Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-01-12

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When Athol re-entered Trenham's room
after his conversation with Mr.. Mere
dith, intense was his surprise to find
Rourke half dressed.
What is this?" he cried. "Rourke,
dear fellow. what do you mean by this?"
BY what!' asked Trenham, without
turning. as he fumbled awkwardly with
one of his sleeve links. by getting up
at noon, do you mean? when | ought to
have been up at sunrise. Is that old ex-
aminer gomez"
DR.. Meredith?"
Yes. What does he want here? Why
did you let him into my room?"
Athol answered from his place upon
the rug, looking steadily the while into
Rourke's unquiet face-very steadily
DR.. Meredith has been attending you
DIR. Meredith and even Thorne was
called in at first, for you had terrible
fall, and the consequences might have
been fatal-fatal"
Fatal :" repeated Rourke. How do
you mean?-that it might have killed me,
Or"
Il mean," interposed DIR. We're. turning
his eyes from the young mans face, which
was stirred even in its pallor by the old
tempest of emotion, that many men who
persist in riding you ride do meet
their death in the darkness as you might
have met yours"
I'm the darkness-pooh 1t was light
eI ough. Did l want more light? Did l
need more light upon his craven face? l
saw it plainly enough | heard every
word of his dastardly, cowardly insult.
IL held back at first but he stood there,
defying me, We're | held back at first
II have only two minutes to stay,
Rourke,3 put in Athol, in a tone which
was new to his companion, who had not
seen the change which had grown in him
during these terrible days. 'Win you
go to bed at once, or sit down here for
five minutes and chat with me?"
II will sit here. 1t is lvery-chilly,
isn't it? Why should l go to bed? Why
should you go away?"
Il must" returned Athol. pursuing the
plan which he had felt would be the wis
est. sit down there, then, for the few
minutes during which | can stay
lie put out his arm, and Rourke ac-
copied its support unconsciously. Even
then his step was feeble and uncertain,
and he was glad TO throw himself into
the great easy chair to which Athol had
led him.
mice state of affairs" he said, fore
ed smile upon his lips, while his eyes
were flied with a restless bewilderment
II don't ever remember feeling so be-
fore, We're. What is it? Does insanity
take this form sometimes, and act upon
the limbs and pulses?"
Probably so," returned Athol, coolly,
"such insanity as turks in you, dear fell
low"
what did they do with him after
that, Vere?" asked Trenham, raising him
self in his seat and again fixing his eyes
upon his companion with a sign of that
hot lights in their depths which Athol
could never forget having once seen. "Tel
me about it. | forget it all, only | saw
your face and his-yours a living face
and his a dead one. There could be no
installing that his was the dead face
| was looking at it--looking closely at it
when you woke me to-day-you and the
old man stared at me so hard. He knows
all about it, of course"
Yes said Athol. steadily meeting the
uneasy gaze "he knows you were thrown,
and that Vestris trampled Newley to
death afterward."
"Afterwardi What does he mean?"
"He knows you have been troubled with
terrible and unnatural dreams, dear fell
low, as many men are who have been
thrown upon the head but beyond that
he knows-as everyone knows-the facts
of the case. That you were thrown-do
you understand Trenham, do you quite
understand old fellow?-and that vestris
galloped on, and trsmpled Newley toto
DEATH This was all explained, and prov
ed upon the inquest yesterday"
Inquest :" echoed Rourke, in a breath
less whisper. Proved upon the inquest
How"
proved by the evidence" Athol an
swered. quietly. Il need not tell you all
about it. 1t was like other inquests, of
course. / have 80 many to attend, l get
tired of them"
"Vere," said Rourke, looking earnestly
and questioningly into his friends face.
could you be tempted to lie-even for a
friend to whom you've always been so
good?'
1.-THE medical evidence-for Meredith
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you were moved-was quite sufficient, y
said Athol, with a quiet effort at indiffer-
ence. 1.-The facts were. as every one ac-
knowledged, incontrovertible."
Then l have been dreaming, as well
as mad?'
Dreaming. certa My. whether mad or
not" replied Athol. readily, because he
knew there was truth in his words I'VE
medical men understand what dreams
generally attend"
And tell me-" interrupted Rourke.
holding his hand for a moment to his
eyes, as if to ease their aching. did
they not Understandable no one under
stand-how it was done?"
Yes: we understood
"But when | tell"
I'VE want TO hear nothing more" in
terrupted Athol. hastily. IF you resus-
eitate the subject. Rourke you will act
as mailman
You did not quite mean that, did you,
Nere?" asked Rourke, quietly, as he saw
the scarlet mount to his friends face.
ut was speaking too much home. But
was not my evidence the one most need
ed?"
NO: mine and Lor-"
Athol bit his lip, and checked the word
in haste. The intense fear which Rourke's
last speech had awakened in his mind
had provoked the confession which he
would never have uttered if be had given
himself time TO think.
Rourke had not risen, had not even
moved, at Athols words. but vivid tide
of color rushed TO his face for one mo-
ment. then left it colorless as death.
Your evidence and Lorraine'sw he
faltercd. his fingers tight upon the arms
of his chair. Your evidence and-whose,
did you sayf'
''Lorraine's," Athol answered. quietly,
knowing now tha. it was best 10 attempt
no reservation. Lorraine and | were
returning from Winterheld when you fell.
H.I -, lNxlN I'D