Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-02-25
THE CHORD.

! iii C1ORD.
II was evident that she did not love
him, and yet it was announced that She
was to marry him. | was only guest
in the house. but the affair troubled me,
and ! sought long and earnestly for an
explanation Of it.
So lar as | could Judge Mar: had
distinct aversion to Ralph Weston rather
than an affection for him, but neycrthe-
less he seemed to dominate her life. She
feared him, but for some reason chose
TO keep secret the cause of that fear. |
could see her almost shrink from him
when he called, but she dared not refuse
to see him or break the engagement,
which her father had sanctioned.
What was the secret of his power? ]
asked myself. Why did she not 90 to
her father-easy-g going blind old Mark
Tottenham- tell him she could not
marry this man? ! could see no reason
why she should sacrifice herself. Her
father was wealthy and Weston was not
Surely the latter had no hold on the old
gentleman that made such marriage
imperative.
On the contrary. my observation led
me to believe that Mr.. Tottenham
thought he was acting for the best in
tercsts of his daughter. He liked Weston
who could be extremely entertaining
when be wished, although usually rather
taeitnrn-hut there was nothing to IN
dictate that he had his heart set ON the
match.
Yet Mary shuddered when her accepted
sutton called, then greeted him with
show of cordality, and went blindly with
lin TO the little reception room, from
which from time to time strains of mu-
sic were waited
Weston was n musician of no mean
ability. and occasionally entertained us
all with selections on the piano, but the
iitful way in which he played when they
were alone together impressed me as
rather strange.
He seldom played a selection through
III those circumstances, but seemed to
run over the keys idly, improvising, or
giving Il few bars from one air and then
u few from another,
Once when he was doing this / thought
heard IA wild, pleading cry of oh
don't" and then a half-smothered shrek.
and when he played for us all the fright
cned look in Mary's eyes was enough to
haunt man for life. Apparently. how
ever, | was the only one who noticed IT,
Finally, overstepping even the liberty
accorded to an old friend, ! spoke freely
to her. told her it was plain She did
not love him, and asked her why she did
not go frankly TO her father, tell him so
and break the engagement. The bare
suggestion seemed to brighten her. and
sue shuddered as She answered:
Il dare not dare not. He'd Kill me
xiii you!" | exclaimed. NONSENSE
Your father has only your welfare at
heart and"
"No-no; not my father" She inter.
rupted. Il mean Mr.. Weston. He has
the keynote"
The keynote! 1 was more mystitieJ
than ever, but She gave me no chance IA
ask tor an explanation, She hurried away
! as 1t already alarmed ut what She had
| sad, yet 1t seemed to me that She ro.
gordcd me after that as one who was
more IN her confidence than Others and
TO whom She might look for protection
| from some impending OWL
Still ! could not understand what sho
meant by the keynote" and She a2,oi,l".l
the ~u2leet as if it were frauobt ,sitG
great personal danger. When ASH
her to explain She troubled and shnot
her head, ''N
No one would believe me" sbo so;l
1t Is 50 strange. So weird NpJ Io
would kin me. lie has threatened to and
know he would" ''''"
Your nerves are overvrouobt" -,
piled. Unless misiudgc the man bo
would NOT know ,u, ii "'