Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1917-09-25
CHAPTER IL.

CHAPTER III.
Louise, with heavy, silver-plated
candlestick in her hand, stood upon the
uneven floor of the bedroom to which
she had been conducted, looking up at
the oak-framed family tree which hung
above the broad chimney-piece. She
examined the coat of arms emblazoned
in the corner, and peered curiously at
the last neatly printed addition, which
indicated Stephen and John Strange
wey as the sole survivors of a dimin-
fishing line. When at last she turned
away, she found the name upon her
lips.
"Strangewey she murmured. John
Strangewey 1t is really curious how
that name brings with it a sense of
familiarity. 1t is so unusual, too. And
what an unusual-looking person! Do
you think, Aline, that you ever saw
anyone so superbly handsome?"
The maids little grimace was ex-
pressive.
'Never, madam" she replied. "And
yet to think of it-a gentleman, per-
son Of intelligence, who lives here al
ways, outside the world, with just
terrible old man servant, the only do
nestle in the house! Nearly all the
cooking is done at the bailiff's, quar-
ter of a mile away"
Louise nodded thoughtfully.
'It is very strange" she admitted.
81 should like to understand it. Per-
haps," she added, half to herself. "some
day I SHALL"
She passed across the room, and on
her way paused before an old cheval-
glass, before which were suspended
two silver candlesticks containing
lighted wax candles. She looked stead
tasty lat her own reflection. A little
smile parted her lips. In the bedroom
Of this quaint farmhouse she was look
ing upon a face and a figure which the
illustrated papers and the enterprise
of the modern photographer had COM
bined to make familiar to the world
the figure of girl, it seemed, notwith-
standing her twenty-Seven years. Her
soft, white blouse was open at the
neck, displaying beautifully rounded
throat. Her eyes dwelt upon the oval
face, with it's strong, yet mobile fea-
lures its lips little full, perhaps, but
soft and sensitive; at the masses of
brown hair drawn low over her ears.
This was herself, then. How would
she seem to these two men downstairs
she asked herself-the dour, grim mas
ter of the house, and her more youthful
rescuer, whose coming had somehow
touched her fancy? They saw so little
of her sex. They seemed, in a sense, to
be in league against it. Would they
find out that they were entertaining
an angel unawares?
She thought with a gratified smile
of her incognito. It was a real trial
Of her strength, this! When she turned
away from the mirror the smile still
fingered upon her lips, soft light Of
anticipation was shining in her eyes.
John met her at the foot of the
stairs. She noticed with some sur
prise that he was wearing the dinner
jacket and black tie of civilization.
"Will you come this way, please?"
he begged. Supper is quite ready"
He held open the door of one of the
rooms on the other side of the hall, and
she passed into low dining room, dim
ly lit with shaded lamps. The elder
brother rose from his chair as they en-
tered, although his salutation was
even grimmer than his first welcome.
He was wearing a dress-coat of old
fashioned cut, and a black stock, and
he remained standing, without any
smile or word of greeting, until she
had taken her seat. Behind his chair
stood a very ancient manservant in a
gray pepper-and-salt suit, with a white
tie, whose expression, at the entrance
Of this unexpected guest, seemed Gu
riously to reflect the inhospitable in
stincts Of his master.
The table was laid with all manner
Of cold dishes, supplemented by others
upon the sideboard. There were pots
of jam and honey, silver teapot and
silver spoons and forks Of quaint de-
sign, strangely cut glass, and a great
Dresden bowl filled with flowers.
II am afraid" John remarked, that
you are not used to dining at this hour.
My brother and are old-fashioned in
our customs. If we had had a little
longer notice"
II never in my life saw anything
that looked so delicious as your cold
chicken" Louise declared. MAY 1