Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-05-25

was lost in the painful wave of crimson.
The whole thing would be exploded in a
week. she finished decisiyely.
| For a moment Mr.. Stewart looked as
though he might, on his side, wax
wrathful; then, controlling himself, he
spoke persuasively, Il never could have
entertained so far-fetched an idea for a
moment, il | had not seen how resolute
and self-reliant you were-if l had not
known how without family ties and hope
full prospects you are.
IF there are difficulties in playing
such part at Orwell, are there no diff
fculties ahead of you in the Paris life?
And surely, you over-rate these difficult
ties. You say you cannot play the part
of habitant-- Yen forget that they are
totally ignorant of how such a part
should be played. You are half French,
so you told me. Well, that fact supplies
the necessary exotic element in her eyes.
She won't expect you to be what you
can guess that poor soul to have been.
1t is not as though it were for long. 1t
is only to give her time to feel that the
game is up, and that she had better
clear out; and for me to get the will
made, and then the difficulties are over.
And then what becomes of me?" she
asked with hard contempt, to which he
responded gravel:
Then, you are the honored wife of the
heir; mistress of my fathers house. 1t
is something to consider" There was a
pause then he went on in a gentler
voice. 'As for being tied to me, | can
only say that / should endeavor to repay
my Indebtedness to you by loyal con-
sideration: that / make no claim of any
kind upon you save of -fensive and
offensive alliance. For the rest, you
must know that il had not admired and
respected you. | should hardly have been
willing TO place my future so entirely In
your hands.
Don't you think that, considering all
this, you might promise t. think it
over?"
II don't know, l don't know" Miss
Thorne murmured feebly. All al once
there seemed something very forlorn and
girlish about her. The lips that had
been so firmly set were tremulous, and
the grey eyes bright with tears.
A sudden kindly smile heightened the
intensity of Mr.. Stewards face
DOu DC 81 lIlSultHcu VI NE, NE
urged gently. ION my honor, you can
trust me. Surely there are many worse
motives In marriage tnan loyal comrade-
ship on both sizes
But l have tired you out now. Just
promise me that we may talk it over
again, and l will go away and leave you
in peace"
Miss Thorne was by way of being rath-
err strong minded. at least size tried to
think so herself, often feeling the most
feminine weakness when she had best per-
suaded others of her stony-heartedness.
But now every pretence at stoicism
suddenly abandoned her, and left her to
gasp out helplessly, "Oh, yes, l promise.
Only, please go away now"
As Mr.. Stewart walked off to the other
end of the deck, she sat with clasped
hands, staring at the endless changing
curve of the dark waves, and thinking
how very simple it would be to walk
over the railing, wait until that side
dipped low to meet the rising curve, and
slip over. In a moment sac would be in
the white, churning wSke IT she steam
er. and then. But no, that ere rank
cowardice. and there was thst In her
blood which made cowaroice N impossi-
bility. While youth and strength last
ed, she would fight on-when that went,
then let all the rest go too.