Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-18

than he imagined from their object. She
was continually averting their slight ex-
preston, scheming against betrayal and
against her own response day after day,
until she felt forced TO act. She dis
patched a letter that would bring her a
telegram and she would fly.
She looked across the gay dinner table
and out of tn oriel window at the even
ing sea- The sound of the sea came like
a faint song between the pauses of
laughter and talk of the pleasant COM
pany, a vague, sad refrain of waves
that Tapped the foot of the cliff below the
gardens.
Barbara thought. not of the beauty of
the evening but of how desolate she
would be tomorrow night away from
them all, alone. The sound of her own
name broke in.
why! You will be al by yourselves
tonight, Ba, you and Ted; | had for
gotten we are all going out to this pas
toral play rehearsal thing. How rude
of us''-the speaker laughed without
penitence. You must entertain one an
other, Ba; play to him. Old Ted would
! like that"
HE would" interpolated Edward.
And if he's good he may smoke in the
drawing room: he could never be happy
after dinner without"
Couldn't hep Barbara avoided the
glance direct across the dinner table.
They went off in a body, bearing fid-
dies, mandolin, guitar and stage proper
ties. 1--WE shall be back at 10"
It's really too bad TO troop off and
| leave you"
"Good-by, good-by"'
Without a word to one another the two
left moved away. Barbara went up
stairs to the drawing room. its many
windows open to the sea. that entered
like a song. She did not attempt to play
| for fiIpa h,1t in nf
the deserted room, listening, fearing
step on the stairs. None came. He was
smoking, after all downstairs in his
own room. She need not imagine her
music was inducement to bring him
here, she told herself, yet, just for to-
night the very last night She start
| ed. Edward was standing in the door
way. He stood watching her with that
same strange flicker in his sober eyes.
He crossed the room and sat opposite
her, still silent and smiling.
'Shall play? What would you like?"
She did not wait for his answer. but be-
gan. The man, listening. knew that it
was his presence, his obvious presence,
that kept the magic out of her melody
He gave Il grim attention to it for a
few moments, then got up and went into
the inner room. She thought he had
gone, and Il faint current of something
mysterious crept into her music; it re-
lieved her, soOthed the unrest of her
mood, flowed with a momentary healing
over her Jared spirit.
! As she ceased a servant entered with
a telegram. She was looking at it un-
opened when he came back. She knew
| escape was too late.
Come outside. You have had enough
music"
You mean you have" she corrected.
trying to talk lightly.
You sometimes make a mistake about
me" he said earnestly.
! There were winding steps that led
from the drawing room windows to the
| garden. He followed her, going care
fully to escape her trailing gown.
There was Il sort of rampant at one
end with a low sandstone bench that
overlooked the sea.
The air was full of soft sounds and
scents. lie could only just see her face.
and the soft sweep of cheek that gave
| distinction to her profile. \ little fold
of her gown trailed across the bench as
they sat. He took it between his fin
gers. II like your shadowy black frocks.
| don't like women, as a rule, in black
gowns. This is like twilight. fine and.
bara -
For the first time he called her by
her name. She was dumb. There was
piercing swiftly through her distaste and
her face in the gloom.
From sheer incapacity to fnesse he
took the one course that couvinccd-the
direct one.
Il want YOU" he said. ITS not the
way to put it; men don't say it bluntly
like that-men who know how To WOO.
| never did, never tried, or wanted to
before | am too old to learn the rules
of the difficult game. | only repeat !
want you. Does it seem enOugh|
lie took her trembling hands.
II want Won to marry me. After all,
it's what they come to in the end, those
pretty tricks and speeches. those byways
can't learn. Let it bring me near
you"
But if I can't?"
There was an edge. half malice, half
unconcealed content. in her voice.
You must! I'll have to try and learn
come to me like this
She shuddered, and for an instant. in
the ineXplicable ebh and flow of emotion.
she seemed carried from him.
You don't know me yet" he went on :
you have taken other peoples views Of
me. | shall be different to you-quite
different, if YOU will let me show you
| myself, apart from everybody else
have Il prophetic feeling about uS-I had
it from the beginning. | suspect / am
going to make YOU want me, more than
you know"
| msurgence returned-was overlooking
all
You can't make me want you more
- She broke off laughing, then sud
denly tnnid. Don't you see-why|
He did, though to the latest day of
their life together he could never be
brought to understand how it came
, aGuut.-Edith &. NJ. Dart in NJ. \. L.