Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-08-17
CHAPTER /.

~All that sort of thing Is a dreadful
mistake" said Mrs. Garland's sister
tn-law to her severely.
What sort of thing, my dear?" in
CURED Mrs. Garland, mildly Oh"
following the direction of the other
woman's eyes, "that?"
The two ladies were seated in the
shade. upon the smooth lawn that
sloped from The Cottage down to the
river. The little garden was gay with
flowers, the summer air was full of
sweet scents and sounds. The tea
table. with its dainty white cloth and
Japanese tea-service, had been set
upon the grass beneath the shelter of
a wide-spreading plane tree.
The Cottage faced one of the most
lovely back-waters on the Thames,
being secluded from the more public
traffic Of the main stream, by long
wooded island with fringe of grace
ful willows. that bent low over the
shadowy water.
The object which at the present
moment aroused Lady GarIands dire
dtspleasure was, as a matter of fact
one of the most delightful river pic
lures that could possibly be imagined.
A young girl dressed all In white,
and fair as any dream. was standing
UP in a punt halfway across the
stream. Her slender figure, seen to
best advantage against the deep
greens of the background, was per-
feet In its supple grace, and she piled
her long pole slowly and with dexter
Gus ease as she approached the bank
Her companion, a good looking young
fellow of six or seven and twenty,
lay at full length upon the scarlet
cushions in the stern, his arms flung
idly back behind his dark curly head,
and his brown eyes fixed upon the
girl In dreamy absorption.
1T Is a horrible mistake!" repeated
Lady Garland once more, almost with
anger
That Irene should amuse herself.
Anna?" inquired the girls mother,
with a gentle smile; why should not
the poor child have q little pleasure? %
But who is this young man, pray.
with whom you allow her to go punt
ing about on the river from morning
till night?"
Rupert Carroll? / think he seems
Seems but what do you know
about him? Who is he, where does
he come from?"
"Oh. he is just staying at the
George for fishing" replied Mrs.
Garland placidly.
MY dear Gertrude. you really are
the most aggravating person In the
world! As If staying at a country
Inn for fishing could be a sufficient
guarantee for anybodys respectable
ityi How do you know, pray, what
this man is? He may be an impos-
tor"
81 think not Mr.. Carroll is a gem
tleman."
Anyhow he is probably a pauper.
Pray. Gertrude. think of your child,s
future. She is beautiful and barely
eighteen. she ought TO marry well.
for she has no other fortune but her
face. And believe me, my dear. these
meaningless fiirtations only get girls
talked about, and are horribly preiu-
dicial TO their settling in life"
A tush came suddenly into her
mothers gentle face 1--WE do rot
think of such things, Irene and l." she
L
want my girls head to be filled with
with ideas Of what you call mar
rying welI-I would rather keep her
at home with me-"
At this moment the punt grated
against the shallow shore at the end
OF the garden. and Rupert Carroll
sprang out to assist his companion to
land AS he took her hand. he held
it a moment clasped tightly in his.
Wont YOU really do as 1 ask you.
Miss Garlandg"
Mamma would not like me 10 so,
MFR. Carroll the girl answered. trem-
bling a little, and not daring TO meet
his eyes.
But why tell her? Why not come
out quietly as l ask you to do. with
out saying a word? 1t is not as il
we had not been out after dinner be-
fore. and You have no idea how beau
tiful the weir looks by the light OF
this harvest moon--it is dream."
Irene's downcast face was picture
of indecision and cSnfusion AS a
rule It was a face that was trifie
cold and proud. but now something
new and wonderful had TRANSPORTED
and changed ii. so that ii was only
sweet, and tremuloas. and timid For
fortnight past the girl had been
living in Dreanlland This man. whom
three weeks ago she had never heard
OF. had entered into her quiet life one
golden summer day, and had taken
possession OF her whole existence
A chance Introduction TO Mrs Car
land and her daughter had brought
about the Intimacy. and very soon
Carroll hsd found that boating with
Irene. was a laa ...ore enhancing oc-
cupation that fishing by himself. Mrs
Garland. an Irishwoman by birth
wax. as are all her countrylnen and