Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-11-23
MAY MEREDlTH'S WAGER.

IL bet you SIX palfS OF gloves, my
dear, that | bring that scorner OF women
to my feet within six weeks!" exclaimed
Miss May Meredith, as she sat chatting
with a gay party of girls.
She was an acknowledged belle among
them. and although the man in question,
we'll adapted to WIN womeas hearts that
he was, was known rather to avoid the
sex, or to waste upon them cynicisns
of courteous sarcaSlns, there were none
present who did not believe May Mere
dith had but to will and do.
None present? In a far-off corner of
the luXTiously furnished room sat a girl,
busily sewing. The shell tinted ears
could not fail to catch the conversation,
and although the long lashes did not lift
themselves from the great brown eyes,
bent upon her work, n slightly contempt
uous curve gathered about the well cut
lips, followed by a fortunately unseen
shrug of the pretty rounded shoulders.
1t was only Miss Harlon Mrs. Mere
|dith's poor dependent. She was a dis
tant relative of the family, but so dis
tant that the relationship was lost sight
Of in the meager salary paid to her for
supervising the large household, and talk
ING the part somewhat Of Cinderella for
the young ladies.
What mattered it that, three years
before she had sung out her young
heart, from morn till eve. in the pretty
country parsonage III which her dear
father had been rector? He had died and
left her with the song unfinished on her
lips The blow had almost killed her;
but a sweet hope in her heart OF another
strong arm ready to protect her, and fill,
as best he might, her fathers place,
enabled her to live through it, until she
learned as she supposed, that all the
world was false, and she gladfully.
thankfully accepted Mrs. Meredith's final
offer of home and independence, how
ever small.
Bringing him to your feet. May. is
rather ambiguous, is it not?" questioned
one OF the party. what do you mean
by the phrase?"
Il mean that within six weeks. if |
so will it, | may become Mrs. Leigh
Creighton
The words were greeted with laugh,
but from the girls hands in the corner
the work had dropped, ali trace of color
had left the lovely face, the great brown
eyes were open wide, even dilated. with a
strange, frightened expression III their
depths
Leigh Creighton! Was it her own fancy
which had imagined the words? No
They were all busy chatting now, and
his name passed from lip to lip, while
they told of his attractions, his hand
some face, his remarkable grace, his long
stay abroad, his return home, his strange
~ Indifferent manner, until the color
came slowly back into her cheeks, and
her. trembling hands steadied themselves
while she stopped and regained posses
sion of the fallen work.
week later she sat in her own room,
looking out into the dark night. while
up through the closed door came sounds
OF music and laughter-it was one OF
Mrs. Aleredith's "at homes''-when sud
denly the door few open, and May, with
out knocking, rushed into the room.
Excuse me, Fanny" she exclaimed,
"but mamma is in such a state of ex-
element. Miss Adams, the soprano, has
disappointed her, and she says you must
come down at once and sing"
ooh, May, [ cannot. Your mother
must excuse me"
My dear child you must! I should
not dare carry her such q message, and
You know the music room is away from
the rest, and / Will see that no ore dis
turbs you. Slip on your black silk, and
pin this white rose in your hair. There!"
she added a few moments later. Il shall
have to keep you in the dark now, lest
you eclipse us all"
"Oh, if | dared ask her if he is therc!"
thought Miss Harlon, as, seating herself
at the piano, she caught glimpse of the
brilliant assemblage in the room beyond.
moment later every one turned to
bis neighbor in silenced amazemcnt az
the exquisitely clear, trilling notes
thrilled through the room.
AS the song died away one man
stepped from behind a curtain which had
concealed him. Iii5 handsome face was
very pale, and there was a look both OF
regret and anger in his eyes; but both
gave place to a great tenderness as he
stepped quietly to Miss Harlon's side.
Fay" he whispered.
At the old name--the name only one
had ever given her-the girl grew death
ly white
"Fay!7 he said again, have you TO
welcome for me after all these years?'
She opened her lips to answer, but the
words of scorn she meant to utter re-
fused to come. Pride struggled dcs
perately with the sulfocating feeling that
was growing up about her heart, but in
vain. A veil Of darkness shut out from
her Leigh Creighton's face, and she fell
fainting in his arms.
The six weeks were drawing to a
close, and May was growing uneasy on
the subject of her wager For the first
time her carefully sharpened arrows had
failed to hit the destined mark; and al
though her heart was not interested, her
pride was, and she determined anew upon
conquest. But with Fay the wager had
been forgotten, as one afternoon she stole
down to the music room. Every one was
out. The house was deserted, as she sat
down at the piano and let her hands play
with the keys. Had her brain invoked