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

I
began TO arrange his papers, thinking it
not unlikely that he might have To wait
quarter of an hour or So The ar
lansements OF the papers, however. did
not take more than a minute or two.
| and when that was completed he could
| not help listening to the sound of the
| voices in the next room. First he no.
llced that the masculine voice was not
rreos; then he became aware that it
was a very angry voice; ara then he
dlstinctiy heard the words, What 1
want TO know is why you haven't got
| the money ready?"
Ihere was an indistinguishable muir
mru from Mrs. Fenton; after which the
| mans voice resumed loudly: Forgot!
NOW, look here, my dear; this sort of
| thing won't do with me- I'll give you
another twenty-four hours; but at the
end OF that time 1 must be paid, or I'll
know the rea son why"
Mr.. Brefit was an honorable man.
He was startled, and his curiosity was
much excited; but, since he did not rel.
ish the character of an involuntary
eaVesdropper, he coughed, pushed his
cnair about and finally knocked at tho
ioiolng-ooors. After a momentary
pause, he was told to come in, and as
he obeyed this summons he caught
glimpse of the retreating form of Mr..
Dodd.
Mrs. Fenton's face displayed some
signs of recent agitation; but her man
ner was perfectly self-possessed She
said: Il didn't know you were here, Mr.
Breffiit; | hope you haven't been kept
waiting long"
Only very few minutes" answered
the lawyer, CONSIDERABLY averting his
eyes. I have brought you the papers
that told you about"
He proceeded without further delav
to explain the matters of business
which had occasioned his visit, and
found her as sensible and intelligent as
she always was. Il wish all the ladies
whom / have to deal with had heads
like yours, Mrs. Fenton," he remarked.
Well" she answered II dare say /
am as stuped as the others; for there
is one thing that l am not quite clear
about Can 1 do just what / please
with my money until am married."
Undoubtedly. Who is to prevent
you?"
What mean is that haven't bound
myself to hand over any specified sum
to Fred. have 1? On my weddlng-day
l shall simply transfer to him all that
possess, whatever that may be. ask
because l may have to make some
rather large payments between this and
then"
Until them" answered Mr.. Bref1t,
looking a little grave, you will of
course be free to do what you choose
with your own. When you speak of
large payments" he added, presently.
you are abiding, / presume, to pur-
chases that you have made"
This not being a question, Mrs. Fen
ton did not think herself compelled to
make any reply, and a rather long
period of silence followed. 1t was bro
ken at last by the lawyer, who said ap-
ruptly: Il am going to be impertlnent;
but 1 must trust to your kindness to
excuse me. That man who was here
just now-wasn't he trying to extort
money from you upon some pretext or
other?"
Did you hear anything when you
were in the next room?"
Il overhaarf' urn-d .----, 4 --,s.iv,..'
help it. Now, Mrs. Fenton, will you do
we a great favor and refer this rascal
to me? Depend upon 1t, shall be able
to deal with him much better than you
will and most likely 1t will turn out
that you have been scared by a shad-
ow."
But size shook her head He has a
claim upon me-" she answered.; "it
would be useless to deny it. because
you wouldn't believe me If 1 did.
shall have to buy him off. l am much
obliged to you for offering to help me.
only the case is not one In which
could ask for your help"
Mr. Brefnt looked distressed and
doubtful IT." he began. this matter
is in any way ayowable-"
But it isn't" she interrupted, smil-
ing. 1T isn't in the least allowable.
How old was l when / ran away from
oxford? Seventeen? Eighteen? And
now / am getting on for thirty one.
For a woman that Is q whole lifetime
and all sorts of unavoidable things may
have occurred In the course of II. Well
good-by Mr. Brefflt; / mustn't detain
you any longer. l dare say you have
business to attend to. and. as for me.
ought to be shopping. Thank you for
all your kindness to me-"
She got up and extended her hand TO
him. so that he could only accept his
dismissal.
Instead OF going out to do her shop
ping. after his departure she sank back
in her chair and sat for long tina
gazing out of the window. Nowadays
London is never empty; In the autumn
especially plenty of people come Up to
buy their winter clothes and see the
new plays. and Albemarle street was
almost as thronged with carriages as II
il had been the height OF the season.
By-and- by one of them stopped at the
door of the hotel soon after which the
waiter delivered card and a note in
coroneted envelope to Mrs. Fenton. This
missive was from one of Lady Clam
| borough's distinguished friends. who
| had Just heard that Mrs. Fenton was In
| town, and who wrote to beg her to join
/ a small dinner party and meet GER
tain celebrated statesman.
She tossed this Invitation aside with
bitter little laugh. How near l have
been to getting all. and more than all.
| that l ever hoped for in my widest
/ dreams!" she murmured. TT seems
hard to have braved the battle and the
breeze for so many years and to foun-
| der in harbor at last: but / have de-
served 1t, no doubt. Perhaps that 10
| what Fred will say. and 1 am sure that
| is what Mr.. Breffit Will say. Poor NJ.
BRENT, He Is not at all happy ct this
minute. He is thinking that IL Is rath-
err shabby TO take advantage OF what
| one has accidentally overheard: bus
then again. he can't disguise from him.
self that things look uncommonly fshy.
| and that poor young Musgrave ought
not 10 be allowed 20 rush blindfold into
a marriage which may have the most
| disastrous consequences. He can't de-
eide as to what step 1t is his duty to
| take: but his indeciSon won't last
| long"
She did not finish her soliloquy, but
rose and walked TO a side-table upon
/ which she had placed photograph OF
her betrothed. This she took out OF its
/ frame and held close up to- Ter face,
| gazing at II intently for some minutes.
She kissed il passionately once or