Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-04-02
later. She touched the girl on the shout

later. She touched the girl on the shoui-
der.
Iris" she said, and her voice trem-
bled slightly with excitement. II have
something 60 say to you. Get up, dear,
and listen 10 me-"
The girl rose and wiped her eyes. Mrs.
Hetling drew her down ON the bed beside
her.
1T is about your marriage. want
You to tell me-" she went on in n low
tone, whether you think YOU could ever
grow TO like Mr.. Jelifer, whether you
could be happy with him. Think well
before you answer Tell me exactly how
You feel about it Remember that he is
wealthy, and that you will have a gay,
fashionable life. such as most women
pine for, lots of money. smart clothes,
carriages and horses. Money PLAYS ar
important part in woman's life, and
sometimes atones for a lot she otherwise
would like TO have
Iris looked straight before her with
large, moTnful eyes
Il could not like Mr. ,1ellifer under any
circumstances" she answered firmly: Il
would rather be poor and earn my own
living than marry him, but my uncle has
kept me all these years. and it is my
duty to do as he wishes have no
choice; he himself has said So
There may be certain element Of
truth in that" said Mrs. Hetling refee-
lively, but YOU must not take too ex-
aggerated view of Your duty towards
Your uncle He could not have left YOU
TO starye anyhow and am sure no one
would agree that it was right to bind
lfa In hot Of IL -,
order to please Mr.. Beresford"
DO you really think sos" the girl
broke in eagerly. ooh. if | could get ont
of it. would begin to breathe again
you don't know how wretched | amt
Iris, | can prevent your marrying Mr.
Jellifer. if you like"
IF like? Don't YOU understand that
feel like dying? ! have Just been pray
ing that tomorrow might never comet.
Il have had this" she said ut is from
Mr.. OstiH. He will help us have told
him everything, Iris. because | knew /
could trust him. Listen TO what he says:
| i have thought over it all. and have de.
eided that ii Miss Beresford will re.
nounce her present position we can easily
prevent her being forced into the mar
riage. You and she can leave at once
and travel down TO Neybrdge. Take
cab at the station, and drive to Rose
| Cottage, which is ON the Portsmouth
| road, and there you will find an old lady
ready to receive you. The cottage IS
mine, and the old lady is my housekeeper,
and she will look after YOU both until
some definite arrangement can be made.
l am trying to find out all can about
Mr.. Beresford, as l am sure there is some
very strong reason why he has kent his
niece shut up in Fieldhohme all her life.'D
The rest of the letter Mrs. Hetling
kept to herself. 1t breathed love for Iris
in every syllable.
Then preparations for departure We're
made quickly, and with the utmost care.
None of Iris new wardrobe was touched,
and only her old clothes were packed.
These and Mrs. lettings boxes were
taken down and put on a cab, and the
two women drove off from the hotel be-
fore Jacob Beresford made his appearance
that day.
When he arrived, he went as usual UP
to his niece's sitting room. but instead
of Iris, he found a note addressed to him
lying on the table.
Dear Uncle: / am sorry to disobev
you, but l find / cannot endure the
thought of marrying Mr.. Jellifer, and, in
order that you won't have the trouble
and expense of keeping me any longer,
| have decided to 90 away. Thank you
for all you have done for me- / shall
always remember and be grateful Your
loving niece, IRIS"
Beresford stood staring at this letter
as though he had been struck. and it was
not for some moments that the exact
meaning of it came home to him. Then
he understood; Iris had run away, and
Mrs. Hetling had aided her.
His first impulse was to make inquiries
of the hotel servants as to the manner
of their going. but he checked it. On con
sideration he saw that it was better that
he should appear to look upon her de
partuTe as a matter of course, SO that no
scandal should arise; for Jonas Jellifer
was coming this evening to dine at the
hotel, and he was bringing with him the
papers Beresford so dearly loneed to
have. Once they were safe and sound.
he could look for Iris at his leasure, and
consider what was the best thing to be
done.
The money lender arrived at o'clock
to the moment. Beresford was sitting
in the lounge of the courtyard when the
Jew drove up, and FASTENED TO meet him
ere he could 60 upstairs.
"I'm afraid you'll have to put up with
me alone tonight" he said with short
laugh; "the girl has gone to bed with a
bad headache, Mrs. Hetling is playing
the nurse. You'll excuse them, / know!"
TO BE CONTINUED.
Some Big FLYERS