Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-31
DECEIVED.

! with wide open eyes, ami hands clasping
the arms OF her chair
! Now she got up, and came close TO him,
face.
We must not tell her" she said. "Oh.
how fortunate that she is out!'
don't think ! know what YOU
meant he was beginning, but she broke
/ in eagerly
"0h, yes you do 1t is all so simple.
/ Hildred thinks that YOU are old, and we
must let her go on thinking it: we must
not undeceive her-at least for the pres
emit"
Griff seemed all at once to stifTen and
/ grow taller.
Il am sorry to disagree with YOU he
sand; but l am afraid we can't quite do
that"
But why not? 1t IS so simple she
repeated. 'You need not see her at all
/ today. l will make some excuse for YOU.
and We leave for London this afternoon.
| Then. if you should happen to meet be
fore things are explained. you have only
to-to-do as you did last night, YOU
! know"
/ Griff stepped back pace, and gazed at
her for moment, and then laughed I'M
comfortably.
Surely you are Joking. Miss Elbe
feld?" he said. You cannot mean that
You want me to keep up that absurd
masquerade with your niece :"
/ But l do mean it. 1t NAV seem alb
suTd to you, but l assure YOU / am
serious, because l know how much de
ponds on it,
Then, madam, l am sorry to disap-
point you, but l must refuse. | made 81
fool of myself in her presence once, and
| II ali the fortunes in England depended
on it. should decline to do it again"
Griff was not laughing now, and he
spoke with hot emphasis
Miss Freda's heart sank as she heard
him. She looked on the verge. of tears.
and he grew instantly penitent.
| please forgive me- he said gently. 81
did not mean to speak like that, of
course; but L think you must see that
what you propose is not quite practica-
bic, and from what you tell me of your
niece, don't think she would easily for
give such a trick as that being PLAYED
upon her"
'Oh, you don't understand. Hildred
can forgive anything in the people she is
!
and before she need know of the trick,
you will have completely won her liking"
But L want to win that for myself
not for that absurd old fogey of last
night"
But it's the same thing, don't you
! see?"
Grifr murmmed, NO, DON'T" but she
thought she saw signs of relenting, and
went on eagerly
Il will make it all so easy for you
| indeed, the thing almost arranges itself.
| Hildred was going to ask you to let her
| stay quietly at her studies in Dresden
| for the next few months. so you need not
meet for some time yet, and, in the
meantime, you can correspondent much
can be done with letters in the way of
forming a friendship, You know. We
may not have to deceive her for long if
| you make the most of your chances, and
! perhaps We may even do without the dis
guise, since you dislike it so much. There
/ IS really no necessity for you to see each
other for nearly six months yet"
But | want to see her." Grifr burst
out suddenly, and then stopped and col
ored little.
| Miss Freda's blue eyes widened as she
gazed at him, and then filled with mild
triumphant light, for she felt that she
had him at her mercy.
| "Ho! no! Is that it," she laughed
softly, and he Redeemed to the roots Of
! his fair hair.
She came and put her hands upon his
shoulders, smiling up in his face with
glad affection.
AT first sight" she murmured. at
| is the best love of all, and | am glad
of it, my friend for I like you, and
! though | am but n foolish old woman.
my first impressions are generally cor
rect"
Miss Elbefeld" said GrifT, "you are
very kind to me. and you have been clev-
er enough to guess my secret almost be-
fore | knew 1T myself You will under
stand now that l cannot consent to do
what you suggest"
But it seems to me more necessary
than ever she returned "Whv, what
else can you do?"
Tell her the truth at once" said Griff,
"and later on ask her to be my wife"
| Miss Freda shook her head solemnly.
! There was be no later on for YOU !"
she assured him. "She will wash her
hands of you-and of the money too
| from the moment she knows that YOU
are her guardian Poor Hildred! She
viii lose her fortune by her pride, and
| you, for yours, will lose her.
Griff fumed, and argued and rebelled
anew.
"The thing was unheard of and alb
surd Any sensible girl would forgive
anything sooner than such a trick" etc,
| etc
And then Miss Freda played her best
| trump card and, to tell the truth. fell a
| little lower in her own esteem in doing
/ it.
Poor Hildrcd!" she sighed, as if re-
signed. 1T would have been so nice to
see her rich and independent, but, since
it cannot be-since the money will not
be hersI am glad to think it win 20
into good hands"
Whose handsl" Griff asked, with his
| thoughts elsewhere.
why, yours, of course" she IA
swered "Have you forgotten that if
IIildred gives it up, or does not fulfill the
conditions, the fortune goes to you?"
'fRv JoveF hut I had fo~cro4 fnu -