Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-06-18

places with her. Those who saw her
home life imagined it a tranquil and
happy one.
1t was very quiet-that was her own
choice. She had plenty of opportunity
for gaiety had she wished for it. Her
English home was a small house near
Regents park. She had taken it fur
nished from an artist who was going
abroad for a time. and here she lived
with her mother, and received her chosen
friends, who nearly all held some place
in the world of art. Lovers, it need hard
ly be said, she had in plenty, but she ap.
peared Indifferent to all alike.
The brilliant actress, the accomplished,
elegant lady, of one of the most refined
circles Of upper Bohemia, would scarcely
have been recognized in a plainly dres sed
and thlckly-veiled woman who alighted
IRON cab III Oxford street one evening
soon after 6 o'clock, and walked away
to thread the mazes of Soho, till she
paused, as if not sure of her destination,
in a street lined with tall, dingy houses.
Their. when she inquired for certain
street, those familiar with Miss VIM
choster's melodious tones would have
| recognized them, though the slatternly
girl who directed her did not
She made her way to the street in
| question, and found the number of the
house she wanted. 1t was Il lodgng
house and she had to mount three flights
of stairs to reach the person she had
come to see
When she opened the door in obedience
to a voice from within bidding ner
Come in" the man who had watched her
| drive away from the stage door on the
night of the last rehearsal rose from be.
hind a table Uttered with papers and
;llumined by a smoky paraffin lamp.
She went forward, lifting her veil as
she did so.
"Aurioll" he uttered, breathlessly.
"Youl"
Their faces as they looked at one an
| other We're strange to see. Hers, passive
pale, with stern, bright eyes, and lips
| that would have quivered had they been
less firmly set. His, startled, vcarnmg,
and with kind of shame struggling TO
the surface against his will
| you see l am here" she said; "this
was what you wanted when you wrote
to me. infer"
"This!" cried the man. bitterly. "Ycu
look at me coldly-you have not one
kind word; and you ask if this is what
| | wanted!"
How did you expect l should meet
your" asked Auriol. YEARLY. did You
look for outstretchcd arms and kisses p"
lie turned away, muttering "Oh, it's
hard-it's hard!"
She sat down in silerce. and looked
around the bare, squalid room. His eyes
were wet when he lifted them to her
face again
There was only one way l could am
swer your letter" she ssid "Now tell
me why you wrote to me. Do you want
money"
NO." he answered, with fierce impa.
tience that was yet subdued, as if by a
| sense of shame, and next moment he
broke out, Il wanted to see your face
| wanted to touch your hand. You used
to love me, Auriol How can YOU speak
and look SO, now, as if had never held
you in my ams-as if you had never
been the very light of my eycs!"
you killed my love yourself" she an
swercd sadly, hopelessly, and not with
out pity she locked at the bowed figure
before her. Once he had been very dear
to her What suffering he had cost her
she alone knew.
Il believe you were glad when Won
thought ! was dead" muttered the man.
81 had little cause to be sorry, but I
was net glad. And if you would let me,
for the sake of those old days" she went
on, her voice trembling and her eyes
filling, 81 would make your daily life
brighter than it seems to be- This
place'-she glanced again around the
comfortless room.
He laughed sardonically.
"Oh, you come from very different sur
roundings. Suppose | choose to reap the
benefit of your good fortune to the full
| have the right. Very few men would
be willing, like me, to renounce the So
ciety of charming wife, who once
adored me, and has some fondness for
me still, ] do believe Would you like
to introduce me to your grand new
friends, my dear? Auriol Dimdyke
doesn't sound so pretty as Auriol Win
chester, does it,"
you dare mott" she painted
ooh, yes, | dare" Archibald Dimdvkc
responded; but | don't mean To. I'm
a scoundrcl but I'm not as bad as YOU
think me. You're a good woman Auriol
and you Judge me without mcrcy-l
don't deserve anything else. There, don't
cry so; I've cost you tears enough in the
past, I'm not going to trouble YOU in the
future If | choose to watch Won some.
times from the back of the gallery. il
can't harm YOU"
TO BE CONTINUED.