Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-01-03

bAEirG Vi SOi0t EEfEhs AEts
her figure would have been too slender for
perfect beauty, had it not been so ex-
quisitely moulded, so graceful and sup
pie. The dark blue eyes, with their long
pretty fringes and arching brows. the
coral lips and gOld-brown hair, made her
lack of color seem scarcely defect; and
still she wore that look of almost angelic
purity, which gave such charm to her
face.
That snowy Christmas eve, when ne
first looked upon his love. came wildly
back to Dare's recollection. as he Jour
neyed to Thistleton, drove to the Grange,
and crossed the familiar threshold. Then
ne had borne her in his arms, wounded
unto death. as he believed, if not already
dead. Today, he was there to greet his
bride, his darling, the Christmas gift that
heaven itself had sent him!
Il can scarcely realize my own happi-
ness, love-" he told her, when they were
alone. Il can scarcely believe You win
actually be my own tomorrow
Are you quite happy, Dare?" she
whispered; and he felt a tremor run
through the girlish figure he clasped
why, what question:" he cried
saily Quite happy, when tomorrow is
my wedding day? Fortune has given me
all desire. My dearest girl, there is not
cloud to mar our perfect joy!"
He spoke lightly, but he understood, in
part, her thought.
Dare, l sometimes wonder if it is
right" she said. II think it would kill
me, if | brought sorrow on you!"
You are my life's good angel Rosa
mond," he answered earnestly. Never
think our love can lead to sorrow, Have
l not yet driven away your fears?"
Her slender hand went up to the laces
on her bosom, where he knew the scar
OF that cruel wound must be-
Il have bitter enemies" She said; "and
they may cross my path again!"
They shall not harm you, dearest,
W hen shall be always with you. Even
when | have left you here, in this peace
full home surrounded by those who love
you, | have been tormented by q thou
sand fears. You have been cruel, sweet
20 make me wait SO long!"
The lids dropped shyly over her loyelit
eyes. He had not won her without dif-
ticulty. Even when she had confessed
her love, she had told him il must be
hopeless. For 4 while, she had resisted
his pleadings, trying, poor child. 10 fol-
low what She imagined must Ike the path
OF duty But she had yielded now TO his
impassioned entreaties, to the porsua-
sions Of her elders, and to the prompt
ihgs of her own heart
Mrs. lnglesant had once hoped that
Dare and Sheila would marry; but when
the cousins met. after the four Years in
which the girl had grown from a child to
a woman, she had realized that this was
not to be. And she had watched the
pretty romance that was being unfolded
daily, in Dare's wooing of Rosamon6
with the keenest interest and sympathy,
little guessing that Sheila was enduring
martyrdom, meanwhile.
The apparently light hearted girl
guarded her secret so carefully that even
Rosamond, with all her quickness of in
tuition, did not suspect it. This had no
part in arousing her scruples against be-
coming Dare's wife.
1T is as if a yelled phantom is beside
me always" the girl confessed. when
you are with me, forget it; but some
times-if / come upon a song that j
know | used to sing, or book that
read in the dim past-I am reminded of
that presence More than once | have
felt that the veil Is about to he lifted
but the feeling passes and almost with
relief, know the time of my awakening
has not yet come. Dare, there is some
thing terrible-something fatal, to our
happiness, behind that veill"
81 do not fear it," he replied. "When
YOU are mine, all trials will have lost
their sting, for we shall meet them to-
gether!"
Together All, am like you, can
not realize it,"
Yet only a few hours must pass, be-
fore it is a certainty, sweetheart"
yes; tomorrow nothing hap
pens"
Dear child, this is nervous folly he
cried. at is not like you to talk like
this! Come, look at the crystals ! have
bought for my Christmas bride to wear!"
"Oh. Dare, how beautifully"
He clasped the diamond necklace round
her slender throat, and took his reward
from her coral lips. He won the dimples
and the faint rose-1lush to her cheeks
Very soon she was his happy, shy, low
ing little sweetheart once more.
The mystery that had never hghtcned
the darkness that hid her past, the cruel
death that had threatened her, only made
her the dearer to him. II, by some
strange freak of fate, his hearts desire
should be snatehed from him, the world
would be for him desert,
TO BE CONTINUED.