Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-04-11

in listless fashion, CLEANED under loose
muslin sleeves that reached only 10 the
elbow, and from which extended rich
frill of costly lace. The shawl which
had been on her had fallen off, and
trailed, neglected, on the deck, and her
white hat lay in an undignified position
under the chair.
The man we have mentioned sat oppo
site, but his attitude was q strange con-
trast to hers. He was leaning forward,
his elbows on his knees, his chin in his
hand, and an anxious, almost worried
look IN his handsome face A broad
straw hat shaded his eyes. which were
fixed absorbedly on the woman's face,
with an expression Of unutterable ten
derness.
They spoke in low tones at intervals,
most of the conversation being sus-
tanned by him.
Silence had fallen upon them for a few
moments, broken presently by his deep
voice saying, Il am afraid YOU are catch
ing cold. Why won't you let me put
your wrap round you? The air is chilly
now"
oh. it Is too hotr' she answered.
languidly 1T is so refreshing to feel
the cool night air after gasping in the
hreathhless heat all day. l ann quite ex-
hausted. How lovely the moon is to-
night"
Yes" he said, absentIy. But it is
such cold light 1t seems to me that
it blends with your disposition. You
always remind me of the moon"
what, the man in the moonl" she
answered, laughing "What an unpleas-
ant reminder. You cannot have very
agreeable thoughts of me then, I'm sure.
The man in the moon always presented
himself to my childish imagination as
most objectionabie old creature, with no
brains at all, and no knowledge OF the
world. Why" assuming a prosecuted
air. why, pray, do you liken me to this
miserable specimen OF humanity UNI
natural humanity?'
You know what I mean perfectly
well" he replied sadly and reproachfully.
1T is useless for me to say it all over
again. Why will you misunderstood me,
and turn everything [ say into a Joke?
And never let me finish when | begin ?"
Because it is n Joke she replied,
with a light laugh, that showed her
pearly teeth and the dimples in the fair
checks, making her look more lovely
than ever. And because you weary
me before you have got to the end"
Another pause, and then he said slow
~, is it that you 40 not believe what
l say? Is this your reason? Or is it,
1t is because | do not love you!" she
exclaimed in a tone of WEAKNESS, and
with a gesture almost of Impotence.
why do you prosecute me by persist
emily talking about these things? /
like you-I have promised to marry you
and yet you will give me no peace.
Can you blame me for telling the truth
bmntly- frankly? / am ambitious, and
| have accepted YOU because you eau
give me, in return for my beauty. rank
and wealth and luxury. Is it not a bar
gainf''
But why he persisted, why do you
not love me? How it is that you viii
not learn? Arc you incapable Of loving
. or or-is there-can it be possible that
there is someone else? In Justice to my
self, | ask you, Do you love another?"
No answered the girl, after a mo-
ment's pause, while a moclling smile,
rather of bitterness than amusement or
mirth, curled her lips. ''No, there is no
one else. l think l have no heart at ALL
false, so much pretense at that Kind Of
thing in the course of my experience,
that | am proud. rather than otherwise,
to own my disbelief in the existence OF
such thing as ioye-ycal, pure, un-
changing love, as it is described and
pictured so cleyerly in the plays Let
us be plain, once for all, Herbert. and
close the subject for good tonight 1
like you so much more when you talk
about sensible things"
He rose abruptly, without replying,
and began to pace up and down. his
hands i'll his pockets and his face bent
towards the deck in sad meditation.
Pearl-for it was she-watched him
from between her half-closed eyelids. as
his figure now approached her, now re-
coded. coming between her and the bright
moonlight, and ever and anon casting
its tall shadow over her.
Once, when he was within a few steps
of her, she called softly, "Herbert!"
He stopped, and stood looking down
on her. What a vision of beauty she
was! How exquisitely chiseled was the
pale, ethereal face, how perfect the
round, full figure and snowy arms, how
wonderfully soft and luminous the dark
eyes, filled with the glow of the moon
light, and shining like two great stars
as they met his.
He almost tTembled as he looked, and
was filed with o feeling of unaccount-
able misery as dim foreboding crept
over him that she would never be his.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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