Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-04-25
CHAPTER VII.

foregoing inquiry, referred, naturally, to
Pansy's fiance, whom they had been dis
cussing, Pansy, of course, in terms of
the warmest praise.
In reply she said, "Oh, he's darling,
Pearl. It's impossible to describe him
to do him Justice; you must see him, and
nudge for yourself And, besides, my de-
scription, / am afraid, would not be de-
pendable, as it would be so partial"
Pearl did not feel sufficiently curious
to press her further, and so made no
comment, thus letting the matter drop,
and they talked of Indifferent things
during the remainder of the walk.
They called at the hotel where Pearl
was staying, and Pansy helped her TO
unpack some of her trunks, and then
they lunehed in her sitting room.
It had been arranged that Pearl
should remain at the hotel till the end
of the week, when the time for which
she had engaged the rooms would expire,
and then remove to the vicarage.
It was Patience's wish that she should
do this; she had wanted her to go to
them at once, but Pearl firmly refused,
seeing that in their small dwelling GER
tain preparations would be necessary
before she could go there.
day, and be together constantly, so that
was some consolation.
On the afternoon of the day of which
we have been speaking, a tea party was
arranged to take place, when another in
PRODUCTION would be performed, between
Pearl and Pansy's sweetheart, Victor
Travers. He was the same, man whom
Pansy had met five years before at the
home of her pupils His home, however,
was in the north of England, so that
when they were married she would be
separated from her sister.
The wedding had been settled to take
place at the end of September, and it
was now the second week of that month.
1t turned out to be fine afternoon,
and the little party had gathered under
the trees in the garden, waiting for the
arrival of their guests.
Pearl came first, looking radiantly
lovely in costume of pale gray, per-
fectly neat and plain, but with an I'M
mistakable air of costliness and style
about it that cast into the shade Pansy's
modest serge skirt and white blouse, and
Patience's quiet blue frock, both of
which were pretty and becoming enough,
but homely beside Pearls.
Pansy trembled inwardly at the sight
of her--never before had she been so
struck with her beauty-and a silent
prayer went up from her heart that she
might not eclipse her in the eyes of her
lover
She felt all the more fearful when she
considered how susceptible he was to
beauty, and charms of this kind might
be terrible snare to him.
However, she pocketed her momentary
~ ho,- 11z ? ~
best welcome she could command under
such circumstances.
When Mr.. Trayers was announced, Pa
thence ordered the maid to show him
into the garden, and Pansy ran across
the lawn to meet him.
Patience shook hands cordially, and
then followed his introduction to Pearl,
who beheld before her tall, handsome
man, with fair curling hair and mus
tache, and merry blue eyes
As she rose graciously to greet him
their eyes met He took her ungloved
hand in his, and each murmured some
thing, but neither knew what they said
1t was one of those rare and altogether
maccountable cases of love at first sight
The afternoon passed like dream
How Victor went through it, he never
knew.
Pansy twitted him several times on his
Observation-Disclosures and pouted when he
declined to sing, pleading a sore throat,
or headache.
II don't believe you have anything at
all the matter with you, you bad boy!"
she said, at last you are either too
conceited or too shy; orr know! You
want Pearl to coax you"
Already she was jealous. for she had
watched both her sister and her sweet
heart the whole afternoon, and could dis
Germ that he was struck with her beauty.
And as for Pearl, 4Pansy could, of
course. gather nothing at all from her
behavior, so well had she learnt how to
conceal all real emotion.
What would she have felt, what would
she have done, could she have discerned
the workings of those two hidden
hearts2
Poor Pansy, it was all over for her,
though she little guessed it then.
When she gave vent to the above
recorded speech, she turned to Pearl,
who, leaning back in low chair by the
window, was idly dangling one of the
long silk tassels attached to the curtains,
and gazing out at the fast-darkening
sky.
Come Pearl" said Pansy, raising her
voice to attract her attention. Victor
wants you to plead for a song. He will
do it for you, though ne won't for me-
Pearl turned her beautiful dark eyes
languidly towards the piano, where Vic
tor was standing, turning over the piles
Of music absently, with happy umccn-
sciousness Of the confusion he was caus-
ing among the songs and pieces, and said
quietly, Won't you sing, Mr.. Travers ?"
Not tonight" be said, starting, and
dropping book of music with a bang
On to the floor Il beg your pardon
laughing constrainedly won't you give
us song, Miss Davenant? l am afraid
to sing before critics"
We'll l never" broke in Pansv. laugh
ing. you are Mr.. and Missing one an
other finely. Why Pearl. you don't seem
to realize that Victor is almost your
brother"
NO" said Pearl, hesitatingly. at
seems to have come on me so suddenly
pNel"rfkiuv I vao,n d, 49,, -.