Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-11-29
CHAPTER lI.-(Continued.)

For a space there was silence, broken
onlv by the murmuriBg of the wind III
the trees, and the plash of little water
fall Ralph in amazement looking ut
Mamie, who -seemedrto be struggling for
speech.
Then. in a voice cold and cutting as
steel. she spoke
so. Capt. Scrope, was mistaken, and
Won are no better than other men. A
ten DAYS acquaintance, and few care
less courtesies, are enough for the little
American girl whose money will serve
to fill an aristocrat's empty pockets'
you think / want you for yotu
money - stammered Ralph
What else? Oh! it's ar insult,
shameful insldt!''
How dare you?" cried Ralph, his voice
hoarse, and his blue eyes blazing with
anger.
'How dare 7? Well, what else is It, to
ask girl to marry you after only know
ing her for ten days? lon don't even
pretend that you care for me-you don't
mention the word 'love'-only marriage
"a regular transatlantic marriage!
Such and such a position in society
worth so many dollars! The bargain is a
bad one, sir! My money can purchase
a bigger prize than the poor younger son
OF Lord Ennesdale A Russian prince.
even, is better than that! Oh how |
bate you'll"
Have you quite finishcd?" Ralplr's
voice was steady, but his face was whit,
ard drawn. Then listen to me-nay,
you shalt" Mamie had opened the gate
TO 60, but, forgetting his usual gentle
ness in his passionate pain, he caught her
hands in a grip of steel, compelling her
10 look at him. Il was laundering fool,
but [ thought you would understand.
Didn't | say | loved you? | thought the
whole world could see it. / don't care a
straw about your money! never did
I wish you hadn't a penny to your name.
| loved you-do you understand" Civ
ing her little shake-"loved you from
the first day | saw you. Loved you.--
why, love you now, and shall till l die.
but you need not be afraid shall never
trouble You again. l would not ask YOU
to share your precious dollars with nc
to save my life! l shall leave here to
night, and never, willingly, see You
again!" Then, dropping her hands. ana
stepping back, he went on
you must pardon me! / forgot my
self, and l am a rough brute. But it
gives a fellow rather a jolt to be taken
for such an utter scamp! Allow me to
open the gate-there are the Others.
waiting for us"
Edith Musgrave noticed that some
thing was amiss, but, being a person of
discretion, she made no remark, and held
her fathers and mothers attention until
they reached the hotel, when Mamie, I'M
der plea of a headache, retired to her
room.
About an hour afterwards Edith
knocked at the door, and, entering. found
her friend, still in her outdoor things.
sitting on the edge of the bed and star
ing vacantly before her.
Not in bed YETI" Edith exclaimed.
"How is your head?"
MY head? Oh. it's all right mean,
it better" and Mamie got up and be-
gan to take off her hat.
Her fingers trembled. and there were
harsh, bitter lines round her mouth.
Miss AIusgave looked at her with anxi-
ETY.. She had watched the growing
friendship between Mamie and Capt.
Scrope with hopeful interest, for she was
very fond of her cousin Ralph, and
adored her old schoolfellow with all Il
girls enthusiasm.
Nothing would have pleased her more
than marriage between the two, for
this would bring her friend to live with
III five miles of herself Something had
evidently gone wrong on the way back
from the Kursaal, and she was rather
afraid that the quarrel was serious
However, she did not mean to let them
drift apart without an effort to clear
things up.
Now, Mamie Wiikinson." she said,
laying her hands OF her friends shoul-
ders, Il want to know the meaning OF
this! No; it's no use wriggling! ! mean
to have an answer"
THE meaning of what?'
"You little humbug! AS ii you didn't
know. What is the matter with Ralph
What have you been doing to him 2"
Am l your cousins keeper? What
should have been doing to him ?"
That is what you must tell me. I've
never seen him look as he does tonight
since his mother died; and why has he
gone off by the midnight mail, instead
of staying till next week 2"
Gomez" said Mamie, with a gasp.
Yes. Nothing would induce him to
wait till tomorrow. l can't understand
it at all. Did anything happen this even
ing? Were you nasty to him?'
Why should L be nasty as you call
it, to Capt. Scrope?"
Because you are such whimsical lit
tie mortal, one never knows how to take
You, and poor old Ralph is rather a blum
derer. Did he ask you to marry him P"
How could you know" Mamie
stared in surprise.
Edith laughed.
1T didn't require an eagle eye to see
that the dear old fellow was desperately
IN love with you, though he tried to con-
zeal it. | certainly thought be would
propose before he went away, but hard
ly believed the crisis would come so soon,
for he could scarcely expect that you
also had fallen victim at first sight
'Edie, do you mean that you think he
truly cared for me?" doubtingly.
"My dear, do not Think am sure
that he cares more for your little finger
than for all the world; and when you
know more of each other hope you will
return his love, for he is worth it,
mo, no! 1t can never bel" Mamie