Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-01-11
The SurmiseS of Sadie Plat.

IHC CuI HISS VI Sduic Ttdtt.
Permit me-" said Van Adam; Lord
Maurice Pryce and Mr.. Dudley Rem
shaw" The men bowed simultaneously,
and Miss Sadie Plat looked up. Her
brain was rapid Of action. She glanced
from one man to the other, fixing upon
her Imagination the face and form CT
eaeh-the one short OF stature, sandy
haired insignificant; the other tall, well
knit and keen-eyed, and swiftly, as she
did all things, She made up her mind
She raised her head quite two inches and
SmileL. Her teeth were brilliant and her
eyes of that hazel which catches and
holds the light. Both men were swiftly
conscious of her charm but instinctively
moved forward. She looked again at
the lips of each; then she, in her turn,
moved laying her hand quite naturally
upon the tall mans arm.
Il don't want to dance a bit she
said, and | rather want to see the
palms. VIII you be guide?"
What the tail man said neither he nor
she ever wanted to remember. There
are some seconds, like some hours, that
blot away mere words. In a dreamy
way she saw the sandy-haired person
drift into the line of men, and the line
itself dissolve dejectedly into the whirl
the bright, intelligent eyes of her part
ner were watching her closely, and that
she was alone with him in that curious
and eXhilarating solitude that belongs so
markedly to a crowd.
They threaded the ballroom in silence
At the door he spoke.
Are you always as summary as
that?" he asked. THAT poor little beg
gar with the sandy hair"
She interrupted him with a smile.
But he was one of 80 many" she OBJ
jected, And people of title don't feel
these little things-their self-satisfaetion
oh" he said. indeed" Then he
looked away. Presently he smiled, but
not quite as she had done. I'D like to
hear your views" he said; Il fancy they
are rather quaint"
ITS my first time in Europe" she said,
and I'm not certain that | like being
called quaint-it has a musty sound"
They both laughed as they crossed the
hall. and a delightful thrill of novelty
raced through the man. He felt that
the staleness of life was after all a myth.
There were waters still unfathomed--if
one knew where to look.
The atmosphere of the palm house was
very green, the greenneSs Of forests and
pools and moss. He drew her toward 4
low divan.
mo. muSty is certainly the very fur
| tHpSl NuFu. mt Sdlu iHOugHllUiiS. n
stream at it's starting, perhaps, or an ash
| tree in first leaf" He was in no way
| potdic, but the personality of the girl,
| her buoyancy and ltheneSs woke in him
something new.
| She sat down and arranged her skirts.
The slim point of her American shoe
| started further run of thoughts.
What on earth have | DONE" be said
| suddenly, ito deserve my luckY'
Her head was bent. She glanced up at
| him, and there was glow of daring and
of expectation in her face.
II wonder" she said slowly, whether
You are j:pst as straight and steadfast as
you look. l wonder" She studied him
attentiveiy,. After all" she said, moth
ing is worth while unless it's shared"
Anything of yours would be more in
! tercsting than-well. than many things"
1T began with my cousin-with Edna
| Van ADAM" She paused. Edna al
| ways says that | must marry title-for
rybody's sake. Usually just let
Edna run along. But yesterday she told
me that she'd found the man. Who do
YOU think it WASP"
He shook his head.
She famed herself slowly. Lord
Maurice Prycc." she said. and she
llaughed--a very low. amusing little laugh.
He moved with a jerk. but she laid
her hand upon his sleeve.
Now you've made me lose my place"
she said. And / don't believe You see
well, /" lie leaned back. Per
hars the joke hasn't come--for me-"
"Oh, can't You sce2 Chance fixed it up
in such a perfectly delicious way. can
picture it in my mind. Billie introduce
ing YOU both. Edna watching us across
the room. | taking Just a minute to de
eide, then coming right away with YOU"
Her color rose at the recollection.
lie looked at hcr attcntiyely. And
why was it me?' he said. He despised
himself for the. expectancy that ran
Why" Her eyes were entirely frank.
why everybody in the United States
has read your book. Ny mind quite
jumped when l heard your name"
He suddenly felt the air of the palm
house growing close. My name?" he
would sound.
why, yes. I have cried nights over
Beaten Tracks | know the name of
Dudley Renshaw better than | know
my own She Looked at him with can
did hero worship in her eyes.
He rose abruptly, walked a dozen
steps, then wheeled about His express
sion was mingling OF amusement, yeN-
alton and something else. He STONED
IN front of her his hands clasped behind
his back.
Miss Platt." he said. where did Won
ton come about?"
You mean how did / know that Won
were youf Oh. that was the simnieS
thing. only needed one tiny glance.
| Why, all the clevcrneSS of Beaten
| Tracks is just showing in your face.
And there's nothing so fine as intellect
on the earth
He made a quick attempt to speak,
| but as quickly another inclination
crossed his eyes He dropped hack into
| his place on the d.van. Miss Platt." he
said, suppose this nonentitv-this Prvce
were to really tell you that he cared
for YOU. Suppose that he were TO saw
al that your cousin would suggest. ard