"
There was the suppressed spite OF
weeks in Nellie's tone.
"well. so do we, for the matter oil
that" he answered carelessy. IF only
she would take herself off now to the rec.
tory, and we could find out what is really
queer about these two, you and / might
have a good chance with the old mar
yet"
I'm afraid it's no CO." she said de
spondenty.
Come, cheer up Well, must &c
back to duty with la belle savage" And
they turned towards the more frequenteC
part of the lake, where Mathilde wa.
holding her little court.
Flushed and animated by the cheerful
stir and exercise. she swept about in un
dulating lines, or poised on one foot a:
her progress was arrested by friends
Norman paused by Ter now.
You sweep along with just the dil
of a gray-winged seagun over the waves,
he began.
Bah" with a little shudder, II would
as soon be likened to a vulture, l hat
them So"
But why? They are so beautiful,
he urged. feeling that his pretty speeel