Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-06-27
THE BURDEN OF HIS SIN.

ing his head.
"Yes-I did," she replied "Sit down."
Thanks; I prefer to stand"
Gust as you please. l daresay you
think it very condescending in you to
come at all, or are you really afraid of
mel"
"Win you please come to the point at
once?" said Inglesant coldly. 81 have no
time to waste in listening to your sup
positions"
Proud as everi" she exclaimed an
grily. You think to bluff me that way.
You won't. You mink you can marry
that girl who was with you-AIiss Lock
woodland no one any the wiser; but if
you do, tell you you'll have to square
me irst-d'you understands That's
plain speaking, anyhow"
Very plain, but hardly to the pur-
pose. If you only asked me to call to
repeat an attempt at blaekmail, YOU have
wasted your time-and minel"
Ut amt ALL said she, "by no manner
of means. You say you amt Max Ingle-
SAINT? Very well. Now, mean to prove
whether you are or not. I'm going to a
lawyer, and he'll tell me how to set
about it. If you aren't-all right; I
| lose nothing. If you are, / upset your
whole applicant. Pm not going to let
you get another wife, and keep all the
money, and me come in nowhere. So
there!"
She looked for a change of counter
ance, but there was none. Inglesant
shrugged his shoulders.
You can do as you like" he said. 81
| have told you that before"
"Aye!" said she, starting up; ''but YOU
thought wouldn't do It'll / want you
to know that I Wilt"
Il never permit myself to think any
thing" said Inglesant coolly, "as to what
uneducated people may or may not do.
They are quite as liable to iniure their
own interests in q fit of temper or zeal
ousy as to guard them by cunning and
deceit"
You've made an 'uneducated' woman
your wife!" almost screamed Lola, "and
you'll find she's one too many for you'll!
You won't like having to acknowledge a
trapeze-tiyer as Mrs. Inglesant"
"No-1 shouldn't like it," said Max
with laugh, as he turned to the door;
but 1t Is matter for my brother to
settle. Good afternoon
Again did Lola feel staggered by the
mans sang froid; but she declared to
herself that, even if he were really
Alexis, she would punish him for his in
science. He would not like his brother
mesalliance to be public property, and
ne would be harried and worried by the
necessity of proving his identity.
He does carel" she said, when the
door closed behind him. "He does care!
See If don't make him feel the lashln
She was right, though she was not
suffered to speak with knowledge. Max
Inglesant did care. He knew that the
woman meant to act, and too well he
knew what the result would be, if the
inquiry were conducted with ordinary
skill. What should he do? He was in a
sort OF desperate mood; but there was
nothing to be done yet, unless he threw
up the game in anticipation, and his
pride rebelled from that. He must still
wait on events. Restless and unhappy,
ne tried to fly from his own almost
despairing thoughts, but could not. He
turned into his club, and a man he knew
suggested their going somewhere that
evening"
'Willingly-if I could only think
where" Inglesant said.
Come to the Century, and see La Belle
Lola"
NO, thanks. don't care for those
shows"
He shuddered inwardly at the idea of
seeing Lola again, and under such eondi-
tions.
The other man stared.
Don't your" he said. 1NShe's SPIT
you know"
Il haven't seen her; but if you prefer
the Century"
"No-shall we go and sample Accord
ing to Canon at the Thespians"
Every we'll"
And by-and-bye Max Inglesant sat in
the stalls of one of the "smartest" of
West-end theaters, and heard torrents of
small talk, and saw endless varieties Of
frocks, and very little action, and still
less acting; and when the curtain fell on
the second act, he said
Il suppose this is meant for a play,
but don't see the likeness. If the next
act is like the two first, l shall scoot."
ut is dull" said the other, looking at
his watch, and thinking that it was al.
most time for Lola's turn.
1nglesant saw the action, and OWNED
the thought.
"Cut off to the Century, if you like"
he said. Il shan't stand much more of
this"
Thanks, old chap!" said his friend.
much relieved, and he rose, and was soon
ont Of the theater.
The curtain went up again, but the
third act only continued the conversation.
and when it was over, Inglesant got up,
and quilted the theater. Not two hun
dred yards away flashed the lights, white
and colored, outside the Century. Ingle-
SAINT instinctively quickened his pace to
get past the hateful place, and was close
by it, when he became aware of a sudden
connection. Several people ran towards
the hall; an excited group appeared on
the threshold of the chief entrance; a
commissionaire dashed down the steps,
said something hurriedly to waiting
cabman, sprang into the cab, and was
driven away at a rapid pace. Inglesant
pushed his way through the gathering
crowd, and went up the steps.
whats the matter? What has hap
penedf" he demanded of pale, alarmed
looking man who appeared to be con-
nected with the hall.