Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1913-05-20


"Oh, Rose. if could see you now
and then-only for a moment like
this"
He felt her hand. small and cold.
crush softly inside his, and almost inn
mediately was conscious of her effort
to withdraw it. He instantly loosened
his fingers, let hers slide from his
grasp, and drew back.
Good night she said hurriedly.
and without looking at him turned and
Went up the steps.
II was a great morning for Cornelia
She was engaged. Two evenings be-
fore, Jack Duffy, who had been hover
ing round the subject for a month.
poised above 1t. as hawk above de-
lighted prey, had at last descended
and Cornelia's anxieties were at an
end.
The wind was not yet out in force:
it's full, steady sweep would not be
inaugurated till early in the afternoon.
1t came now In gusts which fell upon
Cornelia from the back and accelerat.
ed her forward progress, throwing out
on either side of her a Tapping sail
of skirt.
1t was after midday when she found
herself approaching that particular
block, along the edge of which the
fower-venders place their baskets and
display their wares. The boys and
men. seeing that the brilliant lady
was in generous mood, collected
about her, shouting out the excellences
of their particular blossoms.
Cornelia, amused and somewhat be-
wildered, looked at the faces and
bought recklessly.
well, Cornelia, are you trying to
corner the curb-stone MARKET"
She wheeled swiftly and saw her
brother.
"Domimck!" she exclaimed, you're
just the person want to see. was
going to write to you. I've got lots
TO tell you"
Come along then and take lunch
with me. was on my way up to
Bertrand's when l saw you. They'll
give us a good lunch there and you
can tell me all your secrets"
They walked up the street toward
Bertrand's, French restaurant which
for years had enjoyed the esteem Of
the city's gourmets.
In the restaurant they found va
cant table in corner, and Cornelia
had to bottle up her good news while
Dominick pondered over the bill OF
fare. She was impatient and drummed
on the table with her fingers, while
her eyes roaDled about the room.
The order given and the first
stages of lunch appearing, Cornelia
could at last claim her brothers full
attention.
81 told you how awfully anxious I
was to see you, and how l was going
to write to you, didn't ~
Her brother looked up and his eye
was caught by her rosily-blusIing
cheeks.
Dear me, Cornie," he said with
look of slowly-dawning comprehen-
sion, at really isn't-it really can't
be-"
"And why can't IT be-" looking very
much hurt. Whats there so queer
about that?"
Nothing, only meant that hadn't
heard any rumors about it. Is 1t
that?"
Eyes, it is, Dominick Ryan, and l
don't see why you should be so sur
prised."
Surprised! I'm more than sur
prised. I'm delighted-haven't been
so pleased for years. Who is it?"
Jack Duffy"
"Oh. Cornie, that's the best yet!
That's great! It's splendid. l wish
| could kiss you, but l can't here in
the open restaurant Why didn't you
tell me somewhere where we would be
alone? I'd just like to give you a
good hug"
Cornelia leaned across the table and
spohe with low-toned, almost tremu-
lous earnestness:
CT. know that if it were I, I'd ask
your wife. You know that all the hard
feelings l may once have had against
her have gone e It were for me to
say. I'd have received her from tho
start. What I've always said Is.
What's the good of keeping up these
fights? No one gets anything by them.
They don't do any one any good But
YOU know mommer. The first thing
she said when we talked about ne
house wedding, and l said you'd give
me away, was, If he'll come ,.6hout
his wife,"
There were tears in her eyes and
Dominick saw them and looked down
at his plate
"All right" he said quietly. I'm
come. When is it to be-"
.Jure," said the prospective bride.
once more beginning to blush and
beam, early in June. The roses are
so fine then, and We can have the
house so beautifully decorated"
With scraping of chair legs. they
rose and, threading their way among
the now crowded tables, passed out
into the wind-swept streets. Here they
separated. Cornelia, with her armful
of willing fiowe=s, going home. and
Dominick back to the bank.
Two hours later, while he was still
bending over his books, In the hushed
seclusion of the closed building, Bill
Cannon was talking to Berry in the
parlor of the Sacramento Street lat.
This interview was neither so long,
and con Berny's part) did not slow
the self-restraint which had marked
the first one. The offer of one hun
bred thousand dollars which the old
man made her was refused with more
scorn and less courtesy Their had been
displayed in her manner On the former
occasion.
CTO BE cONTINUED)