Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1915-09-28

1t was four minutes to twelve. With
out another word he stalked impetu.
ously out of the room.
Mrs. Royalton, smiling, self-satisfied,
stood for moment in triumph. Her
eyes were suddenly attracted by a
shining object upon the rug, and cross
ing toward it, she saw a ruby ring.
Puzzled at its presence there. she
stopped and picked it up, examined
1t carefully, frowning, and then slow
ly placed it upon her finger. AS she
did so, Carolyn Dallys burst into the
room. Mrs. Royalton hastily turned
the ruby inside and dropped her hand
carelessly.
Carolyn came up to her, very eager
well, did you see Hall?" Mrs. Royal
ton nodded, smiling.
why! Didn't say would?"
For moment Carolyn gazed at her
as if trying to penetrats her mind. She
seemed as yet unconvhced. You re
fused him, Rena?"
Certainly" Mrs. Eoyalton tossed
her head.
Still Carolyn secured incredulous
well, how did he take it?"
"Oh, said l liked him, of course
but l couldn't think of marrying him
and all that-he trck on awfully, real
ly, Carolyn; he begged me to have
him, and said his lie would be ruined
and all that rubbish-you know, the
! way they always do"
Said his life would be ruined, ehi
What nonsensel You didn't say any
thing about-ahout me. or Rosamund
Gale, did you? ] mean about why you
refused him, rea:iy?'
ooh, moi" Mrs. Royalton's tone was
for the first time, clear and honest anG
she now took her turn. What die
you say to him, Carolyn"
Carolyn smiled. ooh, we had a nice
little time-no fuss, no Mysteries at all
1t was really very amusing"
did he ses5a-welI, how did he take
it, Carolyn"
"Oh, of course we pretended it was
all a joke, You know. l wouldn't per
nit him to make a scene, but all the
same l could see that underneath it al
he was pretty badly broken up"
well, he didn't show it much whe1
he came to me. then. He seemed quite
hopeful"
At this moment there was a peal Of
laughter outside the door, and a gay
voice ending a passage of affected per
sifage. Rosamund sailed swishing in
to the room. She held her head VI
proudly, she seemed immensely su
perior as she gaZed about, triumphant
The two women sprang at her
What did you say to Hall Bonistelle? p
exclaimed Carolyn.
Rosamund waited a moment, proud
ly superior. Then she answered calm
ly, mo, accepted him.
"You accepted him!" the two broke
out.
"D'you mean to say you went bach
on your promise?" Carolyn demanded
furious.
Mrs. Royalton caught her by the
arm. Are you fooling, Miss Gale, OF
what do you mean? You promised
ooh, pshawi" Rosamund answered
whats a promise? Why, 1 found
out that Hall felt a good deal different
from what 1 had ever thought Why
he's a dear, really, and he never cared
snap for you two"
"Oh, didn't hei" cried Carolyn.
''Why, the fact is, l didn't have the
heart to reject him, really l didn't.
saw that there was some misunder
standing somewhere, and we had got il
all wrong. Halls simply crazy about
me, and it was perfectly absurd to LEI
our talk stand in the way of my happi
ness-and his, that's ALL"
And do you mean to say you sait
yes?" cried Mrs. Royalton.
Certainly I did. Hall Bonistellt
and 1 are formally engaged, now, ant
we're going to be married."
That's about all you know" CRIED
Carolyn, now beside herself. Hal
Bonistelle is engaged to mel"
Mrs. Royalton gasped. RosanrunC
raved: Its no such thing! 1t cam
bel"
Then you lied to me, Carolyn p
Mrs. Royalton asked frigidlys
We'll, I couldn't violate a conf
dence, could II"
Its a lie, that's all there is about
that" Rosamund exclaimed. TITS per
fectly absurd on the face of it.
guess l ought to know!"
ooh, you don't have to believe it
| but it's a fact, nevertheless" said
Carolyn to Rosamund; and then turn
ing to Mrs. Royalton, she added: "You
see, Rena, Hall explained it all to me
and l couldn't really blame him for the
way he's acted. He was in an awful
mess, and had led you and Miss Gale
to imagine things that he couldn't gel
| out of, very we'll So, as long as l was
the one he really wanted, you know,
| thought" d.
You were the one he wantedH
Mrs. Royalton exclaimed. well, then
I'd like to know what you think OF
that" And she thrust her hand with
the ruby ring into Carolyn's face.
Rosamund turned white. What is
| it?' she stammered.
TITS an engagement ring, of course,
said Mrs. Royalton.
"Rena Royalton," cried Carolyn, "do
you mean to say that you have gone