Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-12-07

| and bejeweled as the world expected to
sse her. We entertained the smart
crowd known as SOcieTy. | was proud
beyond the pride of man when | saw thq
woman ! had chosen receiving the admir-
alton which no one could refuse her. I
even thought she seemed glad of my
| pride in her, for once or twice as | looked
at her across the shoulders of crowd
| that divided US | thought | saw some
thing III her eyes of warmth which was
absent from them when we found our
selves again in our home.
LAS time went on, her reserve. which
was my despair, communicated itself "a
me- and the impossible barrier between
us was COmDlete."
There was another silence while the
rising wind soughed through the wet
trees and brought down yesterdays rain
in drifts. along with the yellow leaves, to
the gravel outside the windows Know
ing the sequel that was to come, | was
in no haste to nrge my friend forward
with his narrative.
DO you apprehend the situation:" he
asked. presently.
Perfectly" | said.
Does ali this agree with what my
friends say about me in LOndOnI"
II confess had heard that you had I'M
fortunately married cold and heartless
woman" | said.
All"
We went on smoking in silence. A:
last he said abruptly, Il have mere &c
tell"
Hurt yourself no further, dear old
friend l think | can imagine all the
rest"
Can you? l am not altogether SURF
| that you can.
We smoked in silence for about min
ute, and then he continued:
Some other time | may tell YOU OF
how my unexpected fortune departed as
suddenly and surprisingly as ii arrived.
The news of what appeared to be total
ruin reached me first in telegram which
| found waiting for me one night when
| returned home from dinner party
alone, my wife having pleaded a heal-
ache and retired to her room early In
the evening. | gathered up the letters
which had come by the last post and
carried them to my dressing room, where
| Sat down to read them. Imagine cast
ing ones eyes on a hit of paper as the
eyes of the owner of q million and raising
them with the knowledge that one does
not own a penny in the world. | sat
long imm0Yable, stunned with the sud
denness of the blow. The clock struck
again and again. and still | sat confront
ing one idea which dominated all otheDs
that thrOnged my Imagination. concern
ing the consequences OF this unlooked-for
misfortune.
How was / 10 tell my wife? Haw
would she bear it--she who had married
me for the Splend0rs which she must re-
llnqulsh. the woman whose beauty whose
gentle il cold ccmpanionship and perfect
conduct toward me and the world | had
bought with gold? If she could not love
me before. how bitterly would she turn
from me now.
Il had sat for two or three hours mo-
tionless as a stone; the first gleam Of
dawn crept i'll at the edges of the blinds
and | stirred and writhed in my chair
What morning fer the sun to arise
upon. Something else stirred also Just
outside the door, something that had
heard me groan, Il sympathetic mouse
perhaps. | thought bitterly Of beauti-
full sleeper not far away who could not
be expected to be as sympathetic even as
Il mouse.
The door opened little. opened moro,
and a figure in white robe appeared on
the threshold in the gray light; not a
mouse. but my WIFE One glance at her
and i turned away my head, muttering
that there were no thieves in the house:
it was only | who had made any noise
which might have alarmed her She did
not so away, but stood there lookiqvy at
me. 4stssa
What ails yons' she said gently
Nothing that | can tell you at pres
ent, ! said. Go back TO your rest
Will you not tell me what is the
natter
Certainly. l will tell you tomorrow.
1t is only some bad news.
While | was speaking her keen eyes
caught sight of the open telegram, and
Of the letters sprawled ON the paper
which spelled ruin. Th2 next moment
she was ON her knees beside me-
oh, my, dear. will YOU not share this
trouble with meY
Il was so stupid from the shock
had borne that the sweet words and
pleading tone came on me like Il second
blow. The next moment | was not sure
| heard them. did not hedcve in them.
| answered cruelty. >, fortunately YOU
win have to share it with me.
No, say fortunately" Oh. my love.
my husband, am | SO unworthy. Must [
be counted as a thing bought with gold,
living on geld and for gold. and cast
aside when gold fails and love might well
take its place.
My brain was So dizzy that | could
not accept the truth of her meaning and
kept arguing with her like man in Il
fever.
Is it net absurd, / said. that YOU
should imagine YOU could love me now
when YOU could not love me through all
the five years of my devotedneSS to youY
She crcpt nearer To me and wound
her arm around my neck.
Il loved YOU she said. :, loved Won
since the first day knew YOU But |
knew there was plan made 10y others to
force me upon you that your possessions
might he useful to me and those belong
ing To me. The knowledge of this par.
alyZed my actions, even my looks. I
knew you thought you we're taking a
icYticsS wife, and seeing you We're will
ing To take me SO | was 100 nervous. too
timid, too proud, too unhappy. to have
any power within me to undeceive You.
Now for the first time nv l.eart has
found way to speak. We will work. we
Will laugh, we will he happy together"
She frightened her sweet hold of my
neck. My arms closed around her"
II" stopped suddenly He had hea1,
talking as If unaware of my presence
There was long silt ce. and before il
ended my hand had found it's way Ia his
sh0ulder
softly. '''i''
Yes" he said. II thouynt | should
give YOU Il surprise. Sc much for the
opinion of the world and mans nenp-
tratlou of woman'S heart and mind
Ana mere we are after all with enough
saved out of the wreck TO live on simply
and with content. lark, | hear wheels
My. wife is arriving home. Tome and
be introduced to her."-I.Cndon Taller