Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-21


Jack gave sighS for there was
something more than financial loss i'm
pending. and he knew it,
Throughout the seven and twenty
years OF his life. he had been accus-
toned to regard himself, and had been
regarded by Others as rich mans son.
,WetmOre & Wetmore had always been
held above suspicion. AS he sat in
his comfortably furnished rooms he
could hear the cries of the newsboys
with the special edition of the evening
papers:
Further details of the Wetmore fail
ure."
He rose frous the table and pushed
the papers YEARLY from him. Stroll
ing into the dressing room adjoining
he exchanged his smoking jacket for
dress coat and arranged his tie with
critical air.
If it is to be my last appearance"
he said, lat least III make it as out
wardly respectable as l can"
Then he frOwned and looked
thoughtfully at the fire, his hands I'M
consciously moving toward the mantle
piece till it touched a massive silver
frame containing a portrait, a recent
one evidently, of a particularly hand
some girl
Its no good, Bessie-no good, my
dear. l dare not speak to you now.
I'm done for
Twenty minutes later the butler a.
Blansford's announced Mr.. We lore,
and after a few words with Mrs.
Blansford, his hostess, he passed into
the ballroom. In all the brilliant crowd
there was only one face he looked for,
one well-known figure for the sigh of
which he yearned.
At last, after wandering through
several rooms, he saw her. She was
sitting under a shaded lamp, appar-
emily paying but little attention to the
man who was talking to her. But the
instant Mr.. Wetmore passed through
the door she beckoned to him.
"Come and sit here, Jack" said she,
pointing to the vacant seat just left
by the other man.
She regarded him with AN amused
little smile and nod of approval. She
was young woman with ideas of her
own, and she appreciated the light,
careless manner with which he seemed
20 carry his misfortune.
You don't look very doleful, Jack,
under the circumstances"
He laughed a little.
INV dear Miss Blansford. do YOU
think it would help matters if | went
about looking like a mute at a flu
neral?"
And pray. my dear Jack" she re-
torted mockingly, ''since when have
become Miss BlansfordT
''Since l heard the news last night "
he answered grimly.
oh very well, if you are going to
go and quarrel with your friends Just
because you've lost little money"
TT may be little, but unfortunate
Iy it happens to be all I've got. 1 owe
a good deal besides
Wetmore rose and held out his hand.
He was fast losing his self-control.
~ must be off. | came only to say
good-by to YOU
Miss Blansford closed her fan with
a snap.
sit down, Jack, at once, and don't
be an idiot
Taken aback at this sudden and per
emptory command he obeyed.
Now. then. what was it you really
came to say to me?"
40 say good-by, and ask YOU TO
wish me good luck he answered.
what would you have said if things
nad-had been different? Shall | tell
xou?o she whispered. You would
have said. Bessie, l love YOU And
NOW. lust because you're goose and
,an idiot. and l happen TO possess more
money than l know what TO do with.
Won would rather die than say four
sjmp,e little words like that"
',Oh. Bessie
ayes. oh. Bessie" she continued.
vnoekingly. Its always, Oh Bessie
And vet through sheer obstinacy you
are putting poor Bessie to the trouble
OF making formal proposal for the
honor of your hand in marriage"
Wetmore sprang to his feet
~ won't listen" said he. 1T is not
fair of you, Bessie.
"Fair or not. do you think I am go
ing to have my whole life spoiled for
few wretched conventions and
charming dowager or two:'
They'd laugh at you, Bessie, and
say married you for your money"
let them laugh. And as to your
marrying me. l would beg 10 remind
You that the positions are reversed
and that it is l, Elizabeth Blansford,
commonly known as Bessie, who here
by asks you, lack
4 am no fortune hunter. and marry
you I won't
40 l not know il is your pride that
prevents you from speaking? And that
is why l have done what have"
Il should be a cur il l took you at
vour word" he said. Bessie. have
little mercy Don't tempt me"
lack. is your love for me SO small n
thing that you cannot sacrifice little
az your pride for it, DO you think
my part has been so easy
For moment there was a pause
Then Jack said:
you've won, Bessie. drawing her
10 himself. ~and heaven give me the
mower to make YOU happy
.wen. then. there's one thing you
must not do. Jack.
And that9"
you mustn't make me fight so hard
n ret my own way again. Indian
apolS sun.
------
~ NNaaverS of Persia.