Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-06-16
A TANGLED FAMILY.


servants sulked, and the widows son
and daughter, Charley and Mile, just
OF age, imagined their prospects blghted
oh. George, what Shall | do?' said
Mrs. Bevcrley-which was the lady's new
name-leady to cry.
Don't mind EN-, my dear." said her
husband, with a great. rolling laugh.
They re only children; they'll grow wiser
as they grow older"
But the squire's determined good hui
NOR aggravated his stepchildren more
than any amount of positive opposition
would have done. and they made no eff
fort to conceal their feelings
Il never, never can call that man
father said Mile.
My dear, he doesn't want you to-
said Mrs. Beverley.
Il can't endure the sight of him!'
pouted Mile. And Charley says ex-
actly the same thing"
Charley is Il disobedient, ungrateful
SON. sobbed Mrs. Beverley.
But here Mr.. Beverley came to the
rescue.
~ Dung people" said he, Il don't OBJ
iect to your making yourselves as mis-
cradle as you like, but you mustn't tor
ment your mother. I'll have none Of
this"
Mile lost no time in carrying this
revolutionary speech traight to her
brother
Very we'll" said Charley. coolly;
well accept the challenge
IN not submit to his tyranny said
Mile. I've got plan"
so have l." said Charley, Tots of 'em,
only they don't seem to work when
/ try to put them into ractice"
I've been writing to Louise Vane,"
said Mile
| 1T seems to me as if / had heard the
name before. now that you mention it,
/ said Charley, rumpling up his brown. cur
/ ly hair. But why should you write to
| her and what has she to do with our
ailairs?"
"She sympathizes so thoroughly with
! me" said Mile "She considers second
marriages as sinful as | do. And she
has asked me to come to her and STAY as
long as | please. There is a nice hotel
in the village, Charley; and her father
is very hospitable And there is fine
supply of trout and delightful shooting.
Louise writes, and plenty of agreeable
society"
Not a bad idea,' said Charley reAec-
lively.
"Oh. George, what shall we do" cried
Mrs. Beverley, turning pale when she
comprehended that her children were
gone.
Give 'em their heads" said her hus-
band, composedly drinking his coffee.
Never drive young colts with too tight
ia rein. They'll be glad to come back
in six weeks or less"
But it's such fuss about nothing"
sau Mrs Beverley, half laughing, half
crying.
That's the beauty of it, said her hus-
band. That's precisely what they en-
joy" and the Jolly fellow shook with
laughter
Louise Vane received her former
schoomate with effusion.
Her father, stately. middle aged gen
tleman, spoke a few kindly words Of wei
come.
"Oh, dear!" said Mile. when she was
alone with her friend, Il do hope we
shall not disturb Mr.. Ware"
Nothing disturbs papa" said Louise.
He will never think of noticing such
chicks as we are. Every old maid and
widow in the village has tried to marry
him ever since poor mamma died"
How dare they" said indignant Mil
lie. Il think the Legislature ought to
pass law against second marriages.
1ney are wicked, sinful; an outrage on
civiliaztion!"
OF course they are said Louise But
don't Worry, darling Remember that
Won are with me now"
And the two callow young doves liut
tered into each others arms, with re
ueWed vows OF eternal friendship.
Three months of happiness at Vane
Lodge followed Mile and Louise read
their favorite authors together and
worked hideous screcne and impossible
portieres in crewels.
And all this time neither she nor Char
ley wrote a line to Mrs. Beverley.
Il am afraid they have discarded me-
said the poor lady. Il fear that they
never mean to forgive me- she added
with a deep sigh.
My dear. don't be a goose" sail her
husband. "You don't regret our mar
riage. do you:'
Never" said Mrs. Beverley, with a
gleam of spirit
NeitutI 10 L cttiN MI. beverley.
laughing.
But one day Mr. Nane called his daugh-
ter into his study, with a serious face.
and when she came out she was drowned
in tears and fed straightway to the
haven Of her dearest friends room.
"Darling," cried Mile. what is the
matter? Tell me. l beseech you"
The worst that could possibly hap
pen." cried Louise tragically. Papa is
going to marry again"
Mile crimsoned to the very roots Of
her hair.
He told me so himself" said Louise.
i never stopped TO ask him who it was
that was to desecrate our happy, happy
home. I just clasped my hands and
cried. .Papa!' and ran away. sobbing as
if nv heart would break. Oh. and | had
20 hoped that. when l was married. we
could stay on here just the same; but
with a stepmother. of course, nothing
will ever be the same!"
You married. LOUISE cried Mile
Didn't he tell you? But it only hap