Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-12-05
The Love of the Violet.
CHAPTER Extraordinarily

After a stroll OF half a mile, just far
enough to comfortably shake off the
otbers. Aunt Agnes declared herself tired,
and, seating herself on the trunk Of
fallen tree, declared that she would wait
there if Mr.. Sternford and Lefty liked to
stroll further. :.
The girl would have declared herself
tired too, but she feared offending her
aunt for the second time that day be-
sides-well, there were many besides"
and Letty's mind was by no means made
M. Perhaps, after all, she would not be
called upon to decide.
Abel Sternford, however, was not the
man to lose an opportunity.
Miss Monkston," he said, 'T've been
looking for chance like this any time
for the last ten days. I've been about
the world bit, and I've never seen a
Young lady / admire as much as your
self. ! am a plain man, and have been
A business man, though / can afford now
to take my pleasure, and fear | cannot
put my thoughts into such words as
should like. But, after ALL what more
can / say, but that love you very truly
and honestly, Miss Monkston, and ask
YOU if you win be my wife?"
It was curious, but at this supreme
moment, when fortune and the love of
good man, were laid at her feet, Lefty
did not feel in the least excited.
The moment had arrived which she
ought to have been prepared for, and yet
she hesitated, for certain words were
ringing in her ears.
rs not few years of love-call it
madness if you hke-preferable to
cycle of gilded life where affection does
not exist?"
Noticing her hesitation, the American
pressed his suit.
II am too old man, fear, Miss
Monkston, for you to what they call fall
in love with, and ! can't expect it. Only
give me your respect and affection, and
| will do the best | can to make your
life happy. There are a good many of
YOU English who care for dollars, but /
can see you are not one of that sort. Yet
ladies like pretty things like diamonds,
and dresses from Paris, and you can
have as many of them as you like. Then
perhaps you would not like to live in
America. Well, in truth, can meet you
halfway. i have an old mother in
Georgia that l should like you to know,
and have works that want looking after
now and again; but if you don't like the
country, after the first trip won't ask
you to stay. | am cosmopolitan,
reckon, and I'll just make my home in
England"
why did she hesitate?" Lefty asked
herself angrily. "Was not this man a
hundred times preferable to Lord Upton
az
Miss Monkston, l see that you can't
rightly make up your mind whether to
say Yes or No." Abel Sternford went
on. Perhaps it is as much as I could
expect. Don't you go and worry your
self about it, Just let it rest. If you
had said No. l should have waited
Bit and then asked you again; that is,
if you were not in love with someone
else. ! am not one easily beat when /
have such heavy stake at venture.
Think it over, Miss Lefty, and remember,
if have now spoken about the dollars,
it's because / have a few millions of
EN-" Then suddenly changing his man
ner, he added-"And try and believe,
dear, that / never knew what love meant
before saw you, and / would give all
my wealth to be 20 instead of so, and
have a fair chance of winning your
heart"
1t was great blow to Lady Eversmore
when the two returned without the least
sign of awlSwardness or confusion about
either of them.
1t had been terrible half hour she
had spent. The tree trunk was full of
knots. The green had come off on her
dress, and she had strong suspicious of
the grass being damp; but she had been
upheld all through by the feeling that
Lefty would come back engaged to man
of uncounted wealth. And now single
glance at her niece's face told her that
nothing definite had been said.
AT least there is one COMFORT, she has
not refused him." Lady Eversmore
thought, as the three strolled back to-
wards the river She would not have
dared to have looked me in the face if
she had. Also think / know a refused
man when see him, and that man is not
Abel Sternfcrd"
CHAPTER III