Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-11-30
CHAPTER XIV.


along Piccadilly by himself. The
young man had lost every interest in
life; he had become moody and melan-
cholY spoke hardly and cynically of
women, and bitterly of life in general.
He had loved Irene so we'll, and be-
lieved in her so thoroughly, and now
he had lost his faith in her. and often
told himself that he had ceased to love
her He told everybody that he was
going away from town, yet somehow
he fingered on day after day. and he
frequented the places where he was
likely TO meet her, secretly longing for
a glimpse at her beautiful face. He
did see her now and then, sometimes
on the box-seat of Joseph Taunton's
coach; once he met her coming out of
a milliner's shop in Bond street, and
she nodded to him and half held out
her hand. bur he only lifted his hat
gravely, and stalked away relentlessly
down the street.
she is a heartless, mercenary CO.
quette!" he would say to himself, "and
1 hate her!" but, of course, he did
nothing of the sort.
He walked savagely down to his
club, with his heart full of rage and
bitterness. Several of his friends were
gathered together in the smoking
room, and. as he entered, and they
were discussing the very person of
whom his thoughts were full.
They are to be married at St.
Georges, Hanover Square. on the 29th,
l hear" BERTHE Morris was saying.
Everybody, that is anybody, mean,
has been asked. have got card" he
added naively.
There was general laugh at this.
and somebody called out to Dessinger,
as he Joined the group. Are you any
body Algy?"
What do you mean?" growled the
young man churlishly;, for he was sore
and hurt. and ready to pick a quarrel
with anyone.
why. l thought you were great
friend of the lovely bride! Hasn't she
even invited you to her wedding?"
No. she hasn't; and il she had,
shouldn't gol" almost shouted Dessin-
ger back. There's no friendship in my
mind. l assure you. towards a mercen-
airy woman, who is selling herself to
a bloated little cad for the sake of
the gold she can get out of him"
Suddenly a hand was laid heavily
upon his shoulder. He turned round
sharply. and found himself face to face
with Rupert Carroll.
Now, although this was Carroli's
club. he very seldom came into IL now.
and therefore he knew very few of the
Younger members; but Algy he did
know; for they had once. for a few
weeks. been friends and companions on
a salmon river in Ireland. Dessinger
started. and turned color a little at the
sight of him. He was very pale. and
his lip trembled.
May / say a word to you, Carroll?''
"A hundred, my dear fellow"
Algy led the way into little ante
room, where they could be alone. away
from the prying ears of the club SER
wants.
Il ought not to have said what l
did" began Dessinger. rather awk-
wardly. Yet surely that you should
reprove me on her, account-when it is
YOU who have driven her into this hor-
rid marriage-seems rather vomical,
doesn't II? / suppose that was what
made me lose my temper"
My dear Dsssinger, what do you
mean2s and Carroll turned pale. How
can 1 have had anything TO do with
Miss Garland's marriage? Why l do
net even know her-now.s he added. in
a low voice.
Well she told me so.r
She-toid-you-that I--she spoke of
me TO you2. he inquired hlankly.
NO; she did not mention YOU actual
~ by name. Carroll; but she told me
that some fellow had once made love
10 her When she was very young. and
that he had gone away and left her
without word; and she said IL was
that that had made her turn hard and
reckless. and determine to sell herself
for money; and then she Just said
word that made me put two and two
together. and guess that II was YOU.
And was just wild with jealousy and
misery when YOU came in just now, for
perhaps if il hadn't been for you.
might have won her; but when she
told me that she should never love any
man on earth excepting that one who
had treated her so badly. then ii didn't
seem any use 10 go on trying. did it,
though I'd have died for her gladly Just
10 save her from marrying that dread
full man"
And then suddenly the poor boys
fortitude forsook him altogether. and
he laid his head down on folded arms
on the table in front OF him. and
sobbed aloud.
Rupert Carroll stood by him for
moment motionless and cold. as though
he had been turned into stone he
could not have spoken to save his life
1t seemed TO him as IL in that mo-
ment. years were added on to his life.
And presently. when Algy Dessinger
lifted his red. tear stained face. he