Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-01-30
CHAPTER H.-(oontinuea.)

be.
Darn1ey pridei himself on being a man
of perfect breeding at all points; but he
came dangerously near Vulgarity in a
touch of csteEftatiously affected disdain
81 the connections in whom he secretly
took most pride Emerald knew this lit
ale idiosyncr&sy of his, and was sure he
ssyas abiding to the Duchess of Doom.
ooh, the dudhessl he said, negligently.
seShe is the best of creatures, but a trifie
nrosy at tiTnes a clever woman in her
wav, though. i verify believe she man
ages the dukes affairs forhim as well as
her own. And, by-the-bye, we were
speaking of you. The duchess wondered
if YOU would care to>spefld a week or two
at Cronartae."
This timesa faint and very lovely color
stole into Enaeralds cheeks. There was
an eager, almost "a startled, light in her
eye.
~ am sliretthe duchess was. She knew
/ knew you land gave me hint TO sound
you as to whether you would care to
60"
Care? OF course, I~should care" said
Emerald Beringer, while the color in her
check grew deeper, land the light grew
brighter in her eyes
After that little exclamation she sat
quite still and silent, deeply musing.
Darnley's version of the affair did not
impose upon her in the very least. She
knew as wellaas if sheihad been present
what had passed between him and his
cousin. He bad asked for an invitation
for her asa personal favor. Probably
and this was why her cheek had flushed
he had told the duchess that, in asking
her to Cromartie, she would be inviting
his future wife.
Could she go to Cpomartie on such
terms as these? she asked herself, las she
sat there stall and silent.
Presently she turned her beautiful eyes
on him withaa frank, steady glance.
Mr. Darney, l think you and should
be quite candid with each other. 1t is
idle to pretend that an invitation to Gro
martie is not thing l would do much
to gain. But, in my way, i am honest.
/ would not go there knowing that a GER
tain price isrexpeeted from me, and that
that price is one which l am not prepared
to pay"
Darnley did not affect to misunder
stand her He was clever enough to see
that plain speaking would be best with
such a one as Emerald rBeringer
Il think / understand you" he said,
softly You know how dear you are to
me. You fear ] shall ask you to be my
wife Is that the price you arc not pre-
pared to pay?"
''Yes," she said. in low voice, but
with graceful self possession which
nsr,,o llxr .v.au,otyod fro.,, no.ouotru and
bashfulness
And you did not think you were
wronging me by supposing I should seek
ito exact terms for little kindness
found myself able to do for your"
Mr.. Darnley, the world has been very
hard to me. For all it gives me, it ex-
acts a price. When fancied you might
do the same, had no thought of blam
ing you by SO doing. j have been taught
by hard experience to think such things
as only natural-only the way of the
world"
Even so, did you think could adopt
the way of the world with you? Do you
think you are no more to me than other
women? Oh, that dared go further
and say, Am 1 no more to you than
other men? You have, as it were, opened
my lips for me. You have made me bold
TO speak in my own cause-in my own
defense love you. The dearest wish
of my heart is to call you wife"
He spoke well, Us such q man almost
always docs speak. let his theme be what
1T may; and at this moment what heart
he had was touched. Even if Emerald
Beringer had not had great wealth, he
would still have coveted her for his own.
His cousin the duchess had spoken as if
she deemed him cold to feminine beauty;
bHt to this woman he was not cold. She
dominated both Ills senses and his mind.
She sat quite silent, huttering sigh
stirring the violets at her breast, sad
and rather troubled look apon her face.
Dearest, do you not believe naeg' he
said, in the softest whisper, and moved
a little closer to her side.
Yes, believe you" she answered,
slowly, and without raising her eyes from
the ground.
Then what have you to say to met"
"Only one thing; but perhaps You will
think it all-sufieient. I do not love you"
In his heart Darnley smiled. That he
wanted this beautiful woman and her
'thous lnds he knew; but he believed that
she, upon her part, was equally anxious
to secure certain standing in society
which she could most readily secure
through him. OF course, if she had loved
him, it would have lent an added charm
to the delights of possession; but they
were not mere sentimental boy and girl.
She had been married and widowed in
spite of her scare twenty years; and he
himself was man of the world. He
wondered a little that she should speak
of love as though it were an important
thing. 1T is because she was not born
to the purple" he said to himself. "She
acts her part splendidly, but birth al
ways tells" Aloud he said, softly as
ever:
and if you do not. is it not enough
that / love your"
~No-I think not" she answered,
quietly.
Il should win your love in time" be
went on. "Only promise TO be mine, and
you shall see"
NO; cannot promise that" she said,
with decision, and, with a little startled
look, almost as if she saw the idea in it's