Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1902-06-21
A GRAY HAIR.
III KILBOUNRE COWLEs.


Jane sighed rcsgnedly. She always
knew what was coming when Spencer be-
gan looking ut her in that eXasperating
ly melancholy way, must she refuse him
again? She wondered how many more
times he would ask her to marry him,
she had long since lost count of the num-
Der in the past At first, when she was
quite young girl, she had kept record
| religiOusly. for having heard other girls
mention the number of proposals they
| had received, she thought it was quite
the thing to preserve list of her own
eonquests But as TIME went on she saw
the absurdity of it, because Spencer 5
devotion had been so continuous, and the
intervals so short, when he was not on
his knees, fguratiyely, that it really
amounted 10 one long proposal.
Jane | wish to speak to you" Spen-
Ger said, drawing nearer her. 1t was
early twilight and they were alone on
| the porch. She looked about as if seek
! ing means of escape, and then settled
back in her chair with the air of a
martyr.
About the same old thing, l SUPPOSE
she asked, YEARLY.
well. yes, in way, though not ex-
! actly. | want to tell you, for it seems
| only fair to tell you first, that | am
| going to be married
She thought he was joking. and looked
up, ready to laugh until she saw his
gravity.
You are probably surprised; own l
am myself, rather He paused. waiting
for her to speak, but She was silent
and he went on: "A man can't be insen-
sihle to the glorious gift of good wom-
ans love. | have discovered that | am
beloved; | shall marry"
And this is the faihtfulness of man,
James voice rose scornfully. How many
times have you sworn that you would
never marry any one but me? How
often have you said that there was no
true marriage when the heart was not
in IL? Now you tell me You are going
TO marry because some silly girl loves
YOU. Or have you fallen in love with
this sweet. delicately retiring maiden
who has not been able to conceal her
Affection
Hush, Jane. do not speak so harsh.
ly,' Spencer imd ms hand on her arm
detainingly, as she started to rise. She
drew herself away.
Don't call me Jane, Mr. Barrett"
You have not asked me who she is
Janc-l mean, Miss Deering."
II have no desire TO know who she is
your affairs are of no interest to me
| am disappointed i'll YOU" She swept
away quite majestically for SO small 4
figure.
Let me .explain~-lct me tell you NOR,
about her"
1T would be useless: goodnight
/ Spencer Barrett found himself alone
with his thoughts, which were not sooth
I ing.
J Il never imagined she would take il
? like that, he muSed. as he walked away
Jane stood in her window. watching
! | from behind her curtain his retreating
hgure, and already regretting most sin
cerely her display of temper.
lie VIII think | care, when | don't
care in the slightest, he is nothing to me
hut he must know that by this time"
Then the remembrance of all those
years. when he had served her slightest
whim with tender tireess patience. came
over her; she felt the ground slipping
from beneath her feet; she had uncou.
sciously relied on his devotion for Sc
long. and now it was all over: now that
hateful, designing other woman had
Snatched him from her She felt weak
dizzy and helpless, like one who, WALKING
ON broad. pleasant path. suddenly find,
the way blocked with cruel signs of "uc
thoroughfare, ard turns back. only "a
see the broad pleasant path has disap.
peared, leaving dark weary waste with
nothing 10 tighten or show the way.
She Int the gas and pulled down the
window shades. and. taking up book
tried to read; but she could not fix her
mind on the printed page before her. She
rose and moved reStleSSly about the room
What lot of pictures of Spencer She
had. He was the central figure in nearly
every one of her kodak views How well
he looked in golf clothes. but. Of course.
tall men always do. There was the boat.
ing picture. She realized how surprised
he WAS when he found that stolen Snap
Of himself he had been SO intent on
pushing the boat from shore. be didn't
see her aim the camera at him. Then
there was the conventional young man in