Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-12-29
CHAPTER Iv.-(Continued.)


of the storm of anger which the confess
sion of her foolish escapade would bring
upon her. Happily there was no need to
confess it; plenty of other people had
seen the girls companion as we'll as ner-
self, and would be quite willing to come
forward and give their evidence. There
was no need for her to speak. She
would not think of it, she told herself
resolutely, for glancing at herself in the
glass she was startled to see how white
she was. She took up a rough towel and
rubbed the color back into her cheeks be-
fore she went downstairs and joined the
Others at tea.
Fortunately Godfrey was not one of
those exigent lovers who object to share
the society of the beloved object with
other people He never-or at all events
very seldom-schemed to get Sadie apart
from the rest, or found the presence of
company a bore, but was quite content
to do his courtship in the family circle.
When he rose to leave Sadie always &C
companied him to the door and some
times the farewell would be of a rather
protracted nature, and Sadie would come
back with flushed cheeks and very bright
eyes, to receive the badinage of her sis
tiers; but more often-for the hall was
draughty, and Godfrey had to consider
his chest-there would be just a kiss
and Good night, dearest" and he would
button up his coat and walk away in a
perfectly satisfied and complacent frame
of mind convinced that he was every
thing that lover should be, and that
Sadie, pretty and charming though she
was. ought to feel very delighted that he
had elected to throw the handkerchief to
her.
Sadie was not altogether satisfied with
this somewhat tepid kind of courtship.
True, she told herself that very ardent
lover-one who was constantly requiring
protestations and assurances of affection
would have bored and wearied her.
Godfrey loved her; he had proved it by
choosing her for his wife; it was not
necessary that he should be constantly
assuring her of the fact. Still, occasion
ally yearning for something she could
not understand or define, and a vague
sense as of something wanting would
assail her Was Geoffrey's love, as Jim
had once limited, merely a fair weather
sort of love? Would it last if trouble
and dark and stormy days came to her?
Could she turn to him and find her refuge
and consolation in his love?
Several times during that evening a
great longing came over her to take
Godfrey apart from the rest and tell him
of Jim's visit, and of all that followed;
but the fear of his anger and of the false
construction he might put upon the in
cident restrained her. He was inclined to
be jealous of Jim-often declared that he
did not believe platonic friendship was
possible between a young man and a pref
ty girl-and he would certainly not be-
feve that Jim would travel more than
200 miles on a cold winters day merely
to spend an hour with his old friend Sa-
die if there was nothing more than
friendship between them. So that on the
whole Sadie was inclined to think it bet
ter to keep her own counsel.
When she went into the hall with him
as usual, and was standing looking on
while he twisted his wooden scarf care
fully round his throat and buttoned up
his coat, there was something anxious and
wistful in the sweet eyes that scanned
his face so earnestly, that even Godfrey,
though he was by no means observant,
noticed the fact.
what is the matter, dear? Have you
a headache? You look very heavy about
the eyes" he said kindly.
Sadie colored wildly. She went nearer
to him and he put his arm round her as
she rested her bright head against his
broad chest.
ut aches a little" she said, butt
can't forget that poor grill"
"Ah!" Godfrey shook his head. 1T is
a terrible business. ! am sorry also for
the Nlaynards Whether Sir Felix is
guilty or innocent, it is a most unpleas
ant thing to be mixed up with an affair
of that kind--makes so much gossip and
scandal"
Are you-shall you go to the inquest,
Geoff?"
'Possibly-if l can spare time"
You will come in after it is over and
tell me all about it -
Very WE'LL Godfrey bowed his head
and kissed her. Good night, dear
wait minute, Godfrey want to
ask you something" said Sadie, looking
mp at him with strange passion and
pleading in her eyes that startled and
vaguely alarmed him. Only this-you
do love me, don't you, Geoff? Me, my
self? 1t is not just because / am pref
tyr Sadie whispered incoherently. You
hOulal IONE LIG II AltAt tIit SiiidlipbA anu
was marked and ugly for life, ef=-"
You foolish child, Of course / should
love you! But l hope youth never have
the smallpox for all that" Godfrey
laughed.
Suppose l had touoh-just wee
touch-of moral smallpox Sadie went
on with feverish laugh. Suppose had
done something you didn't approve Of
nothing very bad, but something that
made people talk and say disagreeable
things about me-would you be very
angry, Geoff-or would YOU believe l
did not mean to do anything wrong
that it was only foolishness-and give
me good scolding and then kiss and
forgive me?'
She looked up at him so eagerly, and
with such an intense earnestness IN her
eyes that again Godfrey felt vaguely IN