Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-08-29
CHAPTER ".

lureSQue mousse thaJ adJolned the ruined
castle, Mrs. Redmayne was sitting, at
the end of that week, in company with
her second son.
She was immensely proud of her hand
some, much admired first born, but it
was just possible that the plain featured,
sweet-tempered Edwin possessed the
larger half of her heart.
She held letter, the news from which
she was retailing to the young man, who
was doing something to his fishing
tackle.
The Countess and Lady Jean will be
here, then, next week. he asked. What
are they like, mother ?"
"Ihe countess is a very fine looking
woman indeed-all your fathers cousins
were handsome-big and fair answered
Mrs. Redmayne. y don't know what
Lady Jean Adair is like exactly, fof Eve
never seen her, but she is spoken of as
beauty"
"Ah, girl with all that money would
never be anything else!" said Edwin,
laughing.
ooh, but she is pretty, really, my dear
have had it on private authority. /
don't 60 by the society journals and
fashion papers," asserted his mother.
Several of my friends have told me
| that she is very pretty and most at
tractive girl, with no affectation, in
spite of being such a big heiress-per-
fectly natural and really charming. l
was delighted to hear it, on Harold's
account. He is rather weak, and one has
the greatest difficulty in making him
really civil to plain young woman"
Il suppose plain old one isn't in it
at all ?" said Edwin.
"Oh, your brother is courteous to
everyone, Edwin. You must not try to
sheer at him." returned Mrs Redmayne,
conscious herself of being neither plain
nor yet old-for nobody in these days is
old at GO. He always behaves as gen
tleman-only he does so admire beauty"
And he is to go in for Lady Jean,
understands" inquired Edwin, though
with more interest in his tackle than the
subject.
MY dear, it is the desire of my
heart: That is what they are really
coming here for. Ada-the Countess of
Ayr, l mean, you know, Edwin-was
always very fond of your father, and as
good as. said to me when / saw her three
months ago that she would not object
to a marriage between my son and her
daughter. We arranged this visit should
take place, that they might have an OPP
portunity of meeting and knowing each
other"
And Harold, what does he say to this
choice plan, my dear mother? Rose Cas-
tellas has always been his fancy" re-
marked Edwin.
ooh, Harold fell in with the idea at
onoe-about Lady Jean, l mean,' said
Mrs. Redmayne "He intends to propose
to her, of course. just as if he would
let such a splendid chance slip out of
his hands, Edwin! Why, it would be al
most criminal Think how rich the dear
girl is-and young and pretty too, and
a connection of ours-every advantage!
About Rose Castellas-well, you are
right in way"
Right in a way, my dear mother!"
exclaimed Edwin, smiling. Haven't you
always encouraged him to make up to
Rose? You are always having her here,
and urging him"
yes i did think it would be the best
thing dear Harold could do to marry
Rose until / heard about Lady Jean
Adair," acknowledged Mrs. Redmayne,
though without the faintest embarrass-
ment. 81 did not want Rose down on
this last visit, however. That was en-
tirely her own and Harold's doing. And
Pm glad she is going tomorrow, because
of course it would never do for the two
girls to meet. Yes, | did think Edwin.
that Rose would be a very fair match
for Harold, for she is an heiress also,
though not to be named beside Jean
Adair and, failing Jean. Harold will
propose to her But he intends to ask
his cousin first. He is very sensible,
dear boy"
"He has a remarkably easy and happy
nature to be able TO accommodate him
self to circumstances in that way" com
mented his younger brother a little
cynically. But if Lady Jean accepts
him-and I expect she will, he is such
good looking chap!-it will be more than
hard lines upon Rose Castellas, mother.
won't it? I've wondered for a long time
why he was keeping on with her as he
does il he never intended TO ask her to
marry him; in fact, l almost assumed
he had, and that for some reason or
other they were keeping their engage
ment secret"
Nonsense! They are in no way
bound to each other" exclaimed Mrs
Redmayne sharply And Harold is not
bound to ask Rose, either They are old
friends, and if she is a girl who prefers
n long Irritation TO a long friendship.
which appears to be the case, can't
help that She is the type of woman
who insists that men shall render her
attention. She exacts homage, and
daresay it goes no further with her. At
any rate, of one thing l am sure-Rose
Castellas has not one ounce of foolish
sentiment in her whole nature"
$50 much the better for her, apparent
ly," remarked Edwin, rather coldly at
doesn't appear to me that either of you
intend TO treat her very well. She is no
favorite of mine, but I like pretense
of honor and fair play, l confess, even
towards a womanl"
Il don't know what you mean, Ed
winl" exclaimed his mother, taken very
much aback. you are most disrespect-
full, really! Why should you champion
Rose Castellasl She certainly never
liked youi Harold and are not treat
ing her unfairly in any way. You can
not blame me for hoping he and YOU