Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-07-27

'Weh?"
1t was late that same afternoon, and
Celia Winter stood in her aunt's morn
ing room facing her companion, a tall,
rather aggressiyely clothed young man.
Celia was very pale, and she held on
to the top of a chair as if she needed
its support.
,.Well?" The man repeated the mono
syllable a degree more sharply
You're mad, Frank, absolutely mad"
she stammered at last. You must know
that | have not a farthng of my own"
You seem to do yourself pretty well.
then, on nothing" he replied, with cool
glance at her dainty appearance. mo,
Sis, dear, don't flush mp like that; don't
think | grudge it to you, We've always
been friends, haven't we? We were al
ways fond of each other. Say you are
glad to see me. after all these years"
II cant" replied the girl desperately
the old time is so far off; it was so aw-
full. Oh. l don't think YOU know how
awful it was for girl, Frank, or you
would have tA!;},d me; for it's true Won
were good to me in your way. But /
can't say I'm glad to see you. Aunt
hates the thought of the past. she would
not help you and Just now She
stopped, and her fingers clasped each
other. Frank Winter followed the move
ment and quickly raised one of her
hands.
You're engaged. Celia. for vour own
sake. help me out There will be anota-
er scandal. another rumpus it will have
to end like the last" he added, signifi-
cantly, unless you help me OUT
But. Frank, whore do you suppose I
am to get t1000E Don't you know how
ridiculous it is?'
ASK your fiance Explain"
Explain what?' she interrupted. Bit
terly; that you are following in the
~ 90 h,,,, -,
money that you can't pay, that"
on ran make up anything you like;
there's no need to 90 into details"
Celia did not answer: she was think
ing Of the end she had meant to give
her sentence, and she shuddered al the
uncOmpleted thought. 1t was not really
true, surely. that she was sorry her only
brother had not the courage to cut the.
Gordian knot, as his father had done,
with a pistol.
"I'd 20 away. Sis" he went on softly:
Il swear | would. I'm sick of getting
my living on the cross. I'd enlist they
want such heaps OF men now. I'd very
likely never come back. and"
She put up her hand quickly.
If | could Oh. I'd help you if |
couid."
Hasn't Aunt Kate given you any jew
es?"
She shook her head.
"She's got some beauties. | remember
my father told me something about some
opals-heirlooms. | believe-things with
a story. She never wears them"
Celia grew white as he spoke. His
eyes shifted from her face.
after YOU Were marrie.'-he'S rich, /
suppose-you might get them back
wouldn't sell them, only
Prank
"Tsch! Don't look so scared. I'd bet
ter go. I suppose; but here's my address
if ANYTHING turns mp, you know Good
ia he proud of you if I'd a right he
murmured as he stopped and kissed her
Celia let him 90 without Il movement
her brother. whom She had not heard OF
since she had left her father. Of whom
she had spoken this very morning, had
come ba .k--money-alWWayS moneE-t'i.t
old story, the eternaliy new one; II
would :, on forever. For how long
would Jack bear it? Frank would
know. of course. perhaps tomorrow. who
it was she was marrying, and today ;
scene would be repeated. Would Jacks
love be proof against this perpetual
hackmail? Was not Aunt Kate right?
Was it fair Of her to reward them for
all their kindness in this wayf
Oh. if only she had this $1,000, if only
it was hers to give. Frank was perhaps
in earnest now. Just this one time: hard
service. privations. heroic example;
might they not stir up what was good in
him. heaven out the curse that was on
him? It was true he had been good to
her in his way. tender as far as he was
able, and in his hour of need she turned
her back on him.
\ thought flashed through her mind,
If she went TO her aunt and offered TO
give Jack up on condition -. She
shuddered; it was an impossible thing,
the sort of thing girls lid IN novels. She
could not do it; she loved jack
The color slowly dyed her cheeks as
yet another idea flashed across her. She
put up her hands as though to push back
something tangible. Mono, that was
equally utterly impossible.
That evening Jack dined with them.
and Lady Somerville, true 10 her colors.
made herself pleasant to the engaged
pair. It's as well to begin rehearsing
ones JOY in private" she had reflected
as she came down to the drawing room.
Celia was looking charming tonigh..
Jack was unaffeetedly in love; he had
brought his hancee some lovely flowers.
and. pinned them in her frock with tur-
quoise brooch.
Turquoises are lucky" he said. smil-
ing. as she thanked him.
DO yOu believe in that sort of thing
asked Celia. do you, Aunt Kategs