Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1903-10-24
DECEIVED.

the glass now, dressed in suit of black
oroadeloth OF elderly cut, with an almost
undetectablc wig of iron-gray on his
close cropped head, and was examining,
through pair of benevolent looking
spectaeles, the carefully drawn wrinkles
and crows feet on his face.
Il believe they would deceive Queen
Bee herself at a few yards distance he
thought proudly, after close scrutiny;
but l daresay she will find some weak
place in my get-up. l hope she will be
punctual in her visit of inspection.
don't want to spend half the evening in
this state"
There was knock at the door, and
at Griff's Come I'M" a waiter opened it
little way and announced. 1.-TWO ladies
to see you, sir"
"All right. Ask them to go into the
sitting room, Jones. Good of her to come
SO early" he thought. 81 shall be able
to get in a game at billiards before din
ner."
He turned to his glass again to give
last glance at his face before submitting
it to Bees searching eyes, and then
passed into the little sitting room ad-
joining.
Bee, your punotuality is really mar
velous!" he began. Aunt Helen, how is
it that OH"
His voice died away, and he opened
wide eyes OF establishment. for, instead
OF his aunt and cousin, he saw in the
soft light of the shaded lamp two strange
ladies. One of them was small, white
haired, sweet faced and old the other
was tail, slight and young, with a CLINT
of gold in her thick brown locks. and a
pair of clear gray eyes that searched his
with a long. inquiring look, and, all I'M
knowingly, kindled a fire within him that
ever after refused to be put out.
Almost for the first time in his life,
Gritf felt embarrassed. His words came
faltering TO his lips, and died away un-
spoken.
''Air Mundy?" said Miss Elbefeld, as
she came towards him. Il am afraid we
have quite startled you, coming so very
unexpectedly. We ought to have written
to you first"
Griff managed to say that he was de-
lighted to see them under any circum-
stances, and would be still more so if
they would kindly introduce themselves,
since they seemed to know him already.
Il am Freda Elbefeld," said that lady,
"and this is your ward, Hildred."
"My-ward!" Griff repeated slowly,
and with something like a gasp of aston
ishment. The look he gave Hildred was
amazed and alf-frightened, and Miss
Freda began to grow uneasy.
Can there be any mistake 2" she asked.
"You are Mr.. Griffith Mundy aren't you,
and you have been told all about Mr..
Masters will?"
"Yes-yes-I know. 1t is quite right"
Griff stammered. But l thought un-
derstood-"
"Yes2" Hildred inquired, as he still
looked at her doubtfully. What did you
understand"
81 though. you were a baby!" he
blurted out, and then grew very red, and
wished he had not said it.
But Hildred liked the frank admission,
and somehow began to feel that her dis
like and dread of guardian had been
unjust and ridiculous She laughed with
a fresh, musical sound that was infec-
tious, whereon Griff smiled too, and felt
more at his ease.
"You seem to have known as little
about us as we did about YOU" Hildred
remarked. "The lawyers letter told us
scarcely anything beyond your name and
where you lived, SO l just persuaded
auntie to come to England at once, to
it very indiscreet of us?"
ut was charming" Griff said warmly.
Il was coming to Dresden myself to see
you very soon, only-only-"
You thought the baby could wait"
Hildred put in mischievously, and the
culprit laughed rather guilty..
DIT L. 80. l., a.. u
every glance he gave to the tall, beau
tiful girl who was his ward only made
the whole affair seem more bewildering
and unreal.
II was going to write to Miss Elbefeld
directly" he said "but the thing took
me quite by surprise. Although poor old
Mr. Masters and 1 were the best of
friends, he never so much as limited at
making me your guardian. Indeed, |
never heard him speak of his grand
daughter at all, and always supposed
that he had no near relatives living"
Poor old gentleman" said Miss Freda.
II believe he never forgave his daughter
for marrying my brother, and his will
was the greatest surprise to us too. You
must know that it has made all the diff
ference in the world to US, for we were
very poOIy IuLuA anu II the cnllQ mas
been studying so hard, and was resign
ing herself to a life of teaching"
''You don't know how glad / am TO
think that the necessity for that is past"
said Griff. 1--WE must manage to give
her a really good time now to make up
for it.
"Oh, but can't quite give up all study
yet" Hildred put in quickly. That is
just what / was so anxious TO see You
about; bat now that we have met, am
afraid there is very little time
But you have not told me yet how
you found me- Griff said suddenly.
I'VE went to Mundy's CrOft,s Mise
Freda told him. "It was stupid of us,
of course, to go unannounced, and we
were punished for it when they told us
that you were staying here for few
days. However, thought we might just
come and make ourselves known to you
here, and / am afraid that is all we shall
have time for now, for we are staying
at Frowley, and must go back there this
evening"