Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-09-07
CHAPTER VI.


sparkled ara glittered after the heavy
rain, the grass was greener, the flow
ers fresher, the river rushed in fuller
flood on its way. Irene flung open her
easement window and thrust her gold
en- head out into the sunshine.
To-day, to-day" she cried aloud in
rapture of happy love. And the
skies are blue, and the birds are sing
ing, and the air is full of music to well
come him back! oh. happy, happy
day! that brings my darling back to
me-"
And then she blushed and laughed
over her own rhapsodies-she recalled
to herself that she was not a love-
sick wood nymph. but a matter of fact
and sober-minded British maiden with
many household responsibilities upon
her mind.
Her aunt was going back to town by
the 1915 train. She must see that
breakfast was in good time, and the
fly duly ordered to convey her to the
station. She must gather a bunch of
flowers for her to take with her-that
time honored custom of country hospi-
tally, by which the departing guest
is speeded on his way.
Lady Garland was safely got Off
the last good-byes We're spoken, the
last parcel handed into the fly and,
with her bunch of flowers in one hand,
and waving her adieux out of the win
dow with the other, Aunt Anna was
whisked away down the muddy lane,
and Irene drew a gasp of relief as she
followed her mother bac,- into the
porch.
She will be II plenty of time for the
train" she said, consulting her watch
Then she added in an abandon of de-
light as she flung her arms about Mrs
Garland's neck: "Oh, darling mamma!
how delightful it is to be together
again!"
The mother kissed her child fondly.
My child is all my own STILL" she
thought, led astray by the loving
words; "she wants nothing but her
mother-nobody has come between us
yeti"
II think. Irene, as it is so fine we
might go over to Wanstead by the IL
o'clock train and lunch with old Mrs.
Soames. 1t is so long since we have
been to see the old lady, l feel we
have been rather neglectful of her
lately"
"Oh, not to-day, mamma! not to-
day!" cried Irene, in dismay.
why not, my love? l think to-day
will do very nicely"
"Oh, mamma! no-no!" and then she
blushed a bright rose red from brow
to chin, please, dear mamhma, not
to-day. Mr.. Carroll is coming back.
and-and-he said he would be here
for lunch"
For a moment Mrs. Garland was
very silent A sort of chill had fallen
was it the day?-or in the air-or
was il therein the narrow gap be-
twixt her own heart and her child's =?
Then of course we cannot go to
Wanstead-that settles it had bet
ter see about the luncheon, as he is
coming" and Mrs. Garland moved
away towards the door of the passage
that led to the kitchen.
Irene walked up and down the little
square of lawn that lay between the
front door of the house and the road
behind She could see right down the
lane from here the lane that led to
InG NllldSe, anu 10 Tic NtOI6Cs anu
along which her lover must come. She
was in a fever of inpatience-Why
did he not come? oh, how could he be
so cruel and unkind as to keep her
waiting? Her mother appeared at this
moment beneath the archway of roses
and honeysuekle at the side of the
house.
Irene, my dear, why do you stop
out in the sun with nothing on your
head?"
Il am looking oct for Mr. Carroll.
oh, mamma! do yon ,aink anything
can have happened to the train?''
You silly child, the train went by
an hour ago. l saw the smoke along
the valley when l was up in my bed
room"
They waited till o'clock. and then
her mother refused TO wait any long
err They sat down together to the
pretty flower adorned table. with that
vacant chair standing there in its
place Perhaps even yet it might be
filled,
Tell Bessy to put on her bonnet
and run round to the George and see
if Mr., Carroll is coming to lunch, .
said Mrs Garland to The parlor- maid
as they sat down. And Irene's heart
revived a little at the words. 1t was
better to know than to be left in tor
lures of suspense, she thought. yet
when they had nearly finished the
simple meal and the little maid
brought back word from the George
that MIR. Carroll had not come back.
she almost regretted the suspense that
had not. az any rate. bereft her entire
ly of hope.
She and her mother went out in the
punt in the afternoon: they took their
tea and discussed il under the shady
willow bank amongst the water lilies.
at a spot where she and Rupert had
often sat and talked together. and she
exerted herself to be quite happy and
bright and cheerful so that her moth
er should not see the smallest differ
ence in her spirits or manner.
She put up her hand once as they
sat there. and took hold of the same
bough that Rupert had held the last
tried to guess the exact place where
his fingers had rested. and to recall
his very words and the expression OF
his eyes; these memories were sweet
to her. and they served TO console her
in her disappointment But she was
glad when bedtime came. il brought
! her nearer to news of him
She was up and dressed betimes the
next day watching for the postman.
| He was late. She saw him long way
of come trudgfng along the lane She
ran down 10 meet him at the garden
gate. The old postman was long
| time fetching them out OF the depths
| of his canvas bag. They came out OF
il one after the other. Two for her
mother. one for the cook. q postcard