Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-09-23
A KNIGHT IN FUSTIAN.

several generations its representatives
have been at SKIES and seyens among
themselves.
When Vida Selwyn. the new Lady
Commerill, came into the sacred circle. it
was with the determination to heal the
old feuds and steer clear of new ones.
This was strengthened when she heard
a few home truths from friends and
neighbors, among others from Lady Rosa
Moyle
MY dear" said this stately parsonage,
that you should want to put things
right, is most sweet of you. But | think
your poor, dear mother-in-l law, as, living,
she would have been-always the dear
est of friends to me-was really well
advised when she drew the line
drew the line at what ?" asked Vida
Conmerill, innocently.
DO you mean to say you don't know?
Oh, l couldn't possibly tell you. But
where on earth can you have been
brought up?'
"All over the place" Lady Commerill
laughed. sweetly. You know, my father
was in the service That means a rowing
life, of course. But home is home al
ways, isn't it? Home is the people who
make it, and one can never forget what
it was even though it might be constant
Iy shifted"
SHIFTED" murmured Lady Rosa, with
peculiar sniff But she quickly revert
ed to her original train of thought
"Of course she added, thoughtfully,
sit was very different for her"
WAS it," asked Vida.
Possibly cha Uras met EttIo 81
Off"
"Starehy?" questioned Vida, mischiev-
ously.
duke, was noted for his magnificent de-
pertinent" she observed, severely. "She
certainly did great credit to her upbring-
ing. She never allowed you to forget
who she was"
How very considerate of her!" Vida
answered. "Some people have such
wretched memories. But ]. too,
am a Commerill. l am as much Com
merrill as Sir Roderic himself"
'Of course" Lady Rosa said, accepting
the rebuke and secretly admiring the girl
of spirit, of course, dear Lady Com
merrill! And you will in time be as much
to this place as those who have gone be-
fore you. Forgive me if | say in time p"
Indeed, indeed" replied Vida, flush
ing little.
THAT is necessary" continued the Wis
itor, when we remember what terrible
trials they may have had to put up
with"
isn't it best to put away the past as
much as possible?"
IF you can" Lady Rosa agreed. "Here
you cannot. The child Alice is still alive;
i'll her position it is impossible that she
should be much longer ignored She must
be quite twenty by this timc. | really
feel almost sympathetic toward her per
sonally, though l can do little. And
that Mrs. Windsor is too terrible for
words"
Il am still quite in the dark, Lady
Rosa"
The visitor shut her eyes. "Then your
husband has told you nothing? | am not
surprised. 1t is Il painful story. The
quarrel began about money and ended
about marriage. No doubt, you have got
over the division of the property; but it
is more difficult to get over living people.
Having said so much, may as well say
all.
Il remember your husbands uncle so
we'll John Commerill was the hand
soonest man of his day His wife-the
first wife, of course--was sweet little
thing, and when she ran away with that
scamp, Dick Lowell. | always thought
she must have done it in a fit of foolish
passion. That didn't justify John Com
merrill in acting as he did. He brought
terrible woman to West Nerringley,
who made the place notorious. She was
only one of many. No decent reputation
was safe under that roof. He called her
his Wife and she may have been for all
know; but. of course, they were cut by
the county, \ low, disgraceful. tbeatri-
cal crowd, painted and bedizened with
out Il shred of shame. Then come =
tragedy, such as YOU read of in books
and John Commerill and the il, :ress were
buried in the same grave. One draws a
veil over these things. : hate borrowipg
peoples feelings. but, perhaps. | hate
worse blinking facts And. YOU see. MI
this time there was little Alice. the child
of the first ill-starred marriage. GROWING
up to inherit West Nerringley. l don't
wonder II Sir Rod. doesn't like it, any
more than his father did: hut there She
Is, very much alive, and her guardian
Is Mrs. Windsor, a most impossible per.
son, You see what eventuahties are
opened up now
Il feel sorry for this poor Alice Com,
merrill"
How angelic of you!"
Until now | had never heard of her"
Il ought not to have told you"
l shall make point of going to see
her"
But Sir Roddy-suppose, on his re,
turn"--
He will approve. Lady Rosa. of any
thing may choose to co, said the proud
young wife.
4 week later. Lady Commerill drove
over to West Ie-ringley. The place was