Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-11-22
Miss
CHAPTER /.
AN AMERICAN HERES


'You are sure you give it upi"
"Of course ] am" with little stamp.
$50 do l."
There was a moment of silence. Then
the girls voice, quivering with indigna-
ton. rose in shrill protest
capt. Scrope, do you mean to tell me
that there is no answer at all to that
miserable riddle?"
absolutely none!" he rejoined, with
perfect calmness.
"Then aren't you ashamed of yourself?
And aren't you sorry for being so hor-
rid?"
Not bit You look so charming
when you are in a rage!"
Fortunately, looks cannot kill or the
British army would have lost gallant
officer, slain by the flash of pair of very
handsome eyes, whose owner then DELHI
erately turned her back and gazed in the
opposite direction.
it was a lovely May morning, in one OF
the loveliest spots on earth, the Lichten.
thaler Alice, in Baden Baden-where the
delicate green of the young foliage, the
masses of flowers, the singing of the
birds, and the aromatic, stimulating air
from the pine forests, produce a sort of
wild eXhilaration that causes even sober
Englishmen to forget their dignity, and
make the old song, May is come, May is
come" rise from every German heart.
There is something almost magical in
the way spring rushes over land that
has lain long bound beneath the iron
hand of winter; and there is rustling
whispering, and twittering in the air, as
of trees, streams, and all the valid things
of Nature rejoicing together.
The two persons with whom we are at
present concerned, were the Hon. Ralph
Scrope, captain of Dragoons-a tall, stall
wart young fellow, with nothing notice
able about him, except look of straight
forward honesty, and pair of singular
ly bright blue eyes-and Miss Mamie
Wilkinson, of the United States.
There was good deal that was re-
markable about Miss Mamie Wilkinson
To begin with, she was the sole heiress
to her fathers immense wealth, he being
the possessor of one of the largest oil
springs in the state. Her mother, Il
beautiful South American, was dead, and
Mamie had been educated in Paris
where she. with her countrywomen's
usual adaptability, had assimilated the
chic and elegance of the Parisienne, with
out losing her native honesty and
shrewdness.
Her bosom friend had been Edith Mus
grave, Ralph Scrope's cousin, and it was
with the Musgraves-Sir John, his WIFE
and Edith-that she had come to Baden
Baden.
They had all gone out this morning to
watch the elite of the Baden world re-
turning from the races, and these two,
having out walked the others, had sat
down on one of the seats in the Lichten-
thaler Alice to wait for them, and TO
watch the curious medley of nationalities
and persons passing before them.
Irrespective of her worldly advantages,
Mamie was very fascinating little per
son. She was not little, really but so
slim. so dainty, and with such small
hands and feet that most people called
her so. Her masses of dark hair seemed
almost too great burden for her small
head, and, when uncoiled, reached to her
knees. Her tiny face was not technically
pretty, but no one ever knew exactly
what her features were like, for her big
dark dashed eyes dominated everything
else. Such eyes! Large. languid, child
like, and grey-green, like northern sea.
Add to this, the freshness and newest
of Partisan toilettes, with laces and jew
els worth kings ransom and it is not
to be wondered at that Ia Belle Amer-
caine" was much run after by German
barons and French counts; even an ugly
little Russian prince had cast his eyes
approvingly upon her.
Therefore, to be treated in this disre-
spectful fashion by an ordinary captain
of Dragons, was most irritating, and her
little foot tapped the ground impatiently
under the lace of her dainty lawn dress.
Miss Wilkinson"
No answer, except more decided turn
ing of petulant shoulder.
Miss Wilkinson" Again no answer
81 merely wish.' the young soldier OBJ
served, ito direct your attention to the
fact that there is a caterpillar, a great,
green, shiny caterpillar, crawling on your
hat, and just going to walk down your
1eck!"
"Oh! take it off Take 1T off-quickt"
AWill you be friends them
''Yes, yes; take it Off"
"And let me sit next you tonight at
the concert?''
Anything You like; only take it off"
"None but the brave deserve the fair.
Here it is"
He showed her tiny harmless thing,
not much bigger than a pins head.
She looked at him-speechless. Then
they both burst out laughing.
Well" she said, you are too much for
me! Fortunately, here come the Mus
graves. Sir John, will you protect poor
little met Your nephew has been treat.
ing me scandalously."
Now, my dear" chuekled the portIy
gentleman, "are you sure that it wasn't
the other way aboutf"
Never mind, Mamie" said Lady Mus
grave, smiling. 81 will protect you; bur
l am tired now, and I am sure you two
girls are the same 1t is far too hot to
walk all the way back to the hotel, SO
we will drive and leave these two men
to follow when they feel inclined"
The Kursaal concert was Just begiE-
ming when the Musgave party entered
the hall that evening. 1t was like most
hursaal concerts; the performers were
worse than mediocre.
Yet Mamie listened with rapt atten-