Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-05-28

and he tried TO interest himself by
watching the different groups of fearful
or aggressiyely cheerful people who were
seeing friends off to the Antipodes; the
latter perhaps the most pathetic, for
forced gaiety is always more painful
than open grief
lie was about to move away, feeling
that perhaps he should feel more cheer
full if he tried to occupy himself i'll un-
packing his eabinet-bo and getting out
the few things that he would be likely 20
want during the day, when his attention
was arrested by solitary figure which
stood a little apart from the rest on the
quay.
1t was slight, girlish figure. and it
reminded him at once of the woman he
had seen get into the train at Mordstone,
and also-and more strongly than before
OF Hester Bcale.
She Wore thick veil. so that it was
impossible at that distance to distinguish
her features. hut the figure, the carriage,
We're strangely like hers.
His heart began to beat wildly; he
leant forward. straining every nerve 10
get n closer look at her. The clothes
We're not familiar; they were thicker,
darker ones than he had been in the
habit of seeing her in, but that meant
little. 1t was not improbable that.
should it by any mad chance be she. she
would have attircd herself in way that
would not make her easily recognizable.
At last he could bear The suspense no
longer. With a sudden impuisive move
ment he left where he was standing, and
made for the gangway, descending it rap
idly, in spite OF the warning from the
man in charge that there was not much
time to spare. and in few strides had
reached the side of that solitary figure.
She turned her head; the veil was thick.
but it could not conceal from Hugh the
features of the girl he loved.
"Hester!" he said breathlessly.
She did not speak; she could not for
tears were rolling down her cheeks. but
she held out two little trembling hands,
and he took them in his.
My darling" whispered the Young
man. are You sorry, after all. that | am
going? Only say one word, and l will
stay"
She gave no answer, and his face fell.
at least" he said. with Il frantic eff
fort at cheerfulne>s. 1T was sweet and
kind of you to come and say good bye;
it will comfort me to think of it for
many long day to come. But must
be going now, dear, the boat is on the
point OF sailing"
He gently tried to disengagc her hands
which were holding his fcvcrishly, and
then at last she found her voice.
Don't go, Hugh" she said with a sud
den sob; Il can't do without you. | have
tried, but l can't. Stay. and forgive me
for all that is past-for love you sol"
And then he took her in his arms, re-
gardless of onlookers. oblivious of the
fact that the big vessel was beginning
to move away from the quay. and that
all his belongings were moving away
with it.
And so it happened that the evening
train from London brought two tired but
happy passengers back TO Mordstonc that
night
Mr.. Beale was smoking melancholy
pipe, thinking about the Young fellow
whom in all probability he should never
see again, and regretting the absence of
his daughter who had gone, as she had
left word for him, on a shopping expedi
ton to London, when he heard the door
open behind him, and she came in.
so you have got back?" he said.
quietly.
Yes father, am back. and have
brought someone with me"
Something unusual in the tone of her
voice arrested Mr.. Beale's attention, and
he turned quickly round. A figure was
standing III the shadow behind her.
The girl bcckoned to him, and then,
coming forward, threw herself on the
floor beside her fathers knee.
1T is Hugh, father [ could not let
him 90 We could neither of us do with
out him, could We? We three are going
to begin a new happy life together
THE END.