Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-08-02
90
] MRS. FENTON !
w. E. NORRIS b
49, 90


him than from US You see, they would
have been sure to find it out in the
course of the evening, which might
have been embarrassing. AS it is, they
will just congratulate US when we ar
rive. and there will be an end of it,"
That sounded plausible and reasona-
IL. We'll. / dare say you are right"
said Fred, and then began to talk about
something else. For obvious reasons
he was disinclined to dwell upon top
to sedulously avoided.
Matters fell out very much in ac-
cordance with Mrs Fenton's predic-
ton. Mrs. and Miss Moore said what
the circumstances required to their
guests with ease and possession.
and although perhaps nobody greatly
enjoyed the dinner which followed, i,
passed off quite pleasantly. After des-
sert the General led his young friend
off to the smoking room. remarking
with a wink that it was only fair to
give the women a chance of criticising
one another's clothes.
And l dare say" he added. after h
had ensconced himself comfortably IN
an arm chair, they will have a wocd
VI Two " say oiOOuL YOU, MY Joy.
Couldn't do it while you were In the
room. you know"
The old gentleman prattled away
over his cigar for half an hour or So
receiving monosyllabic replies from
time to time, but he made no allusi0a
20 the one subject about which Fred
was consumed with curiosity to hear.
and at length the latter was constrain-
ed to inquire carelessly, Have yol
seen anything of Claughton this au-
tumn?"
Yes" answered the General, knock
ing the ash off his cigar; "oh, yes; he
was at Kissingen while we were there.
Good fellow, Claughton. very good fell
low-I don't know better" And then
ne sighed
That is scarcely the tone in which a
man speaks of his prospective son-in-
law, and it seemed certain that Cap
tain Claughton had either changed his
mind or had been refused. Fred's GU
riosity was greater than ever; but he
did not venture to put any further
questions. Besides, he was a little
ashamed of himself for being so in
auisitive and anxious; Susie and her
fate were no longer any concern of his.
Shortly afterwards his host suggest
ed that they should join the ladies'
Mrs. Moore and Mrs. Fenton had their
heads together and were deeply inter-
ested in examining a pile of fashion
plates. The General naturally strolled
up to them, and thus Fred could hard
ly choose but approach Susie, who was
seated at the window, gazing down at
the passing carriages and pedestrians
in the Place Vendome. He stood rath-
er awkwardly beside her for a moment
or two. saying nothing, when she open
ed the conversation by praising Mrs.
Fenton's beauty and amiability.
Il thought you didn't admire her AT
ALL" Fred returned, somewhat CURLY:
you certainly told me in London that
you didn't"
Yes" answered the girl, after a mo-
ment of hesitation, Il remember. You
tcld me that l knew nothing about her,
which was quite true. | am sorry
sroke against her; / don't know why
/ did it."
"Oh, excuse me-" said Fred, who was
nervous and irritable, and had lost con-
troll of himself; II think you do know.
| think you were Disguised with her be-
cause you were disguised with me; and
you were disguised with me because
your opinion was that l wanted to mar
ry my cousin in order to get hold of
the money which had always expected
to be mine some day."
He had no further opportunity to
talk, for now Mrs. Fenton came to
wish Susie good might. 1t was time to
go home, she said, and of course it was
hi dutu ~ a0poranan nv her
What was Miss Moore sayingSAto
you, Fred?" she asked. as soon as they
had left the hotel Was she telling
you why she had refused Captain
Claughton?"
NO" answered Fred; I'VE didn't
mention Claughton's name. Has she
refused him?"
so it appears. Mrs. Moore is in
great distress about 1t. She thinks
Captain Claughton has been badly
treated, and she can't make out why
Miss Susie wouldn't have him"
she didn't care for him. | presume"
Then she ought not to have allowed
him TO follow them to Kissingen. How
funny it is that these demure little
girls, who look as if butter wouldn
melt in their mouths. are almost al
ways the worst fiirts of ALL"
"She has better opinion of you than
you have of her." remarked Fred; "she
had nothing but what was kind to say
about you"
Probably she had sense enough to
know that anything she might say
about me to you would come round to
my ears. The truth is that she doesn't
like me, and l don't like her"
pttf 70
this rather superfiuous query he OBJ
tanned no answer
Mrs. Moore" Laura resumed, after
a time, really means to be friendly.
She was kind enough to give me some
6ood advice. Amongst other things
she said she was sure | shouldn't mind
her telling me that it wasn't quite cor.
rect for you to be living in the same
hotel with me-"
Did you request her to mind her
own business?" asked Fred. who was
ready to pick a quarrel with anybody.
No: ! thanked her and begged her
not to mention that she had seen us
here, and then l observed, as one good
turn deserved another / would take the
liberty of recommending her not to 90
her hair on the top of her head. / said
it made the gray hairs at the back of
the neck too conspicuous"
HIN, you seem TO have been at least
as amiable as she was"
BY this time Their had reached the
threshold of Mrs. Fenton's apartments.
With her hand on the lock she made
haIf-turn so as to face him. and said:
"Ah, Fred. / hate these people, and it's
no use to pretend that | don't Yet
they are not bad sort of people in their
way; dare say l should love them i
IF you didn't"
With that she dismissed him to his
reflections. which. as may be imagined.
were not OF very cheerful or self-c1n-
gratulatory nature