Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-02-13


She murmured some scarce andibse re,
Spouse, and almost Immediately turned
away and walked to the Ofhe= side of the
room.
a couple Of moments later the dinner
bell rang
Sir Charles, you win take in Mrs Rer-
niger, II you please" said Lady Hallaton.
IN her pleasantly easy fashion eAir.
Darniey and Mr. Vaughan wish had
lady Tor each of you. / would have
had II SIR Charles had given me longer
notlee Mr.. Dundonald, believe must
claim your arm"
Sir Charles walked across the room to
Emerald. She had sunk on to n cosseh
and seemed to be reclining on it, with her
mead bent low over her arm. He spoke
70 iler, but she did not answer Alarmed
ne hent lower to look at her, and found
she had tainted away
ne discovery created a great sensa
tor, but naturally the swoon was at
trl5uted by Dundonald and the Hallatons
% the shock Of the railway accident Ii
was clear Emerald was in no condition te
take her place at the dinner table She
retired to her room. A doctor was sent
4 Tor, who pronounced her to be suffering
from nervous shock, and ordered rest and
quiet.
The delayed dinner was rather
SomOrc function. Dundonald's thoughts
/ we're with Emerald, and indeed over the
Whoie party there seemed to hang a seuse
OF oppression and of dread,
| Perhaps the physical atmosphere was
IN some measure the cause of this. The
day had been strangely sultry, apd now
| great copper -hued clouds scuddcd across
the inky blackness of the skies Each
moment the storm grew nearer and more
near.
| About 10 o'clock it came. Those who
| witnessed it, said afterwards that they
| had never seen such a storm before.
| Lady Hallaton remembered Emerald,
and went up to sit with her and reassure
| her should she feel alarm.
She found her perfectly tranquil, and
| looking loyeliness itself as she leaned
| back in the depths of great satin
| padded chair, She had changed her even.
ing dress for a loose tea gown. 1t was
OF white satin, with a golden girdle at
the waist
II thought the storm might frighien
you dearest.@ said Lady lIallaton think.
ing how young and girlish and lovely she
looked, With her beautiful hair FILLING
over her shoulders, and her pure cheek
resting pensiyely upon her hand
i don't wonder Dundonald is deter
mined to have her, was her thought. slf
| were man. | should fall in love with
her myself"
Il am not at all frightened, said En-
erald, quietly. It is Il terrible storm; but
do you know, ! think it suits my moodgs
Into her beautiful violet eyes there
crept a curious glow as she spoke After.
wards, Lady IIallaton remembered that
look and thought She understood it.
"Dundonald would have me Gomez She
went on mot that | needed sending
should have come Of my own accord !;
| but ne is intensely anxious about you.
| How he loves you, Emerald; but OF
| course need not tell you that
Yes, he loves me" said Emerald, still
with an almost dreamy quietness of tone,
and still with that peculiar glow and
sparkle in her eyes. Her white fingers
| lay interlaeed on her lap, and she looked
down upon them intently, almost as il
she saw some stain or blemish there.
That, too, Lady Hallaton remembered
afterwards.
Are you alone? Where IS your maid =
Il sent her downstairs; the lightnis-
made her nervous ! thought she wouIl
be more comfortable in the housekeepers
room, or the servants hall."
1T certainly IS terrible storm Darn
ley and his friend are staying, of course.
1t would be impossible to turn anyone
| out Oh such n night"
You mean that they are sleeping in
this house,"
Emerald asked the question with eager
ness, almost with excitement. The state
Of her nerves made her excitable, Lady
Hallaton thought.
What rooms shall you put them in Z"
| she asked. after a moment of silence
Mrs. Wright has settled that. Darn
| ley sleeps in the mauye room-the one on
! the other side of this corridor: Mr..
! Vaughan will have the little octagon
room next TO him The beds are being
aired now. 1t is a bit of nuisance, OF
course, hut how could they walk u mile
/ and half in such weather as this? As
| for a horse being taken out, Sir Charles
wouldn't hear of it."
Emerald said no more. but again re-
| lapsed into silence and sat in that pen
sively. thoughtful attitude in which her
| friend had found her with her cheek rest
ing on her hand.
Lady Hallatan presently left her. The
storm still ragged. and did not subside
until close on midnight BY that time,
everyone in the house had retired to
their respective apartments, but Emerald
still sat in the easy chair.
TO BE CONTINUED.