Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1910-05-10

me. if you please. must 1 marry him
when"
When you are free to do it?" 1 fin.
ished for her. why should you not
my dear?"
She was pulling the threads from ths
lace edging of her kerchief and woult
not for kings ransom let her eyer
meet mine.
You used to say-in that other time
that love should go before mar
riage; did you not? Or do I remember
badly?"
you remember well. I said it tn IN
and 1 say it again at this present. Bu
Dick loves you we'll and truly, sweet
She looked up quickly with the littl,
laugh that used to mind me of happy
children at play.
And I?-now you will read worm.
ans heart for me, Monsieur John? Tel
me; do 1 love him as his mistress
should?"
Nay, surely" said l. gravely, fol
somehow her laugh Jared upon me
surely that is for you to say. Blu
you have said it, long since"
Have II" she queried, with an arch
lifting of the penciled brows that cam.
straight from her French mother
"Mayhap you overheard me say 1t
Monsieur Eavesdropper?"
$50 l did," said l.
All in a flash her laughing mood wai
gone and she stood before me like al
accusing goddess.
You told me once the past was Xix,
dream to you; you must have dream.
ed that part OF it. sir. And yet yot
said a little while ago that l had MOI
failed in any wifely dutyl"
THE time and circumstance were
their own best excuse. Sure am fai
pass, tits enough that l know you love
him as he loves YOU"
Again her mood changed in the
twinkling of an eye. She sank down
upon the hassocS. laughing merrily
20 wise Monsieur joint how well
you read a woman's heart. IT'S you
should be the lover. instead of Dick
He rides accounting as he would charge
a legion on battlefield. But nothing
would ever tempt you to be so MASTER
full rough, would it, Monsieur John I
You would look deep into your swest-
hearts eyes and say-Tell me what
you would say, mon ani?"
All, my dears, hope no one of you
will ever be tempted as I was tempted
them. 1 forgot my dear lad. forgot
honor, forgot everything save that ]
had leave to tell her how 1 had loved
her from the first; how I should go IN
loving her to the end. So for mo-
ment l hung trembling on the brink;
and then she pushed me over.
Us this how you would do, Mon
sieur-Monsieur Ogre?-sit stock still
and glover at the poor thing as If you
were between two minds as to loving
her or eating herr"
1 bent quickly. took her face be-
tween my hands and kissed her twice
thrice.
THAT is what 1 should do. Now that
you have made me what 1 was not De-
fore, are you satisfied?"
Twas long before she gave me a
word And when she spoke it was only
to say: Are you not most monstrous
ashamed, Monsieur John?"
mol" said l. Il love you, Mistress
Margery; do you hear? l have loved
you since that day in June when 1 came
back from deaths door to find you Git
ting here to bear me company
She locked her fingers across her
knee and would not look at me.
: But by your own showing you
should be ashamed, sir" she insisted
What of the dear friend to whom you
would give up even the love of your
mistress%
You may fay me as you will: shall
neither finch nor go back from my
word. You are mine, and / shall five
YOU UP to no man. know 1 have not
your love-shall never have it. Also
know that 1 have gained an enemy
where once had loving friend. Rich
ard Jennifer may kill me If he please
he shall have the chance TO do it; but
you are mine and shall be whilst live
to claim and hold YOU"
There was something less than anger
in the blue-gra eyes when she let me
see them; nay, l could have sworn
there was a flash of playful mockery
in them when she said: Dear heartl
how masterful rough you have grown
all in a moment. my Lord And then
the beautiful eyes filled and she said
Poor Dick," in a way to make me suf-
fer all the torments of that old myth
king who could never qSaf the water
that was ever rising to his lips.
AYE, you may love him. If you must
and WILL" gloomed. Il know you dc
love him."
She looked up quickly. so you have
said a dozen times before Tell me
Monsieur Oracle. how do you know it?'
IF 1 tell you. you win hate me more
| than you do now"
That would be hard. indeed" she
murmured. Yet would hear you say
| IT"
Listen. then: once. when we three
were at the very door and threshold OF
death. you wrote the cry of your heart
out on bit of paper for leave taking
and sent it to the man you loved, You
said. Though you must needs believe
my love is pledged to your dear frie Id
and mine. it's yours, and yours alone.
Were not these your very wordsg'
Der yes" was but the highest whis-
per, 5ss heard it and went op. THAT
is all. SAFE this: the Indian bearer Of
your letter tiundered and gave it me
instead OF Dick
She looked me fsn in the eyes and
my soul went all Ante. Then she laid
her cheek against my knee and heard
her dear voice as it has been a chime
of sweet-toned joy-bells:
~Ah. Monsieur John: how Blind this
thing called love can make us an sup
pose-suppose the Indian did not blum
der, dear lord and master OF me7s
fTke End-l
----------------
waa Strong.