Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-08-09
CHAPTER XXI.

The MoOres remained Two days long
er in Paris, during which time they
had several meetings with their friends
at the Grand Hotel; and on the even
ing of the second day Mrs. Fenton re-
turned their civility by inviting them
to dine with her
The Moores came, and were made
welcome, and departed after an inter
change of polite speeches and promises
of speedy reunion in London Mrs.
Fenton said no more about them after
they had gone; out she thought about
them day and night, and the thought
deprived her of all her happiness. She
had been pleased to accuse Susie of be-
ing 1irt; but that was not her real
opinion of the girl. She knew perfectly
well why Captain Claughton had been
rejected and, what was far worse, she
was sure that Fred knew, too. Love,
which in some respects may deserve to
De called blind. is only too clear sight
ed In others; Mrs. Fenton was at I'll
times an exceptionally observant per
son, and, even II she had not been so.
ltfWouId nave been nc difficult task to
her 10 Fead so transpar ent a character
as That of her cousin. From the outset,
indeed, she had been under no Illusion
as regarded the nature of his affection
for her. He had been touched by her
sympathy, by her kindness, by her evil
dent love for him; to some extent also
MS senses had been affected by the in
nuence of feminine beauty and moon
light; but with the first sight of Susie
Moore, and the first suspicion that Su-
Sic might have cared for him all along,
notwithstanding her apparent encour-
asement OF Captain Claughton, all
these feelings had been swept away.
Everything proved this scrupulous-
ly honorable conduct; his determine
tion to remain true to the woma n
whom he had asked to me his wife; the
exaggerated precautions which he took
10 avoid being left for a moment alone
with Susie; above all, his desperate
and most unsuccessful efforts at mer-
riment
Perhaps under the circumstances, a
proud or magnanimous woman would
at once have released the young man
from his engagement; but Mrs. Fen
tons life had been such that pride was
scarcely possible to her, and, as for
nagnanlmlty, there are more ways
than one of displaying that virtue.
however, Mrs. Fenton kept all her re-
nections to herself and tried to behave
as though nothing had happened. This
being an impossibility, she wisely
abandoned the attempt before long,
ana one afternoon, when Fred, with a
somewhat gloomy and distracted air,
was sitting beside her in the Champs
Elysees, she said quietly: II have tele-
graphed to Albemarle street to tell
them that they may expect me to-mor-
row. Enough is as good as a feast and
! think we have had about enough of
Paris, now"
He assented readily. His readiness
to assent to anything that she chose to
suggest was not very hopeful sign;
but at least he was anxious to please
her, and she might be excused for
thinking that so docile a fiance might
be easily converted into a devoted hus-
band.
They travelled to London on the fol-
lowing day, and Immediately on their
arrival there became very busy. They
were to be married in about a month:
60 that there was plenty to be done and
not too much time to do it in. Con-
gratulations and gifts began to pour in
upon them. Sir James lie Breton came
up from the country to express his
hearty approval of the alliance.
Mr.. Breftit was quite Mortified when
Mrs. Fenton cooliy informed him that
she intended to hand over every six
pence of her money to her husband on
her wedding day, and that she would
b obliged to him If he would prepa re
such documents as might be needful
tor that purpose. de said he had new
er heard OF sucn thing in his life: he
assured her that to act as she proposed
would be most unusual. and, he would
venture to add, undesira ole; Fred also
declared that he could not and would
not accept the money. Nevertheless.
she carried her point. To Mr. Breffit
she simply said that he might snare
himself the trouble of talking, because
she had made up her mind, and he
ought to know that argument Is thrown
away upon a woman who has made nm
he mind. but with Fred she wa
somewhat more explicit
II have given myself to Won" she
said; surely IL is no great thing tina.
| should give you my money into the
bargain. And after all. what difference
will il make whether you or / sign
checks TO pay the butcher and baker,,
Il don't think ii right" he answered
"Just now 1t may seem as IL IL made
no difference, but one can't tell what
may happen in the future. and"
That's just It," she interrupted
Nothing is so dreadful as TO be limos
sible, and If we were to quarrel. or n
you were to tire of me, Fred. or-or
think worse of me than you do now !
would rather not feel that was indie
pendent of you; l would rather thar
you had the power of making what ar
rangements you pleased than l."
You are very generous, Laura" sa "a
the young man.
Il love YOU" she answered. simplv.
He was touched and little ashamed
without quite knowing why. IF we
ever quarrel" ne said. lit shall not ha
my fault; but don't think we are a;
all likely 10 quarrel, Laura"
And during the remainder OF the
time that he spent with her he was
both more affectionate and more de-
monstrative than he haa latterly been;
so that when he went away she was IN
excellent spirits.
Mrs Fenton hoped that when once
she should be married to her cousin al
would be well. Miracles" says a we'll
known writer. do not happen" One
hardly likes 10 be so dogmatic as that.
still one may be bold enough to affirm
that IT, in the case OF man. love ever
follows marriage instead of preo edlns
II. the phenomenon must be regarded
as very little short Of miraculous. Mrs
Fenton probably knew that as well a:
anybody; yet. like other people. she
may have had a vague idea that mira
clss do representatives. In any
case, she felt unusually sanguine tha'
afternoon. and gave herself up 10 tbs
construction OF castles in the air
wherein of course FTsd Musgrave's fig.
ure was prominent one.
While she was thus pleasantly en-
ployed. the waiter opened the door ana
announced, ''Ms. Dodd."
Mrs, Fenton half-started out OF hsl
chair and then sank back again. the
color slowly ebbing away from hel
cheeks and lips
Mr., Dodd catered. holding his ha