Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-06-28
CHAPTER XIV

once.
CHAPTER XIV.
Mrs. Fenton devoted a good deal of
her attention. TO the other occupants
of the crowded room, and wanted TO
be told who they were and to what
class Of society they belonged you
don't know!" she exclaimed, rather I'M
patiently. But why don't you know ?
you live here. Before I had been a
month in London l should be able TO
place every one of them for you. Look
at that prim little grizzle- headed man
with the fat wife, If we were in Aus
tralia l should put him down as a gov
eminent official. What is he in En-
gland, l wonder? Not a Member Of
Parliament? He isn't happy: he
doesn't like dining in public; it is his
wife who has made him come here.
She is greatly interested in us, and
can't make us out at all. She has put
up her glasses to try and discover
whether 1 have a wedding be-
cause she thinks you can't be my hus-
band, or you wouldn't be so civil to
me. Now I am going to make her
thoroughly uncomfortable"
Mrs. Fenton, as she said this, fixed
her eyes upon the lady In question
with a look of distressed commisera-
ton. which speedily produced the de-
sired effect upon the latter, who be-
gan to fidget about in her chair I'M
easily and to cast furtive glances over
her shoulder.
What have you done to the poor
woman?" asked Fred. Have you mes
meriasd her?"
No; but she thinks there is some
thing dreadfully wrong with her back,
and of course she can't see It, Now
she is asking her husband He says,
oh, bother! it's all right; and she
says he might at least have taken the
trouble to look before making so sure
of that. They will come to high words
presently. No; they are going away
He says 1t Is time to be off; and he
has got pair of opera glasses, so
suppose they are going to the theater
1 wish we were going to the theater
Is it too late?"
Fred was afraid 1t was
We'll, perhaps we n.ight go some
other evening What are we to do
now? OF course you want to smoke
Couldn't we go and sit in the park?
1t is such a beautiful. warm evening""
Fred shock his head.
II don't think tina, would quite do"
he answered, smiling.
Then you had better come home
with me. Would that do? Or would
the hotel people think it odd that
should ask a young man to smoke in
my sitting ROOM
"Oh, I'm your cousin, you know"
Yes; / might tell them so if they
looked scandalized; only isn't that
what the cook says when she is dis
covered giving supper to the police
man? Never mind; we'll chance it"
So Fred returned to Albemarle street
with her willingly enough. for indeed
he found her very amusing compan-
ion. No sooner. however had they
reached their destination than she
ceased all of a sudden to De amusing
and became silent and depressed
When he knew her better he found
that these abrupt transitions from
gayety 10 gravity were natural to her.
and that they as often as not occurred
without any discernible cause.
You want to hear something of my
history" she said, in a changed voice
and one which sounded to him like
that of an older woman. 1T is quite
natural that you should want to hear
1t, and l should have had to tell you
some day. though it isn't a subject
that like to dwell upon. My husband
might have made money If he had
beer more persevertng for he was an
excellent teacher and very good the
oretical musician; but for a long time
things went badly with us. For some
years we were at Wellington, in New
Zealand and then he thought there
might be more of an opening in New
South Wales. so we went to Sydney.
But 1t was the same story over again
there. People heard of his habits and
wouldn't employ him; and he was not
good temperedam ma His pupils
complained OF his roughness and rude
ness. and so he soon lost the few that
he had ever had. II I hadn't been able
to give lessons myself we shouldn't
have had enough TO eat worked ali
day and every day. and when I went
home In the evening he used to-Wel,
he is dead now; we needn't say any
more about that"
Fred gaxed at her pityingly. and lis
heart was moved with Indignation
against the deceased Fenton.
Were you-were you fond OF hin?"
| he ventured TO ask az length.
Not latterly: he made that quite
impossible. I suppose I must have
been fond OF HMM way; but I am
not sure about that Probably YOU
can't at all enter into the feelings Of a
girl who IS naturally high spirited. but
has always been CONTEMPORARY sup
pressed girl who has no friends and
scarcely any associates, except ser
wants.. girl who is forever vaclllating
between an exaggerated idea OF her
own talents and gifts. and so forth AID
8 self distrusc which makes her resent
casual compliments as a sort OF insult
Most likely Mr. Fenton believed that
my voice would be the means OF bring
Ing him a fortune even IL my parent
age didn't He was bitterly disap-
| pointed in my voice. and he didn't live
] long enough 20 share my inheritance.
| The one thing which l do regret with
all my heart is that have been MAIDS
rich at your expense
| You mustn't regret that any more
said Fred Il assure you don't regret
It We couldn't both OF us have my