Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-05-26
THE BUD.

/ NOME NugenL lay III beO III HSi PiNNtJ
room al Grey Friars House awaiting the
advent of her morning tea and hot water.
She had been domiciIed beneath the
Duchess of Woldshire's hospitabie roof
for a whole week now, and was thorough
| ly enjoying her visit. Her hostess was
a genial, easy going soul who in no sense
suggested by her personal appearance her
great rank. But it was not of the anna
bic duchess that Mol!ie was at present
thinking. It was rather that iady's SON
the holder of the title-who filled our
little ingenue's brain, to the entire ex-
clusion OF all other men and matters.
Arthur Roland Greville, fourth Duke
of Woldshire. was a handsome, good
tempered giant of some four and twenty
years of age, and one of the most eligible
parts in the kingdom. That he was very
obviously in love with Lady Ermyntrude
MalIet-another member of the Grey
Friars house party-by no means dimin-
ished the interest which Mollie took III
him.
Indeed it was mainly due to the afore.
! mentioned interest that she had been so
anxious to accept Il couple of weeks at
| the W0ldshires' country seat. The duke
for his part cordially liked the little
debutante whom his mother had taken
under her ample wing and considered her
very good form and remarkably devoid
! o. all affectatiOn.
| Lady Ermyntrude however was not
so cordial in her expressions OF approval;
perhaps she resented WoIdshire's mani
| fest admiration of Miss Nugent.
| When AIolie made a rather belated APP
Ipearance in the great dining room on the
particular morning of which we write
her ladyship favored her with the coolest
of mods in response to her bright greeting
| At the conclusion of the meal Mollie
lsauntered into the rose garden with
| book. leaving the Others to their own de.
vices, and ensconsed herself snuoly i'm a
comfortable deck chair which somebody
had thoughtfully and obligingly left be-
hind them. 1t was not poor Mollie's
| fault il right in front of her was a big
hedge which effectually screened her from
view, and that on the other side of the
| hedge there was n bench which was pres
emily taken possession of by two people
| Their voices reached her distinctly where
she sat, and Mollie recognized in the
| tones of the man those of Capt. Dennis
| Carlyon, a good looking young guards
man and an ardent admiTer of Lady
| Emyntrude's.
why won't you listen to me p he was
| pleading. You know how much | love
you. Can't you give me one word of
| hope, dear?"
Its impossible" came the answer in
a gentle, well-bred voice, which neverthe-
less caused Mollie to sit up and listen
with keen interest, flush suffusing her
fair, rounded cheeks as she did so. 'You
see, unfortunately, don't love you, Den
mis-, although / regard you as very dear
friend, If only GU would be content
with that"
But | can't be content with that" he
interrupted sullenly. Il want more than
your friendship, Ermyntrude; l want you
for my wife! All. you may deny it now,
but there was a time when you did care
little for me- That was before"
He stopped abruptly, and Mollie leaned
forward trifle more in her anxiety to
| let no word of the conversation escape
her.
Go on" Lady Ermyntrude said
lhaughtily.
Before another and richer man came
upon the field" Carlyon concluded with
savage emphasis.
There was a moments tense silence be.
fore Lady Ermyntrude spoke. When she
did so her voice was under perfect CON
troll, and AIolie Nugent could not helm
admiring her for the perfect mastery she
retained over herself. Il have not the
vaguest notion to whom you alIudc," her
ladyship said mendaciously, but in such
chill and cutting accents that the secret
listener could well imagine how the oal
liant captain must be quailing beneath
them. Nor do l understand the rather
extraordinary attitude you are taking m
with regard to me. | am in love with no
man on earth, Capt. Carlyon, but when |
am | shall certainly allow no one. least
OF all yourself, to take me to task upon
> the subject Having delivered herself of
tins small speech her irate ladyshp cot
= up and swept down the garden path.
leaving her discounted adorcr to follow
, at respectful distance
Nloshc shook with silent laughtpr rs
She heard their footsteps die awav.
What liar she is She reflected; hut
she's a splendid actress. Naturally she
couldn't own up to being in love with
NoIdshue, Wnen as yet he hasn't done
h'r the honor to propose" Miss Nurent
was stun smiling mcrrily at the memory
OF the conversation she had just over
heard when, glancing up from the pages
OF the novel which she was not attempt
ing TO read, she perceived that her host
was standing Snort distance away re.
sardmg her quizzieally.
e You seem awfully amused over some
thng or other" he began cheerily. May
share the ioke:"
MoIile looked down at him with her
oahylsh blue eyes filled with anxiety.
.. You won't think any the worse of me
? IL | tell yonE' she asked doubtfuly.
Good lord. mol"
Well dropping her voice mysterious
~ I've been cavesdroppiug Dreadful.
WASH itf | realty couldn't help it
lhough, duke Ii | had moved they
would have found out that must have