Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-25
CHAPTER III.

The cottage rented by Mai. lie Brun
was situated within the park. from
which it was shut off by a view fence
that entirely surrounded it.
Punctually at half past Mai. lie
Brun descended from his room and took
his quarter of an hours constitutional
round the garden, and every morning
that is, every morning during the visits
of Henry Charlton to the hall, he found
his daughter awaiting him, generally at
the white wicket gate which opened into
the park.
1t was one of the brightest and fresh
est of summer mornings when the major,
coming down as usual, found his daugh-
ter listlessly wandering about the Lawn,
picking bud from rosebush, and a
spray of verbena leaf, and forming them
into button hole.
"Well, my DEAR" said the major, as
he trotted across the lawn, "what have
you there-eh2 A button hole for me,
or is it for Mr. Charlton7 BY the way,
we have not seen the young man for
some days"
Over a fortnight, dad"
Gone up TO London, l dare say. Or
stop minute! Did not we hear that
Lady Hammersly was ill., That ac-
counts for it. He is sly dog, is Harry.
and stays about the house lest she
should ask for him."
The girl sighed.
Il do not think that is ike Mr.. Charl-
tom she said Besides, Lady Ham
mersly would not be likely to want him
so early in the morning. II saw him
in the park yesterday with Miss Ire
main"
The major chuckled
"Ah! ah!" he laughed. 'eNow we get
to the bottom of the mystery. She is a
nice looking girl, that. You remember,
Nelly, L told you so when we called"
Eyes, dad"
You don't say that as if you meant
it. But when was the time that a girl
could see beauty in another? Never
mind, Nell Come and take a tramp
round the garden with me- The deuce a
mouthful of breakfast have you eaten
for the last ten days, and it's the doctor
/ shall have to send for if you don't pick
up your spirits"
1t was perfectly true, though pretty,
brown haired Nelly denied the accusa-
ton. 1t had been quite regular thing
for Harry Charlton, whilst staying at the
hall, to stroll over and breakfast at the
cottage, and now sixteen days had passed
since he had called. Nelly had not the
least doubt as to what had kept him
away. OF course, he found it pleasanter
breakfasting alone with Ella Tremain,
for Lady Hammersly, even before her i'll
ness, had never teen in the habit of
coming down before noon It was all
very well for Nelly to tell herself that
she did not care-that what Mr.. Charl-
ton chose to do was a matter of utter in
difference to her; but her heart told
different tale. Ever since she and her
father had come to live at the cottage
and had first made Harry Charlton's ac-
quaintance she had looked up to him as
a sort of superior being She thoroughly
believed thai, if he exerted his talents
as a painter, he could rise rapidly to the
top of the tree She had never heard
anyone talk as he could talk. He was
handsomer than anyone she had ever
seen, and he paid her attentions in
quiet, gentlemanly way, which had quite
won her heart, and led her to indulge
in day dreams which the neglect of the
past FEW days had shattered.
When breakfast was over. and her IA
Their had retired to his study. she betook
herself to the garden, and to a certain
little arbor hewn out of the view hedge.
There she seated herself and tried to in
terest herself with book but her
thoughts drifted far away and the book
lay unopened on her lap.
She never attempted to analyze her
own feelings. She would have been in
dignant if anyone had told her that she
was jealous of Ella Tremain: but she
thought the latter quite unworthy of
Harry, and felt a little hurt that he
should have 80 completely deserted the
cottage for her society.
She was so occupied with her own
thoughts that she never heard the click
of the gate latch, and it was not tin
Harry Charlton stood at the entrance of
the bower that she became aware of his
presence.
Did startle your" he laughed. pick
ing up the book she had dropped. Il am
sure 1 am very sorry if did. thought
l would just walk over and see how YOU
and the major were"
Nelly, angry with herself for having
shown so much confusion. replied briefly
that her father was quite well.
And you? You are hardly looking
yourself, Nelly"
oh, I am quite wen, thank you, Mr..
Charlton"
May I come in?a he asked. and with
ont waiting for permission, seated him
self by her side.
81 suppose YOU have heard that my
aunt has been III 90 he went on. 1T is a
rather serious attack and I have hardly
left the grounds for the last ten days"
He felt it was but a lame excuse. but it
vas the best he could think Of. In
as he was with Ella Tremain's
beauty, yet he felt that he had behaved
meanly in allowing her to drag promise
out of him not to visit the cottage for
a fortnight He and Nelly had always
been the best Of friends. and his sud
denly breaking of his daily visits was a
rude. ungentlemanly thing to do. So,
IL