Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-07-19
CHAPTER XVIII.


rejoinder at the time, he was good
deal hurt, and thought that If she hal
been really in sympathy with him she
would not have made such speech
In this particular instance he would,
no doubt, have forgiven her more read
lily had he not felt that her taunt was,
to say the least OF it, plausible. Per
haps he had been -punctilious,
perhaps IT had been absurd to expect
that Susie would understand why ne
had avoided her for so long, perhaps
But he determined not to cheat HIM
self with hopes for which there was
absolutely no excuse; and II he was
a little disappointed when he heard
that the Moores had left London, that
was only because even inexcusable
hopes die hard. The General, is a2-
peared, had been threatened with an
attack of govt, and had therefore hur-
r1ed his family off to Kissingen,
whence they were to proceed to Swlt-
Eerland later on
Il suppose CIaughton will have the
govt, too" Fred said to himself, with
doleful laugh. OR perhaps he will
join them without a pretext; probably
they won't require one OF him"
II Mrs. Fenton had seemed to lack
nicely of perception on the occasion
Just referred to, she did not again lay
herself open to any such reproach.
Her opinion as to the comparatively
trihing nature of her cousins malady
may have remained unaltered; but she
abstained from expressing it, and, In
deed, she was good enough to abstain
from any direct allusion to Susie
Moore What she did was to cheer the
young fellow up as best she could by
giving him plenty to do. She insisted
upon his taking her to theaters and
concerts; she affected to lean upon
him great deal, to be guided by his
advice in a hundred small matters; in
short she tried to give him the Idea
that he was Indispensable to her; and
If he saw through her kindly strata
gems they were not the less success
full on that account. Whether he was
indispensable to her or not, she be-
came. by degrees, almost indispensa-
BILE to him. His happiest hours were
passed in her society; she made him
forget his troubles; sometimes she
made him laugh, and when she had
achieved that feat she was so childish
ly triumphant over 1t that he could
not but be touched and grateful
She and he spent several afternoons
in house hunting together, for he
agreed with her that her best plan
would be to make London her head
quarters. For the matter of that, there
was no reason why she should not
have a small house in the country as
we'll, IL she cared to set up two estab-
lishmentS.
After ALL" she said. one day, who
knows whether 1 shall ever want a
house of my own? l may be going to
die, or 1 may be going to lose all my
money-who knows?"
Considering that you are In perfect
health, and that you have Mr.. Brefft
to look after your investments for you,
don't think either of those catastro-
Plies is very probable" answered Fred.
laughing.
But she was In one of her depressed
moods and she did not join in mis-
laughter. Nothing is improbable, ex-
cent happiness" she declared. That
IA impossible for everybody and most
improbable for me. Just now l am
quite happy-at least, 1 should be If
I could believe that things would so
on like this"
Didn't IT ever occur to you that
vour father would leave you at least
a mart of his fortune when he died"
asked Fred. wonderingly.
She shook her head. Never! /
Give YOU my word that I never be-
slowed a single thought upon the sub
lnxr rhnF1 / cqNxT a
advertisement in the sydney paper.
didn't look forward at all; l just went
on from day to day and tried TO for
get that there was an awful future
coming when l should be old and ugly
and voiceless. but the present, at all
events. belongs to. us, and we will
make the most of 1t. I wish you en-
ioved it as much as 1 do"
He said he enjoyed being with her
which. indeed, was quite true-and
she seemed to be pleased with his
reply.
R,t the time very soon came when
chose two good friends had to par5.
parliament had risen; all the fashion
ohla people had elft London. and
Mrs. Fenton had engagements which
racessitated her departure. Lady
C,Iamborough. who had taken her up
very strongly. had invited her to spend
q few weeks in Scotland, and other Ia =
dias thinking that she would make a
,seful addition TO a house party. had
hsan equally hospltable; so that there
rs little likelihood of her becoming
bar own mistress again before the
middle OF September. And them" she
said 81 think l win so down to some
Quiet little seaside place and rest
awhile. II do, will you come and see
mef"
..Of course, I will" answered Fred,
.sh,. I don't much believe in your
buryins yourself at the seaside. You
won't feel any great craving for res;
when you set among all these magniti-
cent friends OF yours.
"Oh. nonsensel" she returned; tho
magnificent people aren't my friends
and never will be- l cont belong &c
them; l only smuse them: 1t is you
who have friends: l have only one"
And this sentiment she repeated with
even more emphasis when he accom-
panied her to Kings Cross to see heI
or to che North. Il shall write Tc
YOU" she said. and shall expect you
to answer me and tell me all about
everything"
I'm afraid there won't be much tc
tell" replied Fred.
ooh, yes, there will, II you will write
about yourself. That's all I care &c
hear sbout-only you. We have had
a pleasant time together. haven't We:
I wish It were not over! Perhaps il
hasn't been so very pleasant to you
though"
She would no doubt have felt fiat
tered IL she could have known how
much he missed her after her depart
ure. 1t was quite true that ne had nc
lack OF friends. and during the remain
der OF the summer he had what hi
would formerly have called a very
folly time OF It." staying for a few
DAYS in many country houses ana
plaving cricket great deal lie had
D.o(,~~.oI CO