Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-06-21
JUST ONE GIRL

| But Dame Fortune sometimes PLAYS
queer freaks on her most unsuspecting
sons and daughters, and it so happened
| that Mrs. Douglass was far away when
her sons telegram arrived
'Will be home tomorrow with Lock
wood. Stay a week" SO the telegram
read Nothing so formidable sounding
about that. but mother was away. And
Lockwood? Well. Gilbert Lockwood was
the only son and her OF Hon. Grant
Lockwood, ex-senator and county judge.
Whatever shall we do?" asked poor
Margaret Proud. aristocratic Margaret,
who loved nothing so much as a fine dis
play. Margaret never did know just what
to do unless her younger sister, Beth.
suggested.
Mother away" she continued ''AIollv
down with neuralgia. and Milly in tam
tfums' to say nothing of cook, who is
ready to fly at a moments warning"
NOW Molly was upstairs girl, while
Mlily enjoyed the double privilege of
waitress and ladies' maid. Her tantrums
were chronic, aggravated this time nv
Molly's illness and a consequent increase
of work. \ dreadful state Of affairs. most
surely. i''09'
Well. we are in tight place. that's
a tact, answered Beth I'VE have
spoiled Milly by doing most of Mollv's
work, and she will never consent to doing
Doth. More than that, Julia always in.
sists on extra help in the kitchen when
there Is company. There's where Molly
proves herself jewel"
ANA Harold so particular Beth. it's
awful. Gilbert Lockwood, of all people.
and his first visit! Things are sure to 90
wrong, and | shall die of modification,
Harold will scold, and mother! Beth. can
,NfI h.. =.
But in the meantime Beth had done
some thinking, and, to judge by the de-
clded pose of her chin, had thought to
some purpose.
II have it. Madge," she answered;
leave it to plain, practical Elizabeth.
and the honor and dignity of the Doug.
lass family will live forever | am going
to put ,Milly in the kitchen with Julia
and"
But" demonstrated Julia.
mo butts, my dear / am going to
take Milly's place with Molly's work"
And with curtesy half-mocking, half
triumphant, Beth stood before her sis
ter, arms akimbo.
but II" again ventured poor Mar
garet.
you? Oh, yes! You will do the hon
ors, play hostess, explain how poor mam-
sy went away for rest, and how sister
Beth is visiting a friend! SeeT'
Margaret protested that Harold would
be angry, and that their mother would
never get over it, but Beth was firm.
Leave it to me-" she said. I'm man
age Harold, and mother win never
know"
SO it happened that when Harold
Douglass and his friend alighted at the
steps of the Dongless home only Mar
garet was there to greet them.
why. Madgew he exclaimed. Where
| are mother and BethY'
"Oh, mother was not well. so we sent
her to Aunt James for rest, and
Beth - But here Margaret was inter-
rupted with:
IF you please, Miss Margaret, will
| Mr.. Harold just step into the library
momentF' And there stood Beth. in a
neat but plain calico, with a white apron
on, her hair smoothed plainly back only
an occasional curl escaping over her
! brow and neck.
Too astonished to speak, and obeying
slight but imperative nod of Margaret's
head Harold followed Beth in. After
listening TO her explanation he gave a
most reluctant consent, promising Sc
crecy, saucy Beth giving as final ar
| gument:
well, with only one 10 choose from
Mr.. Lockwood may leave his heart, and
incidentally his fortune, III the Douglass
family. Who can tell?"
|
Quent meals, Harold noticed that many
of Gilbert I4ockwood's stray glances fell,
not upon Margaret, but upon Beth, who
| certainly made a very demure and de-
! cidedly pretty waitress.
Each evening when he met her in the
little summer house for their daily chat,
| Harold tried Reth'S patience by coaXing
her to give the farce up, or at least TO
let him introduce her and explain to
Lockwood
No; | like the FUN" Beth always an
swered 1T is rich to watch Madge's
face when | come in, She is so afraid
will make some dreadful break. And
almost did when | called you Harold this
noon; but | guess he didn't notice"
The brother and sister made a very
pretty picture as they sat thus talking,
hut ii seemed not to 80 strike Gilbert
Lockwood, who for the thru night in
that week stood at his window watching
them.
"Humph. This after-dinner tete seems
TO be steady diet for Douglass" he
growlcd to himself a deucedly pretty
girl. but why doesn't Hal look higher:
! But say, that's the very face that has
been haunting my dreams ever since
came. Am | moonStruck, too. and in love
with Halls sweetheartI BOUNDS, the bold
why, | believe Ia like to kick him. This
is a pretty state of affairs
But it was even so. And when Harold
reioined his friend for a quiet smoke he
found him decidedly grumpy and dis
posed to discuss the folly of UNEQUAL
marriages. At the end of the week, on
their return 20 college, there was de-
cided GOODNESS between the two fellows.
but Lockwood soon made mp his mind
that was foolish on his part. and soon all
was rs it should be- But even so. Gilbert
used TO envy Harold those regular let
ters that came, at the same time con-
demning his folly.
At last came the commencement. and
with il all the fathers. mothers, sisters.
brothers, Sweethearts. cousins and aunts
And here was Gilbert Lockwood's sur
prise. for with the Douglass family came
that pretty waitress"
His mother must know all about il 8"
thought Lockwood; wonder how she
likes it? That other rather stunning girl
must be his sister Beth. of whom Hal
is always talking. Gness I'll go over and
| make myself agreeable"
No sooner said than done. The intro
| auctions were not hurried. but Gilbert
7 a. 4 1. Ia