Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-08-16
CHAPTER xxII.-fCOntinued.

CHAPTER XXII.-(Continued.)
Here Mrs. Fenton, who had begun
her narrative in listless, dispiriting ac-
cents, but had continued it with some
thing more of animation, paused. She
shrank from mentioning Fred's name
to the vulgar, brutal wretch whom she
associated with all that had been dost
detestable and degrading in her life,
and who, she felt sure, would only see
in her engagement an additional proof
OF her eleverness. Nevertheless. she
had to tell him about it, because in no
other way could she place before him
a statement by which she hoped that
he might be infiuer ced.
"Of course" she said, after a brief
narration of the facts. you will not
try to prevent my marriage; for that
would do you no good at all. l know
shall have to pay you heavily; but
want you to understand that you will
gain nothing-absolutely nothing-by
threatening me with exposure after
am married. L have already made ar
engagements by which all that | possess
VIII become my husbands property on
my wedding day; therefore, from the
moment that l am Mrs. Musgrave
shali no longer be in a position to buy
you OFF, and if you were to go and de-
nounce me to my husband, he certain
ly woulo not give you any reward for
your pains. Now. how much do you
Want?"
Stall we say five thousand DOWN."
questioned Mr.. Dodd. You will hardly
can that exorbitant, hope"
Very well-on the CO nditIon that
you are never to come near me again. >
My charming Letitia. it is for me to
make conditions, not for you" l will
think over your offer, and 1 will call
Tomorrow about the same hour. You
had better have the amount agreed up
on In banS-notes; for everybody's sake,
1t would be wiser to avoid checks in
this instance. l only wish that 1 could
afford to let you off scot free; but in
the present depressed state of business
that is, unfortunately, out of the ques-
tlon Farewell, Letitia, and don't for
get to return thanks in the proper
quarter for your good fortune"
AS soon as he was gone the unhappy
woman burst into tears. She did not
believe that her secret could be kept 1t
was true that, when once she should
be married, she would be able to defy
Dodd; but 1t was also true that. if he
chose to make subsequent demands up
on her. she would do all in her power
TO meet them rather than be exposed.
Perhaps the best and safest plan would
be to confess all to Fred at once. II
he loved her. surely he would forgive
hem! He would get the money in any
case; the only difference would be that
hlB wife's name would be Letitia, in
stead of Laura. That any mans love
could be killed by such a disclosure as
she proposed to make did not strike
her as possible But what caused her
to hesitate was that she feared he did
not really love her yet Some day, per-
haps, he would, and then she might
disburden her conscience. When she
went to bed after many hours of doubt
and thought, her mind was not yet
made up. Whether Fred loved her or
not she loved him, and, although she
had never felt any great conjunction
about deceiving him, she dreaded mex
pressibly the reproaches whica he
might heap upon her when he should
be enlightened, and when he should be
bound to her for life. Il think | will
tell him tomorrow" was the last thing
that She Inurmured before she fell
asleep.