Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-14
THE INCONVENIENCE OF A CONSCIENCE.
BY HAROLD OHLsoN.


but an easterly wind was bending the
black branches of the trees and tearing
from them the dead leaves. The flowers
in the little garden had long since died
and the mass of foliage that hid the cot
tagc in summer had melted away.
At the bottom of the garden flowed the
river, and from under the willow trees
came to my ears the sound of singing l
stood still and listened. A foolish fellow
was softly chanting pretty, plaintiee
little song, song of love and death. l
heard it to the end tjcf0re moved. Then
crossed the grass, and stood by the
river. In the cottage garden young
man was lying back in IL chair, a gun
across his knees, and his hands buslly
stufting tobacco into a pipe.
Hu!io! he CALCULATED
Solitude makes men companionable.
II am intruding. | am afraid" said |,
disturbing your meditations."
I'm all the better for that" he an
swered, smiling, come in and sit down;
I'm awfully lonely"
l obeyed, and he placed a chair for me
beside his own. There seemed to spring
up. at once between us Il feeling of friend
ship.
Aren't you cold?" l Inquired. as our
friendship ripened.
Yes, Il little; but like to sit here. 1t
is lovely in the summer time. We used
to take boat on the river when the
moon was, ,up-ah, you should have been
here them
Perhaps 1 shouldn't have beer
wanted"
There We're usually four of us, you
know
Il should have guessed-half that num-
ber" said |, feeling little disappointed.
on, two each end of the boat"
or course, l forgot there were two
ends"
And we sang, occasionally"
vals?"
He smiled. felt convinced there had
been intervals
Did you hear me just now?" he in
CURED presently.
Yes, enjoyed it very much. But
surely, with such pleasant memories, it
was rather a sad song
That time can never come back.
That's why I'm not so cheerful as
might be. | wanted--what | couldn't
get"
l preserved sympathetic silence, and
waited.
You could make an excellent Inferno
with ungratihed desires" remarked my
companion.
I've known YOU about ten minutes, l
suppose" he said. turning To me, after a
IL.
"Abaut that" | agreed.
And you are wondering why l am
sitting here, freezing and thinking. Well,
I'll tell you. Ten minutes! There are
some people I've known for ten years to
whom | shouldn't say word about my
affairs. Queer, isn't it?f
We are not constructed, mentally. ac-
cording to any fixed rule. But | appre-
ciate the compliment
/ | offered him cigaF, and lit one my
That's good he said, letting the blue
smoke trickle slowly between his lips.
l"you smoke good stuff
Il wished tt prove myself worthy of
your regard"
I'm in love. you know" he said. after
Ia silence wrapped in smoke, a sign of
true companonsnlp: Very much So
"I-had my Suspicious
Il live in town, but took this cottage
last spring. and fell in love"
nodded. 1t seemed absolutely log
ical.
Il thought she was-er- fond Of me.
but suddenly she changed. Her father
lost all his money"
There should be no Connection
You can never understand woman,
! he sighed.
| liked him for that. Some young
men-very young men--think differently.
He had to sell his house, and now
they are living in Il little place in the
! village. And she avoids me, and won't
give me any reason for it,
The prerogative of the SEX
| ''It's--it's damnable" he exclaimed
/ so from this came thc song of love
and DEATH
Il come down here as Omen as can,
aud sometimes l see her But she says
must forget, which is impossible. of
course. So | just walk about, hoping 10
( meet her; or sit here. and smoke, and
/ feel miserable"
And shootT' inquired, touching the
gun.
"Oh-water rats. You can do it with
/ ont getting up, and it's nice 10 kill some
thing when you're miserable"
! Il am very sorry for You" said l.
\ water rat. seized with a desire to
! cali on some friends residing on the oppo-
/ site bank, created diversion Mt this point
AMI came to an untimely end as the re-
/ suit. Afterward | found my new friend
/ EXCELLENT company for desultory discus
/ sion of the things of this world
You live in the neighborhood: 60 he in
/ qulred, when. after Il pleasant hour. l
! rose to leave him.
There said l. pointing TO large
house perched ON hill about mile
away.
That was where she liyed. His tone
showed surprise, mingled with envy I'M
I Really" l exclaimed II bought il n
few weeks ago, and live there in solitude.
for literary purposes"
lie whiStled softly.
so you're the man her father hates so
the usurper of the throne of his an
ceStorS:"
Il paid for it" said I, naturally feeling
I asgrieved
1T has belonged to- the GilhertS for
centuries, and his heart nearly broke
when he had to part from it,
Its fine old house." / agreed. Then
| held out my hand to him.
/ must 80, but l hope we shah often
see each other"
bcaStly office in London"
We'll. call at Globe whenever you can.
shall aiwayS be delighted to see YOU"
Thanks" said he.
/ hurried back alorg the road, for neg.