Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-08-12

uOH IoI May. L could present YOU at the
hrst drawing room, and Pm sure YOU
would be the rage of the season. dressed.
as should dress you, and backed up bv
your youth, beauty and fortune. And
every time | look at you, my dear. | am
astonlshed to mink that you are really
20 verify believe you'd pass for is
anywhere"
The girl was evidently torn with an
inward contlict-vanity urged her to
make certain statement, which pru-
denee told her must never, never. escape
her lips
On this occasion prudence prevailed
but it was a very narrow escape. and she
muttered angrily to herself as she found
herself alone again
It's positively unenIurable to have to
pass forever as being six years older than
am. Other women put back their age;
| am obliged to put mine on. It's intol-
erable!"
There was a very ugly scowl upon her
brow which quite disfgured her for the
moment, until the delightful picture Mrs.
Rochester had conjured up, floated into
her mind again, when the frown vanished
as If by magic, and was replaced by
fatuous smile, as, springng from her
chair, she rushed to the mirror, and ex-
amined her own image reflected therein
with the greatest possible complacency.
Yes, I'm awfully pretty" she thought
and am sure to make great sensation.
How lovely to go TO Paris and buy up
all the best costumes, and then come
here and take the world of fashion by
storm. Mrs Rochester says she is sure
L shall mary lord, at the very least, and
perhaps a duke! 7 should like a prince
myself, but she didn't seem to think
there was much chance of that''-with
momentary cloud, then cheering up
again, as she quickly selected a dress for
that evenings wear, and gave peremp-
tory pull at the bellrope to summon her
maid. "Shll, I've faith in myself, and
I've achieved even greater wonders, if
they only knew Oh, l am so sick of
this dull place, wish we could leave it
for ever tomorrow, and never set foot in
it again!"
Decidedly case of sour grapes, but it
would be disconcerting to most of us if
every idle wish were as quickly and thor
oughly gratified as Alice Smiths was
then.
That was to be her last night at the
manor house, and she never was to set
foot in it again-for a reason.
When she entered the drawing room, in
all the bravery of evening dress. she
found assembled therein, Sir Halco and
Violet Surrey, Mrs. Rochester and the
family lawyer, Mr.. Silver. and friend
of Sir Halco a young neighboring squire,
bO Hrroe fol of 20. 4oI-a
1t was very merry little party, and
the meal was a most recherche one. be-
ing, in fact, a little betrothal festivitv,
expressly arranged in honor of the en-
gagement.
Mr.. Silver had been invited both as
lawyer and friend.
There were certain formalities to be
gone through, in the shape of settle
ments, and the drafting of a will, also
Sir Halco, was to receive implicit instruc-
lions regarding that business he was to
transact for Mr.. Silver in Australia,
where he had decided to spend the honey
moon.
Dick Burton, or "the squire" as he was
generally called, was Sir Halco's dearest
friend, and was to be asked to officiate
as best man at the wedding so it was
quite family party after all, or would
have been if Alice Smith had not been
there; but she cast as much gloom as she
could, or tried to, by chillingly ignoring
her host and his chosen bride, and con
filming her remarks exclusively to Squire
Burton and Mrs. Rochester.
Mr. SILVER she regarded as beneath her
notice altogether, until certain subject
CT {oA ho fo14 Z
her heart stood still, and then she would
have given almost all she possessed just
to have crept into his favor, and have
him smile at her as indulgently and fond
ly as he did at her rival, Violet Surrey.
'You know it is all the widest non
sense" remarked Mrs. Rochester, in an
swer to something Squire Burton had
said, 'for Halco to talk of earning money,
or going out to Australia. He has never
even brushed suit of clothes for HIM
self, and to think of him actually work.
ing for a living is the height of absurd
ity."
Alice Smith was Just carrying a peach
to her lips as these words were uttered.
and her hand paused in the air, and her
very face seemed to freeze as she caught
the word Australia" and saw, or fan
cied she saw, the lawyer give one quick,
disconnected look in her direction, as if
he had not wished her to know of it.
well, it's just what should like my
self of all things said Dick Burton.
enviously. Nothing opens the mind. or
teaches one so much as travelling does.
Here we shut ourselves up in our snug
little island, and think we are the salt
of the earth, and that every other nation
should take pattern by US. Now, I'm
English to the backbone, and would sing
Rule Britannia with my latest breath.
only 1 think she would rule even better
than she does If she would consent to
take hint from other countries some
times. By George! I've good mind to
90 with you. How long shall you be
away?'
Really, can't say" replied Sir Halco,
not seeing the lawyers gesture to him to
change the subject, and the space of table
between them being too great TO admit of