Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-04-02

of the little romance with Il thrill at her
heart that was half pleasant and vet had
a touch of odd sadness in it. decided to
see the thing through, and later, before
they all parted, she invited both Ethel
and Home to dine with her the following
week and do q play.
The theater party promised well at the
| beginning. for the fourth man was a
steady going, middle-aged member of
| Parliament, n widower with pronounced
views. and Mary monopolized him in or
der TO give the romance freedom to de-
velOp itself.
Yet presently it seemed as if something
had gone wrong. Ethel Matthews was
distinctly initiating the widowe in the
early stages of the art of Irritation, while
awrence-piqued, no doubt-betrayed q
desire 10 take refuge from her neglect
with Mary.
1t distressed Mary very much. She
was surprised to find that she was full
of indignant sympathy with Lawrence
for, after all, love disappointments are
very usual occurrences-and that she was
actually taking q dislike to Ethel because
that tickle young person had deserted
Mr.. Home for the widower
1T is charming of you to take ii so
well. she murmured to Lawrence when
he begged the privilege of driving home
with her: but, of course. you must not
let it become Il real quarrel. You must
insist on seeing Miss Matthews to Eaton
Terrace"
His face fell "But she has already
arranged" he said that our honorable
j and worthy friend should be her escort
| should not like to intervene"
And moment later Miss Matthews
settled the point herself by departing
with the widower and taking q very brief
and chilly farewell of Mr.. Home,
As Mary drove with him toward May
fair Mansions she was trying to think
of appropriate words wherewith TO con-
sole this blighted lover; but she found
1t so difficult that when they reached
the fiat she had said nothing. and could
only endeayor 70 convey her sympathy
| by a lingering handclasp.
May | not come in for momentT
he said. Il have something very inn
portant To say TO YOU.
Poor fellow" she reflected. HE is
wretched and may be going 10 do some
thing desperate. | must persuade him 10
be calm.'
So she gave him gracious assent.
Il have been looking forward to this
evening more than can say" Lawrence
began. ''Will it bore you if | refer 70
my romance:"
She turned TO him with tears of carr
estness shining in her eyes.
"Of course il will not bore me-" she
assured him. Il cannot express to you
how sorry / feel, how sincerely | sympa-
thize with you. But l think. Miss Mat
thews--
He interrupted by taking her hand
Need we talk about Miss Matthew'S
he said, while the smile and the twink e
| in his eye transformed his face. 1T il
such absolute waste of ,'me. / would
so much rather talk about you-Mary."
She was so astonished that for mo-
ment she could not speak, and he drew
ha,- m AZ hn m sci q
hand he held
Il cannot wait any longer" he said.
Il very nearly told you that | loved you
that first day on Lady Dunstan's bal
cony. but ! did not venture 10 for fear
of being banshed and losinS my chance.
1t has seemed an eternity since then, and
to tell the truth was getting so bored
with Miss Matthews that | am afraid
showed it, Mary, | have loved you
from the first moment that | saw YOU.
Don't send me away"
But" she faltered. lit can't be true:
1t must he mistake. You told me
Il told YOU the truth. he said, and
captured the other hand. And. You
with your delightful lack of egotism. de
cided thar my ideal must be Miss Mat
thews Mary-Mary-how could it be
any one but YOU? Don't YOU know how
delightful you are? Don't you under
stand thar my life would not be worth
AfthS "AtAitut ~ "a = 49,
| little bit for me-"
She did not answer. for she was still
too much amazed both ut him and at
herself to he able 10 speak, but he read
something in her eyes that encouraged
him. for he lifted her hands to his shout
ierS. and bending. said softly. If there
is a grain of hope for me, Mary, give me
one kiss
And Mary did.-Beatrice Heron-MaX-
we'll in the Taller.