Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-08-03
CHAPTER XIV


AS the company sat about after din
ner, Norman and Mathilde drifted from
a discussion of the relative charms of
summer and winter landscapes into re-
view of their favorite pictures Safe in
an impersonal topic, Mathilde had been
talking bit more freely than was her
wont of late.
There are pictures of the year." she
said. that seem so marvellous at the
time, and yet one thinks of them after
wards without ever wishing to see them
again. Jean Beraud's 'Crucifxion on
Montmartre' fascinated me when saw it,
and 1 could never pass it in that big end
room without wondering over it; but one
could never long afterwards for another
sight of it as one longs for LIE Pages
Joan of Arc or Duez's st. Francis of
Assist"
Norman turned and looked her straight
in the eyes, and before he spoke she felt,
with incredulous surprise, the shock of
the coming enmity.
you were in Paris, them" he said, and
there was something in his slow, distinct
tones that hushed the other speakers and
turned them into listeners, three years
ago, when that picture was exhibited.
How much l regret that / did not know
of your being there /!
He was her open foe, then, and she
knew that to venture on such a declara-
ton of war he must have heard those
words of Hudson's few hours ago.
For 1t could be nothing save a declara-
ton of war when each person at that
table knew his speech to be an accusa-
ton OF deceit and falsehood While Ma
thilde stared round helplessly, there was
a general movement.
Steware leaned forward fercely !:
"What does it matter to you? he began,
but Mrs. Herbert's voice, shrill and high
pitched from excitement, overpowered
his:
at seems a strange time to have been
travelling, when the child was photograph
ed In the Northwest that spring, only two
months old. 1t almost seems as though
the voyage when that youth met Miss
Thorne' must have been subsequent TO
that"
1t was like a trsnsformatio scene in
a theater, the swift change from we'll
bred calm to recrimination. Stewart was
the first to spring TO his feet, and the
others instinctively did the same.
With grim face and dull fire burning
in his eyes, he said hoarsely:
You shall not insult my wife in my
fathers house,"
But Mrs Herbert's rage was now equal
to his cwn. Your wife?" she jeered.
How could Miss Thorne in Paris be your
wife in Canada? | am going to Sir
h. ;sb
women brought into his house. If he
does. | shall leave it."
She turned towards the door, but Stew
art sprang before it.
You shall not leave this room on such
an errand.' he said.
shall l not?" she painted mockingly,
and swiftly turning, fed through the pan
try door.
Stewart, as transformed from his usual
self as she, ground out an OATH White
and dazed, Mathilde grasped the back of
her chair, while Nellie sat whimpering
from fright, and clinging to Norman's
arm.
"She will kill my father if she bursts
in on him like that l must go to him"
Jem said quickly. "Mathilde, don't
want you to stay in the room with that
cur. Go upstairs until come"
Curt" Norman started forward, but
he met the look that Mathilde turned on
him and shrank back. In after years he
would have given much 10 have forgotten
that look.
Il am not responsible for what that
virago says or does" he muttered uneas-
ily: but no one needed him save Nelly,
who clunc to ,.tun CRYING.
"Oh. Norman, dearest Don't quarrel
with him -
As Stewart was about to hurry of
Mathilde gathered force to speak:
wait ~ she cried. You shall not
distress Sir James for me 1 wSns moth
ing more from you or from him. Only
let. me go away"
She hardly knew what she was saying,
and Stewart hardly listened
Il cannot wait to talk. Do as / said"
he answered, and was gone.
Mathilde looked st the two before her,
as one looks any hing that is past and
gone from ones life. She smiled slowly.
"Yor have worked hard 10 do me harm,
but | wonder what benefit you get BY
it,"
THAT remains 20 be seen." Norman am
swered with brave attempt at his usual
manner. 1T was only self-interest that
leo me into war against you, for, believe
IRE, liked you from the first"
Il would must rather not believe it.
she answered, and. turning, left the room.
Swiftly her vague plans crystallized into
decision.
She had failed In the task that she
had undertaken for Stewart, and with
that failure their bond, which was only
one of self-interest. was broken With.
out success she could not bear TO keep
for one day longer the benefits that hs
had heaped upon her. II she could only
slip away now, without their meeting
and tomorrow be fAr sway.