Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1905-01-21
AN OLD MAIDS TRAGEDY,

Having had the whole day In winch 10
reject and prepare herself, Miss Quincy
had got her feelings so well under con-
troll that she was able to hand the photo
graph tn Hester across the tea table and
say without tremor in her voice, Il
picked this up on the floor, Hester, after
you were gone this morning"
The girl took it from her eagerly; she
had been in trouble about it all day, won
derng where she had lost it, and, in a
ilutter of relief and embarrassment,
slipped it into her pocket now without
word; but Miss Quincy noticed that her
checks blushed, and then a roster red
surgcd back and overilowed them.
The silence between them became too
strained not to be broken.
You did not tell me, Hester, that you
know ~" Miss Quincy hesitated. rs
hc--a friend of yours, dear"
Yes. aunt"
How long have You known him -
Not very long. Not more than three
MONTHS
This explained to Miss Quincy the
change it had puzzled her to observe in
Hester lately; her placid, subdued habit
so that sometimes she sang for very
happiness, with strange, new light in
her eyes, and sometimes she was sad
dencd and preoccupied with pensivc
drcamings.
Il hope, Hester Miss Quincy forced
herself to say in her prinl, decisive fash
ion, there has been no-no talk of love
bctwiXt you and this gentleman"
IA, oil
her and looked down, without speaking,
but the answer was as clear to Miss
Quincy as if 1t had been put into actual
words.
My DEAR" she went on, striving
against her increasing agitation, Il am
very, very sorry. | wish it had been any
other man"
But, aunt" Hester interrupted aston
ished. you do not know him!'
II know" Miss Quincy faltered-'
knew a man so ike him-so exactly like
him. that the moment | saw his photo
graph | was afraid for you, dear 1t is
impossible for that man to bring you
anything but misery. Hard, and false,
and cruel"
oh, but, aunt" cried Hester, tearfully
indignant, he is not! If you knew him
you could never say that again"
But why have you never told me
about him.
Il have been wanting to-" Hester
flushed again with pretty shyness that
appealed irresistibly to all the tenderness
and affection of the gentle, little old
lady's nature. Il meant to, aunt, but |
i did not quite know how to. meant
to show you his photographic only
gave it me yesterday-and tell you then"
And of eourse"-Miss Quincy assumed
a severity of manner she found it di:-
ticult tn maintain-'he tells you that he
loves you?"
He has asked me to marry him, aunt.'
And you fancy that YOU love hing"
With this question and her earnest,
passionate reply, Hester broke down ut
terly, She flung herself on her knees. and
covering her face with her hands, laid it
in Miss Gurney's lap, and sobbed all her
heart out thus, as she had done years
ago when it had been laden with more
childish griefs.
Miss Quincy herself was scarcely less
| agitated.
here. dearic. YOU mustn't cry so. |
dld not mean TO be unkind." she said. her
eyes dimmed and her thin hands shaking
as she passed them caressingiy over the
ialr. bowed head. But | have seen more
Of the world than you have, dear. and
| have never told you yet-the man ]
| loved spoilt my life, and made me the
! poor, broken spirited creature | am; and
this portrait is so like what he used to
he--s" exactly like. that ever since saw
1t have been drtading-oh i don't know
what! / believe | could kill him. Hes
ter, If thought he would cause Won half
the suffering | have endured through
his But there, it is too late for me
to say anything now. If YOU love him.
know whatever | can say would make
no difference" She added presently, in
the calm, even tones that were habitual
to her: You have not told me his name.
Hester. What is his Names"
She had to wait and ask a second time
before Hester had reSained sufficient com
posure to reply.
Richard Harwood," Miss Quincy re-
peat"d mechanically, nodtling thought
fully as if she had only been confirmed
IN what she knew already. And where
does he live"
Hester mentioned an address at Ken.
sineton.
He is gentleman aud ricn?" prr
N'"u MISS HuneN.
es; his father is rich"
And does ne know how poor we are %
on. yes, aunt; he knows | am work
ing for my living"
How vas it you first happened to
meet HING"
He Is distantly related to Madame
taber' Madame Faber was the fash
ionHbie minner at whose large establish
ment in Oxford street Hester had boen
engaged these last twelve months or
more. lie came in one day with some
message from his sister. / think, and he
has called once or twice since. and then
De met me as | was coming home. ard
walked with me. and
And he has happered to meet YOU
more than oncc:' Miss Quincy smiled.
bnt became serious again. You should
ave told me, dear and have brought him
| ia ANbN~ AtJ,fs