Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-09-27
CHAPTER ".
1.-THE WOMAN I MEAN.a

BarEham street, lsllngto0, was not
easily found. being very obscure; but
spectacle. He had timed himself SO as
to reach the end OF his search some
while before Monica could be In from
her Office The landlady OF No. IL was
ready to believe him to be what he said
he was-a friend of her dodgers. She
went by his fine air and his dress-per-
haps imprudently-and showed him into
Monica's private sitting room. There he
waited and waited, trying 30 keep him
self in hand with tracing signs OF her
presence in an ornament more graceful
than the rest, and the few books on the
| inevitable siie cupboard. She had kept
her typewriter. was near the VIII
| dow. He lifted the cover. A half
| finished sheet was on the roller. He
sighed and turned away. Was she
never cOmingi
! He got at last into that state of ex-
, hausted emotion which long suspense viii
J produce, SO that when he heard her hand
on the door he felt strangely quiet.
She must have been in some minutes.
for her walking things were removed. 1t
was near eight, but still light, and her
young face looked sharpened and paier
than he had known it. But the palor
changed swiftly TO vivid flush as she
"Your' she faltered.
Essington went up TO her and held out
| his hand.
You haven't forgotten me-" he said.
| ITS not so long-at least. in time
She gave him her hand in silence, for
getting, IN the rush OF emotion, that she
might be supposed to refuse it. She
could think OF nothing but the change in
him. He looked as if he had been
beaten down.
For a moment there was silence. he
holding her hand and locking down into
the fair young face as IL his heart-hungcr
could never be fed; she standing down
cast before him, asking herself what she
had DONE
Monica" he said at last. II had to
come" and she looked up swiftly, and
said in a smothered voice
"Oh, no! Don't say that! I'm glad
to see you-it's kind of you'll had no
idea it was you-I thought it was bust
ness"
Essington interrupted her. drawing her
nearer TO him as she would have released
herself
''Kind! Ito you! It's simply that l
have no choice-you are stronger than l.
have striven to put you out of my
try TO beat back the waves with my
hand! You had treated me hardly,
said. and / nursed my anger and
wounded pride. But only loved you I'll
all else in the world seemed blotted out
Hush!-you shall not be free till have
you-but even that barrier you swep;
down! You had flung scorn at me
what then? 1t all. comes back to the
same burden-I love you!"
IF only I alone had suffered she
whispered.
''Row could you suffer alone? You SCI
up wretched thing between us--a crime
la Neutrality-suspicious. only fancy, OF
maybe a shielding OF someone less pure
and noble than yOurself-and l will have
nothing between us! | cannot forget!
come to you again and ask you TO enc
this misery. I have no peace day o.
night"
"God help me"' she said, in an agony
What shall l do!'
yield to me, Monica-you can do nS
other! Tell me nothing-I ask for moth
sbe even en ioye 6o!aEf yourself to ~,
and instinctiyely he let her 60
You break my hearth she said
say?"
He stretched out his hands to her.
have done-if l can ever undo III
only saw when 1t was too late! No
did not see, / only feared and suffered
/ don't see clearly even now
"You talk in riddles said Essington
with the impotence Of a terrible strain
IT'S simple enough-only come to me
and keep what silence you choose"
She shrank from him as he ATTEMPTED
to draw her back to him. Her upwart
look was an irresistible appeal. HI
moved step away.
"Solve the riddle. then" he said, in q
subdued manner. al can bear little more
-@
1T would be poor love-" she said
struggling to speak clearly. that would
yield to you as you ask. It's poor love
perhaps, as 1t Is. that has let you suffer
But, whatever / do, you must still SUI
fer. / thought chose the lesser evil, ]
must deny you altogether"
Il will not be denied"' he said, through
his teeth.
"Oh," she went on, II must wound yov
bitterly: / cannot be silent and yet bt
your wife. / cannot, l must not, bring
my disgrace to you! Give me a minute
-" And in a sort OF blind faith she
\ put out her hand to him; II was as II
some helpless creature sought his help.
He took her hand, then drew her into
his arms. She leaned there, with heI
hands pressed over her eyes.
There wasn't a sound in the little
room. She felt through all her being
(the mans infinite tenderness and pa
thence. She lifted her eyes to his face.
81 was shielding someone" she said
Essington held his breath-"not a man
n woman; not anyone / loved. or who
had power over me-someone you loved