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

know that" smiled the Cure. ~ on
forget | am accustomed TO the confes-
| sional"
This is about the best case I've ever
mad for years." said Mr.. Casson, as he
sat down by his office fire and mixed
himself glass of grog. "A good bride
offered to commence with, the certainty
OF handsome present from the other
side, and as clear q chain of evidence as
ever was placed before Judge and jury.
L think I've fallen on pleasant places.
and no ono can say that there is a sus-
plcion of wrong. Perhaps" he added.
softly, little Carrie Elmore won't be
! so hard hearted when l show her my
banking account"
For John Casson, although he was as.
was smitten with the charms of little
Carrie Gilmore, of the dark hazel eyes,
who was the daughter of the school
master of Neybridge high school, and
one OF the prettiest girls for many miles
round.
keen-witted and clever, as John Cas-
son was. he was still only in a mediocre
position, for there was little law bust
ness doing near Meybridge If it had not
been for Carrie he would long ago have
| turned his back to the town; but for
her sake-though she only worried and
| tormented him-he had stuck to his post.
hoping that something good would even
tually turn up
What JOY it would be when he was
able to tell her his good fortune, and ask
her to link her life to hist
His heart fairly danced with delight
at the very prospect. But he little
guessed what horrors We're to over
shadow the countryside before he could
seek the fulfillment of his wishes.
Everyone in the vicinity awaited with
anxiety the falling of darkness that
night
Perhaps if the ghostly bells did not
ring cut again. the shadow which seemed
to threaten the peace of the Squire's
home might not fall.
ut ~ o'clock, Unexpectedly, amid the
renewal of the great wind storm. the
listeners knew and trembled-for there
came loud and more discordant than be-
fore, tire wild Ginning of the Hidden
Bells-iGusing the country for miles.
People heard it in awe; but at the
Manor, the Squire and his nephews and
Gladys were so evidently overwhelmed
ty the occurrence, That they impaired
their fears TO the guests.
Sir George FerIlcigh did his utmost
to d;spel the feeling of depression and
thol Oh himself suffering from a fear he
would scarcely have liked to put in
" ords-he acted his part well.
But among many of those present was
an anxiety that the time would soon
pass. 50 that they could turn their backs
upon the Manor and its hidden terrors.
People influenced thus by sudden fears
are apt to give way to all kinds of freaks
of imagination, and that night many a
pillow bore sleepess head. For every
creak of an old plank, every gust of
wind rafting the panes, every plunge of
the waves against the cliffs was con-
strlcd into some evidence of the ghostly
crew that held sway over the Manor: :
and glad enough were the guests when
the wintry sunshine penetrated their
bedehambers, to relieve them from the
restless worries of the dark hours
When they all gathered together at
breakfast, and afterwards in the big hall
the gloom vanished.
Everyone was looking forward to the
fancy ball, and during the day there
would be skating on the frozen lake and
sleighing along the hard roads and play
i'll the warm billiard room.
And in spite of the wintry landscape,
the sun was shining brightly and the air
was bracing enough to invigorate the
nerves of anyone.
The hall was beautifully adorned. But
the decorations of the ballroom were
simply in superb taste The chandeliers
held alternate clusters of holly and
mistletoe-red berries and white; while
wreaths of red and white roses festooned
the walls. Fairy lamps were placed
where they would glisten amid clusters
of rare flowers; the stone statues were
crowned with evergreens, where their
whiteness showed beneath the dwarf
palms.
Lamps and mirrors. and blossoms, and
greenery; it looked a yeritable fairy pal
ace.
And when the lights were lit. and the
company stroled in before dinner, one
and all agreed that Squire Fernleigh had
done the thing to perfection.
1t had been decided to dine at an un-
usual hour, in order that the festivities
might commence early as the ball would
have to end with the stroke of midnight.
and some time would be occupied by the
guests in DOMINIC their unaccustomed
costumes.
Considering the difficulty in obtaining
the latter IN Il country place, the com
pany when assembled made a very rep
utab3e show
shortly after dinner the big ballroom
was crowded; for, in addition to the
home party, many of the county families
had been invited. But there were ante
chambers adjoining aud opening into the
dancing apartment and then, a. lasJ
resource, there was the great hall, with
its subdued lights and its big log fire,
and old pictures and trophies of the
chase-now smothered in greenery
Red berries and white too, everywhere
A symbol which will never be forgotten
SO long as the memory Of that Christ
mas eve lasts.
Gladys wore it on her bosom as she en-
tered the ballroom. in the character Of
Anne Boleyn--her mask scarcely hiding
the perfect beauty Of her lips, her black
velvet showing dazzlingly the whiteness
OF her neck.
Fair girls were there in plenty. but
there was something queenly about her
. which well s1itr5 +he rlgra f4pr he had