Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-04-12
In the Shadow of the Sails.

self a success. and all her undertakings
bore the imprint of her cOnquering per-
sonality. Those honored by her invita-
tons were in the habit of accepting
promptly, while those not so fortunate
were properly enyious and cast down.
Accordingly, when for this particular
occasion she received regrets, and those.
too, from Kitty Crawford, on whom she
had principally relied for the entertain
ment of her guests, Miss Delamore sim
ply set her lips together with NapOleonic
trmneSS and drove at once to Kitty
home TO inquire into the matter.
She found the young lady in the gar
den languidly occupying Il hammock, and
attired in a negligee gown which the
male observer would have thought en-
chanting, but which Miss DeIamore was
too absorbed to notice.
AS for your not going, my dear" she
said, plunging into the conversation with
her usual impetuosity, that's ali nom
sense, you know. Its got to be arranged
somehow. I've depended on having YOU
sing, and besides. the yacht is a perfect
dream now that it has been reftted.
What's the matter, anyway, Kitty
AS she hurled this question at her
friend she bent upon her a controlling
gaze such as the hypnOtist fixes on his
prospective victim.
But the other girl was as shrewd as
she and as Sclfpossessed
"Oh, don't know, Lou" she answered
with Il careeSsneSS that was almost too
elaborate. I'm rather used up, and, be-
sides, the sea breeze burns one to a crisp,
especially the nose. And considering
the tilt of mine You know, | can't be too
careful about giving it undue promi-
hence"
what absurdity-from Kitty Craw-
ford!' thought Miss Deiamore: but she
only said: Nonsense! Wear a veil. I'm
going to have the jolliest sort of a crowd
Kitty. | want you to meet Miss Hunt
tractingly pretty. And Jack Wal
ford-let's see. Do you know him."
Miss Crawford, lowering her inscru.
table lids, admitted having met the gen
tleman in question at her uncles seaside
residence. She neglected to add, how
ever, that they had Immediately and
fallen in love, state of affairs
eliminating III an engagement after six
weeks acquaintance, and that just d
month before this very morning they had
quarreled irretrievably and parted for
ever
Nor did she mention that N breaking
this brief engagement she had come rs
near TO breaking her heart as n well-con-
Quoted Nineteenth century girl ever
comes to so i'll advised proceeding.
Not being given to indiscriminate con-
idences, Kitty referred to none of these
things, but their recollection may ac-
count for her saying, in a very languiG |
voice, just as her friend rose to go, |
Don't expect me tomorrow, Lou; but
{ the day is lovely, and | happen to feel
Just like it, | may come"
Whereupon Miss Delamore. interpret
ng the remark as an unconditional sur.
render, kissed her enthusiastically, and |
went away in triumph.
But when Kitty came on board the |
Yacht next morning there was not in her
manner the faintest trace of listlessnesS
Or languor. In her blue yachting suit,
with n jaunty sailor hat perched care
fully on one side. she was the very EN-
bodiment of girlish animation.
Her advent was hailed with an en-
,husiasm universal, except in the case
Of enc young man, who exclaimed I'M
der his breath. The devil! She hcre?"
and walked to the other side of the yacht
TO recover his composure.
For Jack Walford was still young
enough to believe that love is eternal.
and though he had no intention Of max
ing an humanity fuss over the matter he
knew very well that his heart had been
lrremediably broken by the cruelty of
this coquette in blue, now lavishiIg her
dangerous smiles on all corners.
Jack looked out over the calm water
and thought of the evening just month
before when he and she had walked to-
ccther under the signing branches of the
pines and the sea breeze had rutfied the
bewitching little curls around her fore
head.
The poor boy choked to remember the
tritie light as air" which had been the
to console himself with the reflection
that if Kitty had ever really loved him
she could not have made those savage
speeches which had cut him to the heart.
And so the morning passed uneventful-
ly. and the afternoon was we'll advanced
when Miss Delamore called upon Kitty
to sing.
Kitty responded with the readiness
which was one of her charms. She
brought her guitar from the cabin, took
her seat conveniently near the spot
where Jack was carrying on a very fair
imitation of a Irritation with Miss Hunt
ington, and without preface or apology
began one of the favorite ballads of the
day.
kitty'S voice was like herself, piouant
and sweet and full of charming sur
priSes. She sang snatchcs Of operas, roll
licking college songs and now and then
one of those tender, plaintiye little airs
that compel neither smiles nor tears, but
in some unaccountable way reach the
heart
She turned away her head and beau
tiful color burned in her checks as she
struck Il vibrating chord on the guitar.
There was in her voice, too. Il tremulouS-
nesS which caught the attention of the
listeners almost from the first word:
We wandered in the shadow of the pines,
my love and |.
The young man wiped the drops of
perspiration from his forehead He was
pale to the lips and the girl from Balti-
more noticed il and asked him confidcn-
tally if he was SeaSick.
Il, g.. H., i
not even hear For now into Kittv's
voice there had come a poignant note of
longing and cntreaty. and her guitar as
4 responsive to her mood, sobbed out its
ripping accompaniment:
lie took the ring l gave him, nor cast
glance at me,
As he held the jeweled trinket in his
hand,
And then he turned and tossed It in the
waters OF the sea
Where the waves were splashlng idly on
the sand:
He went his way rnhna1totr ~. bcf ta,rs