Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-09-14

M TX All
the hedgerows and gardens breathed
hawthorn and lilac, on the slopes lay the
sheen of the bluebel and in town
brilliant season was at its height Day
after day and night after night saw the
old familiar round of dinner. dance ana
theater bright eyes and white shoulders.
cards, wine and music; a fortune lost or
won by a throw Of the dice; a play az
lovemaking and a broken heart or two:
what would you, pour passer ie temps:
At one of the biggest houses of Bel
gravia a ball was in progress, and satin
clad, jewel-gleaming throngs were pass.
ing up and down the great white and
gold salon, flirting, chatting and making
believe to dance to the sweet strains Of
the best band in London.
Royalty English royalty-had paced
through its duty dances, and long ago
departed, for the small hours of the
morning were creeping on, and out over
the high houses in the square, and above
the tops of the trees in the park, the
young May moon was shining in a Silver
halo. Ever and anon a couple would
maneuver from the publicity of the bali
room out into the silence and seclusion
Of the broad, fower-flled balcony to
watch its pale rays, like Twentieth-ccn-
fury Romeos and Juliets, but no one ne
ticed, in the far corner, half-hidden BY
huge palms, Il man and a girl sitting oHs
dance after dance, with never a passing
thought of the chaperon who waited on
tenterhooks on the other side of the open
French window.
The man was Of courtly presence and
splendid physique with face clean cut rs
a cameo, red-gold hair, and pointed beard,
,J,,,Y how in hn ho
and blue eyes that fell before neither
man nor woman.
In low, passionate tones he was plead
ing with the girl at his side, pleading as
strong men only plead for life or love;
but to all the fervor of his wooins she
was adamant.
You do not love me. Blanche" he
cried, at length. You have only been
! playing with me"
All! Rex. What a lifetime of regrets
and loneliness | should be saved if |
| did not.'
He caught her in his arms, raining hot
| kisses on her cheeks and lips.
My love, My life! How can | per-
suade you 10 forget everything but our
| love for each other, and marry me:
! why DO you tempt me? Why Go yen
! love me? Why have we ever met!
She half freed herself from his en-
brace, and stood, her hands on his Shout
/ dCrS, scanning ms lace.
/ Heaven only knows, since you insist
on parting again. he answered. And
| yet you say you love me.
Il do love you. with all my heart and
| soul. Rex. my prince of men, my king.
! But how can | marry YOU: Would YOU
have your people say you had brought
| them Il country girl commoner Il
nobody. from over the sea- In what dis
aster would the royal marriage end: No,
/ no. my Rex, Our dream is over tonight.
/ We have come 10 the parting of the
ways. Go back to your throne and wed
Il woman fit to be your mate-a princess.
! And THE memory of this May mad
ness shall go with me to the grave and
no man shall call me wife
Before God, Blanche. | will never
| marry any woman hut YOU There shall
he a lifelong troth between Us, if You
/ will have nothing else
He drew a ring set with blazing da-
/ mundS from his own finger and slipped
/ il on hers.
Send ii to me- darling" he said. If,
/ IN the years to come, vou repent to-
nights decision, and | will he at Your
side rs fast as rail and boat can bring
me; and send it to me if the Great Sum
/ mons come first to you, and ii shall be
/ buried with me, for love OF a peerless
/ woman
He bent his handsome head and kissed
her again.
/ nave no leWei TO give NOu back.
Rex she whispered, only this little
'Mizpah' ring-'Thc Lord judge between
/ me and thee when we are absent the
/ one from the other "
| She raised her lips to his for last
! caresS. and he kissed the teardrops from
/ her eyes too, before he led her back to
/ the glare OF the ballroom and the Scru-
/ tiny of score of pairs of jealous eyes.
/ and the murmur of a score of enviaus
! feminine tongues, she has refused him,
the little fool
Blanche Drummoud sat sewing nj the
opon window Of a gray. ivy-grown
house. with the golden sunshine of an
other May, ten wears after. showing IN
all the hnger-printS that relentless time
and trouble had placed on her beautiful
face.
Squire nrummond had never possessed
more wealth than would suffice for his
own requirements and those of prodi-
gal son, and il had been standing
grievance to him that his daughter had
50 steadily refused every offer If 4 rich
husband. He did not know the story
of the diamonds on her left hand and
moreover, he had no soul for sentiment.
Now that he was gone to his long home
and the prodigal started in foreign
land. Blanche lived ON mt the old country
house. with the aunt VINO. ten years pre-
viouSly had chaperoned her one London
season.
suddenly that lady looked up from the
newspaper she was reading.