Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-12-17

for Mildred and Robert and both had
been unusually successful in the profess
sion of their adoption. Mildred had be-
come a we'll known book and magazine
illustrator, long since having outgrown
the little Office position which she would
not give up to become Roberts wife, into
a studio of her own, where people came
to her and begged her services. Roberts
law practice had grown, too, and he was
a man of 10 mean reputation. However, I
no matter how much their time was oc-
cupied, he was never too busy to make
frequent calls upon her, nor she too busy
TO recei re him. In fact, their intercourse
was of brotherly and sisterly nature
which made their meetings at all times
and places not inopportune.
Though apparently entirely absorbed in
her work, during these years, there were
times when, in the most secret recesses
Of her heart Mildred wondered if he had
forgotten that he had said he would love
her always, for never by word or look
had he referred TO that Christmas eve.
And Robert was troubled much in those
later days to know if, after all, Mildred
would find the rewards of art, the fame
her work brought her sufficient to satisfy
the whole desire of her nature. 1t had
caused him more surprise than he cared
to owr when she explained why she could
rot OF would not marry MIN. TIe had felt
SO sure that she loved him, and he never
dreamed Tor a moment that she would
crush both their hearts under her ambi-
ton. Yet he could not but admire the
purity and honesty of nature that
would not compromise or divide the de-
votion which belonged to a home with a
work foreign to it, This very thing
proved to him how well worth waiting for
she was, and he firmly believed that the
time would come to her as it does to all
women-when the innate love in woman
for home, the desire for someone
stronger to lean upon, the feeling of lone
illness which comes 30 every woman's
heart, who has not a hearthstone of ner
own upon which to rest her tired feet,
would Overpower her. and her heart would
cry out for the love she had rejected.
lie had watched anxiously for some sign
that this was so, but Mildred kept her
innermost feelings well under control, and
the waiting grew tedious.
He was walking along the avenue on
his way TO her studio, one cold December
day and thoughts like these filled his
mind. He always grew more FESTIVE as
the holiday season approached, and the
sight of the mistletoe on every hand
served to remind him painfully of that
Hateful day when he yielded to the temp
tation to take advantage of the privilege
it gives. He often told himself that it
had been a rash deed that he had com
mitted against her, and yet he could not
be sorry for it. He was going to consult
with her about Fanny's invitation which
he carried in his pocket, and he found
Mildred with letter in her hand which
she waved at him as he came into The
room
ITS from Fanny she said, "and she
is determined that we shall come ont
there for the holidays. Don't you think
it would be fine to COZ"
what and leave all your work here
at the busiest time of the year 2"
yes, would like to forget for little
while that there is such a thing as
studio. / am tired to death with the
holiday work, and shall not take another
thing to do. | should think You would
be glad, too, to get your fingers out of
those old law books for little while"
She was enthusiastic about the idea
and her enthusiasm was infectious and
almost before he realized it he had sail
he would go and they were planning ex-
citedly like two children
Fanny says we must bring some real
holly and mistletoe with us. for those
little hedthen' really do not know what
it is, and she is homesick for the SIGHT
of it herself" Mildred said as he wa
leaving, and the remark set his heart
beating so hard that it alarmed him, for
it WAS with difficulty that he had held
himself under control during the whole
visit AMI now he feared to stav with her
another moment. She had been unusual
~ gracious and charming under the SMELL
of her excitement and interest and seemed
to have lifted the all but imperceptiblc
veil, which each felt without acknowledp-
ment in the others presence, though not
even their dearest friend would have sus-
perted that shade of reserve existed be
tween them in their friendship.
And so it happened that five Christ
masses later Mildred aud Robert were
once more assisting in the decoration of
a church and tree fer Christmas. The
Ettle western frontier town was widely
different from their eastern home, but TIC
atmosphere of peace ca earth, good vii
to ne" is the same, the world over. and
leenuse this little church was bare ana
unfinished, it did not l,cp the few people
who supported t from trying to maIza
just Il taste of Christmas for many who
came mics to attend the exercises, that
being the one day of the year on which
they entered church Indeed, the young
people We're having happy time with all
the work and when they had finished 8
transformation had taken place in the
appearance of the room. The assistance
Of the two fasteners was heartily vel
coined ana they had not stopped with
holly and mistletoe, but many other
things were packed in the box which they
brought with them. No child was to be
forgotten this once, at least, and after
the things were hung upon the tree there
still remained a good supply OF articles
for the stranger who might be there and
have no friend to remember him. It