Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-07-20
CHAPTER XII


Some hard hours for Matilde lay be-
tween bedtime and the next mornings
late daylight. hours when she was free to
let the passion of pride and jealousy and
bitter shame sweep over her unchecked.
But by the time that she reused herself
from late short sleep, her resolve was
shaped. She would play her part, and
carry out her share of the bargain, and
then, when the battle was won and she
had done her best in it, she would de-
mand her INSTRUMENTATION to go live
her own separate life. Let him enjoy the
place and the money which he had made
use of her to win; she would have none
of it. And so, once again, as she thought,
she was facing life with no strong arm
behind her. Strange to think how uncon-
sciously she had been leaning on Stew
arts strength
By some coincidence, Stewart had that
day for the first time gone off early to
meet. This made it easier to her to come
forth and face the world.
Mathilde seemed destined to come I'M
exbectedly on Miss Fearon's interviews
for when, in the course of the morning.
she went at her usual hour to join Sir
James in the conservatory, she saw that
lady seated on low camp-stool beside
him. and holding in her hands a letter,
from which she had apparently been read
ing him extracts.
The letterSwas hastily folded as she APP
nroached. and the reader looked up with
q slight frightening of color.
Don't let me disturb you," Mathilde
49, al ctr o,1f
an eager hand to hers.
'sYou couldn't disturb us, my dear.
Nellie is just giving me Norman's news,
which is only few hours ahead of him
self"
Nellie looked decidedly Disconnected, as
though she had not intended Mathilde to
know whom her letter was from.
ooh, | often bring my morning budget
TO give uncle bits out of my days COS
sin But | must run away now, for
dear Flora wants me to go down to the
village" and with her usual hutter Mile
was off.
Good little girl, good little girl" Sir
lanes mused But she wouldn't have
done for Jem's wife. He'd never have
been proud of her, as he is of you, my
dear"
Il hardly think that he is very proud
of me-" was the only answer she could
think Of
But the old man chuckled. That's all
YOU know, my dear. Jem was always
ouiet. but you should hear him talking
away TO me about you. If when he was
a boy he had only learned TO talk to me
frankly, as he does now, things might
have been different :" and Sir James
sighed.
Frankness How much frankness could
there be in his talk of her to the father
against whom her very presence was a
couspiracy? As much frankneSS as there
was in his talk to her, she supposed, and
her shame at their duplicity burned deep
er.
How relieved she was when Ger father
ip.law asked her TO read him the paper
habit which had become almost daily
with them.
Ii was that afternoon about tea-time
that the new cousin made his appearance
Mathilde's first impression was one OF
surprise at his unlikeness to her husband
OF slight build and understood, dark, too
he was not at all her idea of what one Of
the family would look like, although or
the pale. clean-shaven face she could trace
characteristics that showed that he and
James Stewart were cousins.
Flora's Introduction was stiff and for
malsto q degree, but Norman Stewart pu
an unexpected warmth into his greeting
Next TO seeing dear old Jem himself" b,
said. as he held her hand. lis meeting hi:
wife and seeing how lucky he has been
And $ glance helped TO point the eompli
ment. "Old travellers learn TO take glow
ing accounts with caution, but can say
with the Queen of Sheba, the half of i
has not been told me-
Mathilde could not but laugh and fusi
a bit as she withdrew her hand.
please, don't make me shy" she said
"My husband should have been here L
welcome you BE told me that he woulC
be sure TO be back before you came. All
here he is" she broke of, as Stewart ap
peared in the doorway. muddy and dilapi
dated. The mutual greeting was quiet.
s'Hullo. Norman; got here frstgs an'
sGlad to see you back, Jem.
Mathilde. watching the long handshske
wondered how much sincenity il conveyed
Someone else, too was watching it keenly
for she caught Miss Fearon's straine'
gaze, fixed on the two. in nervous fash
ion
Then came tea and the business o