Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-09-05

that dreadful scheme OF his-yet deter
mined to put it in operation.
The absence of Mrs. Pitkin on the visit
to her formidable sister gave him an OPP
portunity Rules were relaxed at Pit.
kin's" at that time; Joseph Pitkin took
a turn up and down the street, and
smoked pipe in comfort, the while he
thought about his young friends. And
there, coming toward him, was Frank
DOInton.
Frank waited at the door until the
strolling Mr.. Pitkin should return; then
he asked casually, for his aunt.
Gone away for day or two" said
Mr.. Pitkin
You must miss her, SIR ventured
Frank.
Things are-quieter," said Mr.. Pitkin,
with sigh. And then he added, with a
careless, casual glance at the sky above
"Pitlin's," Deborah is inside; you'll find
her in the little room at the end of the
hall"
1t is quite surprising how soon you
can get along hall if you are in a
hurry; Frank Dornton did it in record
time. And then it was that Joseph Pit
kin, with fluttering heart, knocked out
the ashes from his pipe, put the pipe in
his pocket, and went into "Pitkin'sn with
! a stealthy step.
He waited five minutes, and then he
went along The hall, and opened the door
OF the little room at the end, Deborah
Rendle sat making up accounts at lit
tie table; Frank Dornton was looking
at her, as though making up his mind
to say something. Mr.. Pitkin thrust
back that "blown-about" Hair of his a
little more, and smiled, and addressed
them.
when I married Mrs p" was his
first surprising remark Mrs. p. gave
me no time to reflect; | had chance to
do that afterward. In confidence, |
might almost say that Mrs. p. rushed
me into it. If had refected"-he sighed
and shook his head solemnly-"but that
another story. Now, my dears. you've
had time enough TO reflect and it seems
to me-"
Deborah looked up suddenly from those
eternal accounts and caught her breath;
the boyish face of Frank Dornton flushed.
and he looked at Mr.. Pitkin.
II don't understand" began Frank.
No. OF course you don't understand"
| said Mr.. Pitkin, with new note in his
voice. You don't understand that there
may be such a thing as waiting too long;
waiting, in fact. until the brightness has
gone out of young eyes and the softness
and tenderness out of young voices:
waiting till the might have been is all
there is left to sigh over. My dears"-
this quaint little man stretched out his
hands towards them with a great hunger
in his eyes-"this kind of thing never
happened to me; sometimes | wish il
had. Now if you and the lad here have
thought that you'd hke-quite apart
from Mrs. P.--to set up together in a
small way, and if matter of $50 would
be of any USE
Deborah Rendle had closed the books
in a great hurry and was bending her
face over them. Frank Dornton had
Mr.. Pitkin by the arm and was forcibly
taking him ont of the room. Outside.
in the hall, he first vigorously shook
hands with him and then asked him
what the devil he meant by it. And Mr..
Ptkin chuckled; and then, remembering
himself, said ii was a hard world. There
were whispers and mutterings and an
other shaking of hands; then Mr.. Pitkin
went of to the kitchen (his usual place
at night. for the sake of peaee). and
Frank Dornton went slowly back to the
little room ana opened the door
Deborah Rendle was not busy with the
books; on the contrary. the tired head
was down on her hands, and she did not
know that Frank had come in When
the muttered exclamation on his part
called her to herself, she sprang up, with
a white face, and drew back from him.
Pm dreadfully sorry. Miss Rendle.o he
said; yet there was twinkle in his ewes.
That old idiot had no right to talk like
that"
"0h, it isn't fair to call him names. s.
said Deborah, gently. Let us-let us
forget all about it; OF at least remem.
Der it only-only as Joke"
Well, you see, that's the difficulty.
I'm afraid we can't forget all about il. >
MIR. Dorntonl"
Pm dreadfully sorry, Miss Rendle !:
hut it's just question of whether we
shall be brutal-and selfsh-and all that
kind Of thing-or whether we shall study
the feelings of other people"
Please explain" said the girl in a
faint voice.
Thank you; l will You see. poor old
Pitkin is one of the incest fellows breath.
ing, although I'm afraid he does have a