Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-09-15
A CULTURED BEING.

=
that the notice emanates from gentle
man"
Miss Maria Kirkpatrick took up the
copy of the times lying on the table and
read the announcement again. after
which she passed it over to her sister
who perused it with a gentle frown.
1t was rather a curious advertisement,
and ran as follows:
A gentleman of some means desires for
Two Months a Comfortable Home in Re
fined Circle Maiden Ladies preferred.
Handsome hcnorarium given. Must be quiet.
and in country Observation-Disclosures, vale,
.iJS, Iiccadilly.
81 think. Maria," Lavinia said at
length-"I think it would suit us"
Miss Maria heaved gentle sigh of re-
lief For some time each of the ladies
had been fencing round the matter both
longing to suggest such an innovation
and neither daring to advance such
heresy as a lodger at Mostyn cottage
And now the fell thing was said,
That the sisters kirkpatrick were re-
fined goes without saying. Their late
sainted mother had been the daughter of
baronet of long descent; on their fla
theirs side they were closely connected
with Lord Ditton, whose illustrious an
cestor had minded the goosequil with
which King oohn signed Magma Charta
at Runnymede
But if the ladies were extra genteel,
and absolutely correct to the ends of
their patrician fingers, they were also
poor The cottage where they lived was
beautifully furnished, and one self
trained handmaiden gave no cause for
anxiety, and yet, at the same time, the
internal economy of the place was car
ricd out on rigid lines necessary to people
who have to live on $50 per amnum.
The advertisement in the Times came
as dispensation of Providence, at
time when money was. in market par
lance. extremely tight" Were the Sis
tiers fortunate enough to secure the coun-
tenance and approval of the mysterious
Vale" it would be quite easy enough to
account for his presence in the house.
No faint of the lodger could possibly at
tach to a passing guest, especially as he
happened to be gentleman of some
means.
you had better write to the address
in question, Maria" Lavina said. ut
may be worth $50 or f1O0 to us-it is
impossible to tell"
4 fortnight had passed since Miss
Maria's missive had been dispat ehed to
the address in Piccadilly, and much had
happened in the interim Letters had
been exchanged and references given on
the one side, at any rate, whilst the gen
tleman, who signed himself Robert
Vale" was extremely reticcnt as to his
share of the contract. His letters were
perfectly correct, but he seemed to know
nobody, and, indeed, the thing would
have gone off altogether but for a happy
thought on the part of the mysterious
gentleman himself. In his last communi-
cation he had forwarded a $50 note. that
being the amount he intended to eXpend
| during his two months visit, and limiting
that that was the best kind of reference
after all.
Lavinia hesitated, and was lost; the
soft crumple of the bank note in her fin
gers made music in her soul, and her
heart went out to Robert Vale on the
| spot
| 1t would be flying in the face of Provi-
| dencc to refuse.
\ dainty high tea stood upon the
tables there were flowers and fruit, the
best of the Queen Anne silver and the
choicest of Crown Derby ware by the tea
! cosy.
The sisters were in their best black
silks, awaiting. with some little nervous
ness, the advent of the visitor. who was
upstairs in the best lavender scented
/ bedroom, removing the stains of travel
/ from his person.
Really, most distinguished looking"
/ Lavinia mentally mTmured, as she curt
/ sled low and extended her hand to her
visitor-"quitc the gentleman"
! And, indeed, to do him Justice. so
| Robert Vale was, He was tall and spare,
with refined. clean shaver features, quiet
and subdued manner. and yet perfectly
at ease with the sisters. He was dressed
from tip to toe in black, with a perfectly
fitting frock coat; he handed the things
about table with lordly grace the sis
ters voted charming. About 40-Miss
Maria's age TO a day-he looked consider
ably older. as if thoughtfulness and a
scholarly occupation had aged him be
fore his time.
But, although Mr. Wales voice was
sonorous and deliberate there were times
when his English left much to be desired
1t was the one thorn to the rose, the tlv
in the amber of Miss Lavinia's approval
of her guest.
Il have always been a solitary man
Mr.. Vale explained, as he noticed little
uucasincss ON the part of Iayiuia at some
faux pas of his. and as n boy. | wa,
left entirely to the care of servants
J Hence little pcculiarities of speech
t which you may have noticed, although
p am hardly coguizant of them If Won In.
. dies will correct any titlipg errors of
e mine shall be infinitely obliged"
Miss Lavinia remarked that She Womb
! avail herself OF the opportunity. and did
: She also remarked to HERSELF that Mr.
!. Vale was an exceedingly apt pupil. for nj
n the end of the time there was notbina
lett TO notice at all. Every angle wa.
d rubbed off. and if there remained n rttIc
, attiiciaiity it only toned the whole as
- French polish adds 10 the brillancy Of a
is ~idehoard q
!. MIS- Maria Was probably more excited
IS th"n She had ever been in her life before
4 Va I.a