Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-04-18
CHAPTER y.-tContinued.l

her ear. But ne daEeu not.
II was Pearl-now more beautiful
than overcoming home after an alb
sence of five years, in which time she
had experienced nothing but unparalleled
success and applause and praise wher
ever she went; and she had gone on from
one triumph to another, growing, at each
stem up the ladder of fame, more and
more Unsuitable in her desire for re-
nown. until, after many offers of mar
rage. refused one after another, she had
reached the zenith of her glory, when
the man before her-a noble lord-of
fered her his heart and hand and for
tune
Only then had she thought proper to
accept, and, at his desire, she left the
stage, and was returning home to En-
gland to revisit her sisters, and make
arrangements about the wedding.
She herself was not poor any longer,
having accumulated wealth from the
proceeds Of her successive and handsome
iv-paid engagements with the leading
companies, who had We'd sometimes
with each other in securing her services
But, in spite of it all, she had never
been happy, ner proud, ardent spirit had
always rebelled against the life she was
leading. she despised those around
their behavior and habits had become
hateful to her-and she was goaded with
the sense of undue familiarity which
people had assumed when first she made
her appearance; though, ere long, she
had shown Enthusiastically that she would
not be trifed with-that she was no
ordinary actress.
So, thanks to her high spirit and in
domitable pride, she had kept herself I'M
sullied and uncontaminated; but the
trial she had gone through, the things
she had unwillingly learnt, had irre-
yocably and terribly embittered her
against the profession; and while she
rejoiced that she was leaving it, she felt
that she was entering upon a life hardly
less intolerable, and on the prospect of
returning to her sisters home-the lit
tie humble home she had left five long
years ago, and remembered so we'll
she looked with eyes different from those
that had looked on it then with secret
tears.
And now-now she was going home
again; but what welcome would she get?
What welcome did she expect2
Well. it mattered little to her; she did
not greatly care so hardened had she be-
come that her heart scarcely melted at
the thought of their meeting after the
long separation.
After her first letter, she had not writ
ten once. Time had flown so quickly.
and she had not had an hour to spare
for them amongst all her occupations
and pleasure seekings. So that they did
not know whether she were dead or liv
ing, and had no means of finding out.
Home-homei The word kept ringing
in her ears. 1t struck her once that
very probably the home would be broken
up, and the name of both her sisters
changed, so that it would be tedious
work TO find them; but even that
thought did not seem to trouble her
And now, as her lover stood and ga2ed
at her, drawn, as by magnet, to her
side, and yet cruelty kept aloof, and
with strange conflicting feelings of
triumph and despair in his heart, she
said, in her soft, harmonious voice, "Sit
down, Herbert: l want TO talk to you"
Surprised, he took his seat again, this
time drawing it very close to hers, and
taking one white hand in both his own
the hand that bore the beautiful ring he
had given her
What is it, dearest?" he said, ten
derby.
piled, what your people--your relations
will say when you introduce mean
aetress-twith scornful emphasis) into
their circle, and announce that | am
your intended wife?''
Pearl" he exclaimed, in hurt voice,
and dropping her hand suddenly. "Why
do you harp on that subject? You must
leave il to me to settle. How can | tell
what they will say till they have seen
you, and know you? / could tell you in
an instant what they would have said
if | had written and simply announced
the fact; but 1 was too wise to do that
They must see my beautiful queen, and
Judge personally"
But suppose" she said. slowly, Sup
pose they refuse to acknowledge me p
suppose your father threatens to diso~n
you? Suppose
Herbert interrupted her passionately.
Il suppose no such thing. And if such
an absurd supposition were possible,
they could do it for aught / care. All
the wealth and power in the world are
as nothing wnen compared 70 you
All, but there are two sides to that
question, Remember our bargain. Ii
they refuse TO accept me as one of the
family, or slight me in any way she
said, delibera tely, "and if your father
disinherits you, will never marry you
We must understand each other thor
oughly, You know. We know the old
proverb, When poverty come in at the
door, love flies out at the window
Her lover turned his face away with a
groan of modification and misery
oh, Pearl" he said, bitterly, my
cruel, cold darling! VIII you never
realize how love you. and what love
is:-what despair isl Is all that you
have said true, or do you only wish to
torment and mock me?'
1t is true, every word-eyery letter
she answered, calmly. Il care no more
}or YOU than that" and she snapped her
hiingers impatiently, and rose, drawing
The shawl round her shoulders. Now
you can come for walk up and down,
II you like" she added, condescending-
y and in another moment her aueenlv
hgure was moving slowly down the deck,
away from Herbert, who sat in an atti-
'ude Of detection for a minute, and then.