Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-09-08

| followed hard upon their heels, and be-
sides all this you had the wisdom of the
! past What was l amongst so many?
took counsel with myself and wisely
determined upon effacement."
! He has thrown so much point into that
slight remark of his about the wisdom of
age that she catches il and harps upon
| it.
What do you mean by age?" asks
she with a little gesture that implies how
scornfully she has cast aside all his other
! inSinuatiOnS.
Crawford replies he bluntly.
There is a heightened pause. Once
! Miss Darcy lifts her head as if 10 speak
ai.d "a ]. r,ti II ns .inu, wll''>, aS hnT@ h
| to give expression TO her thoughts is "a
little difficult
He is not so old as you think him.
! says she at last, as though driven TO this
| speech through sense Of loyalty.
NO? How old do you imagine | think
him?"
Il haven't as yet found time to go
| into il" says she, with slight shrug
of her shoulders.
There is so little time for anything
nowadays, one shouldn't blame you. Per-
haps, however. he is not SO young as
you think him."
Il don't think him young" with little
| frown.
Don't you really?" with malevo-
! lent sprightlinesS. Il quite thought you
| did. And no wonder, too To see him
waltz was a revelation. 1t brought to
mind the Wandering jew: the secret of
perpetual youth and all the rest of it.
He is an astonishing person. He might
! pose as almost any age. | had regarded
him as Merlin. but after tonght's capers,
| | must moderate my opinion by hum
| dred years or so. Still it seems pity
| that so wise and learned seignior as he
appears to be should give way to the
| frivolitieS that distinguish this effete pc
| riOd. If he must dance. why not devote
| himself to the dignfied squares? Look
| ing back through the many decades he
has been privileged to see, he must nat
/ urally regard our ungraceful dances as
being altogether out of it when compared
| with the stately minuet, the
Il suppose you think you are very
amusing says Miss Darcy rising ruth
lessly and giving him Il glance that
should have withered him. Mr.. Craw-
| ford may be the oldest man on earth for
all | know; but at least he is Il gentle
| man."
Which | am not?'' smiling still. hut
with pale lips and angry eyes.
why should you say that?"
THAT is what you think"
| You know nothing of my thoughts"
oh, yes, do; | know some of them"
Matters might have grown still more
complicated but that just at this moment
the duchess, who has been speeding the
parting guests, comes up to them fol-
| lowed by Mr. Blount. She is evidently
| IN her element amongst these simple
| country folk and is looking as jolly as a
| Sand-bOy.
| Been quite Il success hasn't it?" saws
| she genially, including Evelyn. whom she
likes, i'll the conversation. but really adj
dressing herself to Stamer. AS a rule
she always addresses herself to men. 1T
| has gone off tremendously well. Ell? p
The pleasantest night / have known"
says Stamer promptly and with enthusi
! aSm All the enthusiasm is meant for
Evelyn, who receives it with an impas-
sive cOuntenance.
Such fun as it's BEEN says the
duchess with a merry little laugh. "And
I'm glad that everybody has been
| pleased"
Everybody, except Miss Morley" says
Mr.. Rlount in tone of reproach.
oh! as for her, poor girl, if she will
come gowned like that and with such
manners how is one to help herr" saws
the duchess with a shake of her big
head Society hasn't arranged for that
sort yet
''She has a perfect skin"
| Yes, | know But what waste of
| good material to give it to her
Still it's something to look at" says
Mr.. Blount mildly. $50 many of EN-
are horrid. There's Lady Mildred
| Haversham for example! Makes one
creep to look at her. Complexion like
oatmeal, by Jove.'
But she is so good" says the duchess
| eemphatically, as though little correction
| Is necessary.
oh. l daresay," says Mr.. Blount I'M
! abashed. They must be something, yor
know. If they're handsome, they're bad
and if they're ugly they're good | don't
believe in that. you know, Lady Mil
her mouth, but I've heard
The duchess puts up warning finger.
GU see we none of us care for YOU
hearings, Batty," says Stamer with
short laugh.
We'll, anyhow, it's a pity that all
who is equal to most emergencies. One
hears of the beauty of holiness, but
where is it? Lady Mildreds out of that
running anyway"
You are mundane" says the duchess
with an irresistible laugh you will not
look beyond the cloud tnat hides our net
ty failings. If you did you would see
purity and charity and faith and all
such lovely things. But to come back
TO the more pr0saic present, if you will
not admire solid worth. you will surely
admire Mrs. Wylding Weekes!"
oh. how pretty she has looked to-
night" says Evelyn eagerly. The tribute
to the charms of Mrs. Wylding- Weekes
is so honest that the duchess regards her
with interest. And what gown"
"A heavenly frock," says Mr.. Blount
genially. "A perfect sweetmeat. One
lOnged to devour it. 1t was indeed so
small that one could easily get it down,
There was good deal of Mrs. Wylding
Weekes if one remembers correctly. but
very little of the frock. Still, what there
was!"
Was very special" supplements STAN
or mildly. Much should be conceded to
that"
Not much, but certainly little" says
the duchess: she moves away as she
speaks. but looks back again kindly at
Evelyn.
You look tired" says she. why
wait for the very last? Go to bed. dear
child
Thank YOU says Evelyn with
faint smile; she has crasped the idea
with avidity. Oh. to be alone TO be free
from those who come and 90. She gives
her hostess a little gracious inclination
and makes a step or two towards the
nearest doorway.
Good night says Mr. Crawford,
hnIdipu p,1t hi. houd Hn cntnn IN