Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-08-13

he had recourse to his handkerchief
bringing it out OF the pocket of the long
brown overcoat which he had not been
asked to remove. The picture was COW
cred with elinging mould.
That has no value at ALL the old
lady said. Unlike the Rembrandt"
The rats have been gnawing it," ne
said. in a tone OF bitter reproach Look
at this eorner!"
1T i Il poor. publishing thing" said
Miss Narccla, taking it from him with
something like temper and putting IL
back against the wall. We win return.
if you please. sir, 10 the parlor. | am
obliged for yonr interest in my family
hcirlComs."
rs she opered the door or him to pre-
ce,lc her with the lamp, the wind rushed
up the stairs with shrek and the light
went ont. He fumbled in his pocket and
there were no matches.
Excuse me, sir. l will fetch a light,
Miss Marcela said. and went out, leaving
him in the dark
There was Il green ohmmer in the
room; the moon was breaking through
the stormy clouds and was reflected on
the crcsts of the waves Miss Marcella
was gone a few minutes When she res
tnrned she found L'Esuange standing as
she had left him.
lie hardly seemed to notice that his
opinion against the genuineness of the
Rembrandt had offended her. Indeed
when they had reached the hall again.
and she would have led the way to the
sitting room, empty now, since Cecilia
was washing up the precious china cups
III the housemaid's pantry she cared for
the things at all events-he bowed him
self out instead.
Il was deceived in the Young man.
Cecilia Miss AIarcella said, afterward
The young men OF the present day have
no m0desty."
So she put L'Estranee out of her head.
Not so Cecilia. who had hardly ever met
Il gentleman of her own age. Poring over
her romances and her poetry through the
wild winter, the clean shaven. wholesome
face with its bright eyes and eager ait,
looked at her from between the pages CT
her book. She became more absent
minded than ever. and Miss Marcclla was
more snappish with her than ever.
Miss AIarcella had her cronies, who
came and played cards with her oil a
thippehdalc card table. with candles in
silver candlesticks. 1anked by silver
shutters on their trays. at each corner
Cecilia. watching the lined greedy eli
faces. and the shaking hal,ds drawing
i'll the small stakes OF putting them our
q picking mp the cards. wondered if she
would grow to be like the old ladies. 1t
seemed a poor idea of pleasure to her.
Once on twice she had met Mr.. Van
lclrur, and her mouth had parted to ask
him a question and closed again. re
noticed and wondered about it. The last
thing he would have thought OF would be
that Cecilia wanted to know about
L'Estrange He had almost forgotten
about L'Estrange's visit to The Cottage.
L'Estranee had found bad news await
ing him in a telegram at the rectory
His little half-sister. Effie, the one
creature he loved greatly. WAS suddenly
ill-nad to undergo an operation imme-
diatcly.
He was at her side assfast as express
trains could carry him. For days the
chances inclined rather to death than
lite. Then there was the faintest hope
which grew so imperceptiblv that one
doubted if it grew at all. Even when
the operation WAS long left behind tbsfe
Was terrible weakness.
The days of late winter and early
spring passed, and LEstrange thought
Of nothing but Fife What would life
be worth 10 him without Ellie? She
was half his age, fifteen years to Ills 30,
and she had been his for ten years. years
during which she was his little star Of
home. 10 which he always returned with
happy speed.
Tie took Ellie away to Madeira before
May had time to show her treachereu+
side. ~ the seasons changed he took
her mthcr and thither. following Low
the GOODNESS and again the warmth, till
he was rewarded by seeing robust Ellie
once again,
Then. after nearly year of absence,
they returned home and L'Estrange
with an arm around Efiie's shoulder as
they visited their gardens, now all one
riot of leaf and blossom, shouted. oh
to be in England now that Aprips there!"
aud was reminded 10y Eliie, who was a
matter-of- fact little person, that il
wasn't England, but Ireland
! He left Ellie in the care of the old
/ servants, ENJOYING herself hugely because
/ SIC WAS not to 90 back to school. bUU
was to have a goNcrnesS as soon rs Hilary
could find the perfect lady. He had bust,
ness in London. After that he was going
/ down 10 see Mr.. Nandclcur.
/ lie had hardly arrived at the rectory
when he asked Mr. NaHdeleur about Miss
/ O'SulNIn Beare.
I All said the rector. Are you still
/ laundering after the collection? 1t. no
good. my hoy All the things are gone
tn Days looNei. The old lady and her
niece very nearly went With them. An
fmcommonlv narrow escape they had"
What do YOU mean?"
Only that IN the big February storm
the house came down. collapsed like a
house of cards. Went on fiIc. too. when
it had collapsed Nou'd have thought it
was too damp to burn. but it burned all
the same. The girl, Cecilia. had heard
a chimney stack fall in one of the unoc-
enpied rooms and had dragged the old
lady ont OF the house much against her
VIII and only ia>t in time. They found
Il refuge in the stable. which was hewn
cut Uf the solid rock Nome of ne l-,,o,,,