Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-05-12


leaving more unsaid.
Opposite her, Mario barely tasted |
the dishes set before him. The care
worn eyes in that dark, ascetic face
+ watched her constantly If covertly. If
she looked up from her plate, he dis
sembled studiously, his smile flashed
eagerly. She was none the less con-
scious of his anxious expression when
she was not looking--aware and dis
tressed.
'You slept well?" he inquired.
She smiled: "Famously
II am glad. You show the benefit.
think you are even more beautiful
than you were, more pale. perhaps.
but-how does one say it?-spirituelle.
But 1t may be am not fair judge
tonight-I am so happy, see all things
couleur de rose"
His lean brown hand stole across
/ the cloth to cover hers for moment.
"And you-are you not glad. dear, to
be home with me once more?"
She said, with difficulty, in low
voice, looking down at her plate:
II am glad to be with you. Mario"
1t was true: in spite of everything
she was strangely glad. But 1t was
wrong of her to say so. -.
II myself slept till noon," he volun-
T teered. "Then waited and waited
4 for you to wake up, but you We're
i sleeping like child, you never stirred;
one had not the heart to disturb you.
Then, when 1t got so late, and could
d no longer put off going down into the
valley. gave Martha instructions not
to leave your bedside till returned
or you awakened"
She wondered: .'WhyT
81 was afraid, | dared not leave
anything to chance. One could not
foretell in what condition you would
wake up. If anything had happened
l think another disappearance
would have driven me insane!"
She avoided his eyes, and asked,
rather mechanically, more to say
something than out of desire to know:
''Why did you have to go down into
the valley?"
ITO telegraph New York and call off
the detectives l had employed to look
for you. Also to tell the villagers you
were safely found, and thank them.
They were most kind, those good peo-
pie; fully half a hundred of them
stayed up all night with me, while we
searched the woods; and though many
had not had wink of sleep, they
were still searching yesterday after
noon when despaired and determined
to seek you In New York"
Thus reminded of the sad futility of
that search, she was too deeply dis
turbed to wonder why he could not
have telephoned to the village. .
The Japanese served their coffee in
the living room. 1t was now quite
dark, and the air though sweet was
keen. The fire was burning but the
windows and door were not closed
and the family acrid smell of wood
IA smoke blended pleasantly with the
pungent perfume of the pines.
Mario placed an easy chair for
Priscilla. made 1t easier with cush
ions for her back and head. offered
her cgarettes-and showed surprise
when she refused them-lighted one
for himself and threw II away hall
smoked. and knelt down beside hel
chair, resting his elbows on its arm
and capturing one of her hands.
She tried to steel herself against
the weakness of the flesh, the protests
of her affections, the enervation Of hei
sympathies. reminding herself SHE
must be cruel TO be kind But 1t was
terribly hard to hurt him as she must
II wasn't as If she didn't care .
The mere contact of his hand thrilled
her heart to a faster tempo. quickenine
breath and pulses. affected all her be
ing with tremOrs of fear and glad
ness. made her infirm and weak Of
purpose. She had for him only s
pathetic apology for a smile, fororr
little shake of her head.
; A deeper concern Swallowed his face
He asked tenderly: "What is 1t. dear
! You must tell me :.
Its going to be so hard" she sale
reluctantly. ITO say what must
can't think how to begin, except II
the bluntest way"
do not be afraid. Tell me frank,
how have failed you, in what respec
] have fallen short"
g "But you haven't"
e "Then what 1t was did to max,
! You run away from me-"
"I'm sure you could have done moth
p ing"
: "Still. you ran away"
"No-I didn't"
He demonstrated sharply: "Leo
nora y
''Pm not" she declared desperately
I'm not Leonora."
"Whatl'
, 81 am not your wife, Mario"
"One moment Cl0uded Will
doubt. his eyes challenged the candol
of hers, but found ii hawless. AT 9
lOss--"What are you sayingw he NUT