Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-03-21

Excellent !-eNcellenT my dear
have been in every capital of Europe, and
| never heard it played better in my life.
1t was tTeat!''
After this he begged her to play an
other and another piece, ransacSing the
whole Of the music cabinet for his favor
ties with as little ceremony as though
the whole of the house and its contents
was his own. As for Mr.. ard Mrs. Perks
! he paid as much attention to them as if
/ they had simply been pieces of furniture,
and it was not until dinner had been an
noGnced for the third time that he Of
/ feTed his arm to the fair hostess.
/ At dinner it was the same-he ad-
dressed almost the whole of his CONVERSE
( ton to the governess, and when she and
I Mrs. Perks had retired, lie piled his host
/ with a hundred and one questions as to
/ her antecedents, parentage, and past his
tory, and looked more than annoyed
when the other asserted his inability 10
/ satisfy his curiosity.
In the meantime, Mrs Perks had taken
care to get rid of Minnie, for she was de-
termined that the girl should not monop-
ollie the time of the millionaire when the
men came upstairs after their coffee.
| You look tired, Miss Jeffries. You
had better go TO your ROOM" she said,
and Minnie gladly obeyed. for she was
really tired, and, besides this. the attcn-
tons of the rich jew were utterly dis
Hateful to her.
When Myers learnt she had gone, he
was at little pains to conceal his dis
pleasure, and, making an excuse of an
other engagement, took his departure in
a few minutes, not, however before he
had promised to pay another visit soon,
having stated that he had enjoyed himself
very much, and that he dearly loved good
music
The next day. whilst Minnie and Mrs.
Perks were seated at luncheon, the serv-
ant brought in a bulky parcel addressed
to Miss Alice Jeffries.
Wondering what it could be. and from
whom. Minnie opened the parcel at once,
Mrs. Perks being more curious than she
was herself.
On removing the outer wrapper of
brown paper, she came to a cardboard
box, and on opening this, she found it
contained a full score of la Somnam-
bula," maEnifcently bound in red moroc
co and gold, and heartshaped blue
leather ease.
Upon pressing the spring of the latter,
the lid flew back, revealing a magnificent
diamond necklet, with diamond and
sapphire pendant, on the top of which
was a small slip of paper, containing the
following words, written in close,
crampcd hand:
ITO Miss Alice JefTries, from her de
voted admirer, in return for the great
pleasure she gave him last evening
Lucas Myers"
As her gaze rested upon the necklace
every gem of which was of the first
water Mrs. Perks gave a cry of delight,
but, after reading the note, Minnie began
to carefully make up the parcel again.
What are you going to do with them
Strange Perks should mention the prob
! ability of the cid fool making you a
present. OF course, you cannot wear
them, but Perks viii buy them from :, gu
know. You had better sell them to him
than a stranger"
Il shall not sell them to ANYBODY, Mrs.
> Perks" was the reply. Il shall send
them back"
What"
81 shall send them back thinl, it a
great impertinence of Mr.. Myers TO in
p suit me by sending them"
In vain Mrs. Perks tried to dissuade
her. for. as we have seen, Minnie had a
will of her own, and within an hour one
of the boy messengers from an adjacent
J office was on his way to Park Lane with
the rejected present.
Early the next day Perks came home
from the city iii towering rage. and at
once summoned Miss Jeiries to appear
before him in his study.
Miss Jcffries. what is this | hcar?' he
asked, in a bullying hectoring tone she
found it very hard to bear. "Afy friend
Mr. Myers says he sent you a handsome
present yesterday. which you returned
with an insulting message. He is very
angry indeed. and you have done me an
: incalculable injury, for he was about to
J tell me of an investment which would
have doubled my capital, However. he is
one of the best natured men in the world,
and consents to overlook your insult on
] one condition.
, "And what may that be, sfr?'
Your consent 10 become his wife-the
sharer of MS millions"
, "And you are serious in making this
! proposition sir"
: Certainly | am and l should think
l you a very foolish young lady if you re-
: fused it."
Then YOU must think me one. sir. for
-, absolutely and finally refuse to enter
tain the matter for single moment.
e Mr.. Lucas Myers is Old enough to be my
grandfather, and one l could never even
J like"
But think OF what you are refusing.
: He is as rich as Croesus, and all his
: wealth would soon be yours, for he can
not live for ever. Then you would be
free to choose for yourself"
e Silence. sir, pray you! DO not make
? me despise the whole of your sex"
r you impertinent hussy, how dare you
speak to me like that. and in my own
: house? Listen to me, and. believe me,
5 intend what 1 say. Remember you were
I starving when ! took compassion upon
4 you, and brought you here, You have no
e friends, no character even. so that, if
4 turn you adrift. You must face starvation
again. Now, either you consent to be-
= come the wife of Mr.. Myers, or you leave
, my house tonight"
E II shall leave it at once, sir" she said,
moving towards the door.
"Wait n moment please III you leave