Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-01
cHApTER XLY.-(Continued)

hle TO hide himself behind II the cloak
AZ seorn with which he has been daily
INC. why was | kept in ignorance all
This timeT" 1t is the first grieyance-the
most terribe-the most fatal. If he had
known he might have come to her-have
plcaded, entreated-and not perhaps in
vain. 1t is the secrecy that has been the
ANAL thrust of the dagger in Il wound
Ijready mortal. Why did nobody write
and tell me? Why was l. of all people.
alone left in the dark? Only last week
NV mother wrote and told me of fact
that had been known to the entire neigh
horhood for over month. \ desirable
match, she called il. So You call il,
100. no doubt" He pauSeS. as if wait
ing for her TO answer him, but no words
fan from her pale lips. "A most damna,
bic match, call it, says he hotly.
She turns away as if TO leave him,
hut he places himself III her path and
compels her to remain.
Not yet. You shall not go yet. 1t Is
our last meeting" says he. DO not
gIudgc me moment or two. He
laughs contemptuously. What a low
crs' meeting, Well, never mind. You
have your other lover now"
What is it you would know says
She desperately. yet with that touch of
dignity that has supported and beanti-
fed her all through. ASK me and
win answer. | must soon go home"
You know" says he. why was not
told?"
should be told? Why you, above all 9TH
crs? | don't suppose the world generally
was made acquainted with the fact of
my engagement. Then why YOU
Great heaven" says he. laying his
hands suddenly upon her shoulders and
forcing her to meet his gaze. Who
could have thought that little unsophis-
tcated thing like you could have been 50
faise-So worldly! How dare YOU talk
TO me like that" Almost unconsciously
he shakes her slight form to and fro be
meath his grasp, but. except for the
deepening of the pallor round her lips.
she gives no sign. You, who know how
| love you!"
"Oh. no. no." cries she. almost VIC
lently, as if warding off some terrible
thing. As she speaks she moves reso-
lutely. and shakes her shoulders from
beneath his grasp. Il never thought ="
Thought! You knew sternly.
You knew. too, that / believed in you.
Your very silence about this wretched
engagement condemns you. OH Evelyn.
that You of all people should count
money before love"
How terribly unjust you are. says
she, with a tremulous gesture Surely
your mother when giving You the news
of my engagement, todd you, too, some
some Of the reasons for il? She told you
the truth about it--what actually led to
it?"
oh the truth, There is not a scrap
of truth about it from beginning 10 end.
1t is falSty itself"
She turns away from him. as though
giving up argument, in a little heart
broken way that chiils him. vet some
how adds to his anger against her. Is
This a fresh vile? And vet, can one
compel nature? Can the cheek whiten
50 at viii? How very white she is, and
is she slightcr, more fragile than she
used to be?
You are looking ill., says he; 'sout of
spirits, too. This money, then, has not
sufiiced you?"
care you inhumaH?' cries she sudden
". Ilcr large eyes. SO much larger than
they. used to be- as it seems to him. or is
il that her face is smaller thinner?
You know, you must mountaineering
out her hands in little agonized fash
ion-"they have told YOU, I'm sure, how
It IS with me, and vet you would force
me to put it into words"
Il wouldn't have you distress yourself.
certainly" says he, with tardy and very
ungraciofs conjunction, but She hardly
seems 10 hear him.
IF the colonel had not been in such
sore straits. Tiff ruin had not threatened
rs. and it, mournfully, "Mr. Crawford
had not come to our rescue, | might
she hcsitates, and then goes ONT con
fcSs it to you'-lifting her heavy eyes to
hist might never have thought Of this
marriage. But he came, and he was so
good to uS-sO glad to be of use. without
any thought of recompense. that ] was
glad to be able to give him something in
return
Something! One is bound to congrat-
niate him upon his bargain. Certainly
he has got the best of it,
You must not. however, think" goes
On she calmly, ignoring his last remark.
that | have any feeling but real honest
hiking for Mr.. Crawford or that T.
tightening her hand somewhat upon the
branch of the tree against which she is
eaning. but never once removing her un-
friendly eyes from his-"am seeking to
explain this matter to you. or excusing
70 you my acceptance of Mr.. Crawford.
IKE him respect him
And he is a very rich man. | quite
He is, at all events. the best man
nave ever met, says she, calmly still,
and as if determined to treat him with
me contempt she knows she ought to
feel for him.
And you have met so many" says he,
WIN short unmirthful laugh.
nave met enough 10 teach me who
- and who * not. worthy of regard
onc need not know the whole world TO
earn that. Half a dozen people are suf-
nrlent to give one full insight into the
Prlncipal faults and virtues of humanity"
says this little sage with the sore heart
Nhc delivers her text unCompromisingly,
ana as if she deies him to contradict it.
. 10 her just now. life indeed seems linn
led malmed-a poor affair enough. TAX
ing 1t all together So much to lose in it
ana vet so little to gain. This is the
problem that perplexes her by its seeming
9niairness. and renders her prey to that
nun despair that comes to us all now and
mgain during our journey through this
All her thoughts are out of awning to-
uaE. There Is nothing pleasant on which
ihelr eyes may rest. The foreground is
,'ut distorted misery; the background.
And he is the immaculate one. | hope
~eH prove SO. Well. ii Is your own af-
Ia.f' OF course; and. for the future, YOU
an ...r :" Your WY and can 60 mine"
Inc first truism you have uttered to-
icy i36.' says she, with that new air Of in
nherence that almost amounts to con
V!iPt that he has found so Irritating.
Not the last. however. I'll give you