Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-02-15
INTERFERENCE.

go. | don't know, so how can | tell
you! | was informed that she had nc
cepted me, and / hadn't the cheek to say
that ! had never asked her. When
didn't say it at first | couldn't say it
| afterward. How she was got into be-
ieving that | had made a proposal I'm
| sure L can't imagine She's reticent
creature. and L hate shy woman. We
have exchanged no condolences, yet here
we are. booRed.'
Il smoked a few moments in silen q,
and then said, abruptly, why don't you
break it off?
Impossible he said; my honor is
| pledged And BESIDES he added, sheep
ishly, she's dreadfully in love with me.
Are you sure you are not in love
with herY
81 like her a good deal. I'd be in
love with her if i hadn't got to marry
her. She's too much of person for me
| to take about with me always
She's as young as YOU
But she's twice as sensible, and so
awfully rich. People are always talking
to me of her gold mines
I'VE smoked q whiIe in silence. and /
said at last, Would you really like to
have this matter ended-say, if the
breaking off We're to come from the
lady?
at is useless 10 put such a case.
She wouldn't do it,
'Humph,' l said. Will you allow me
30 try If ! can manage it.'
:" The wedding cake is bought, the
trousseau is on view. the wedding guests
are invited and she has given lie Il ring
made of a nugget, he said morosely.
''The next day transferred my partic-
ular attention from Jack to the lady who
was known among her friends as Mime
IA I m oh ID
cunning, for she was, as he said, shy,
reticent creature; clear shining eyes un-
der broad brow, which seemed capable
of saying a great deal more than her
tongue, and yet maintained also a GER
tain reserve; a child of prairies, mines,
rocky mountains; while Jack, you know,
is a product of Bond street and the ante
room to the House of Lords. | began
10 understand how it might be that,
young and simple as she was, Jack felt
her too much of a person to take about
with him.
II had ascertained Jacks state of feel
ing; my efforts were now directed to-
ward discovering hers, which was not
half so easy. | began by praising Jack
and she remained unmOyed. For two or
three days | devoted myself to her as
much as was seemly, and her reserve be-
gan to thaw and her silence to melt
away. AT last | progressed SO far as
to tell her what an awfully lucky fell
low / believed my friend to be.
"'Of course / know he thinks it him
self, she said bluntly, but it does puZ-
zle me TO understand how he could fall
in love with me 50 terribly in twenty-four
hours
"'Half the time would be enough !
said galantly: but she only gave me
cool. disappearing look from under her
| level eyebrows.
"'And you?' l venturcd to say, IF |
may dare te ask-how long|
They hurried me too much. They
| ought not to have told him | consented
before | had had time to think it out
But if they had given You time.
what them
~ shouldn't have accepted him
| You are not happy in the engage
! ment? Why not break it off
Her eyes flashed. An altogether
different Minnesota SAT- before me. For
a moment the light of liberty was in her
eyes. 1t was but the lightning from
heaven, there and gone.
Il couldn't hurt him. she said. He
loves me too much. And l couldn't ruin
him, for he wants the mines. / don't
| want anything, and it doesn't matter
| what becomes of me-
1.-The quiet despair in her manner. ris-
inc 10 touch of desperation, surprised
and alarmed ME.
~ can imagine Jack very ardent
| lover, L Sdlu CarefullN.
They say he feels il roo much to
put it into words, and suppose he does.
Some who put it into words don't feel it
much.
''Then she suddenly colored all over her
face, as if conscious of having made
some involuntary admission.
II you will allow me to advise |
| would say think of your own happiness
and let other matters take their course.
can't. Its not my way; | never
could treat another person badly
"She stood up and moved away with
an air of determination that reminded me
that she was the daughter of an indie
Ipendent race
know what you've been doing said
Jack. with the air of n martyr. L told
YOU from the beginning that she would
not give it up
suppose it must go on then | said,
put II anyone deserves a piece of we'd
dlng cake 1t is YOUR humble servant
There was nothing TO he done now
out to watch the play played out
Inc wedding was TO take place from
me house where We were staying. for
Minnesota had no nearer relative
The days slid past, and as the fateful
nGur drSW near the young pair main
tanned their attitude OF aloOfneSs toward
each other. l watched her NARROWLY,
and believed | observed that her face had
grown much pIler than il used 7, he
and that her eyes looked dark and
strained. as If with lying awake at night
and bordering difficult problems. One
morning~it was the day before the we'd
Hlng-l was sitting on garden seat read
ing review of my new book when She
came across the lawn and sat quietly
down at the other end of the bench.
Al mat moment a servant came
across the grass with the white square
OF, letter distinct ON little silver tray
which ghStened in the sun. Even from
a distance the sight Of that letter af-
fccted Minnesota strangely. She rose
up and stood eNpectant. her face red as
a rose one moment and white as n moon.
cloud the next. Her eyes were very wide
open as she took her letter mechanically
ami opened il. She could only have
read a few lines when She dropped on
the seat and let the paper fall in her
lap. She raised her eyes and met mine
fixed ON her inquiringly. / felt that
there was crisis. In her eyes l saw
an appeal
"'Wel; / said
" 1t has all been such Il bad mistake
She said. This is from Kenneth
/ a