Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-10-27

the curiosity of the heart"
Harrington looked up quickly.
'Then you do love me, Olivia" he
asked. "I'm sure you do, dear, and l
know you will understand me as no other
woman could. We love each other so
perfectly"
"And if that all your confessionY" she
asked, with a glow burning in her eyes.
s'You silly boy, I've known it all along.
And you waited until now to tell me
thatW
"My dear Olivia, that is not all l have
to tell you," and he despised himself for
bringing her here where she could make
no outcry if the blow struck home
Il must say, jack" she murmured,
sthat you took a delightfully."- public
place to put me on the rack of sus-
pense."
When the waiter had gone Harrington
continued:
"What would you say, Olivia, if l
were to ask you to put your love for me
to great test? Do you think you could
stand it?"
81 do not believe in tests,' she said,
calmly Love either is or it is not.
Real love does not need to be tested.
That would be so useless and unneces-
sary."
"Olivia, do you realize how little you
know of me. We have just drifted along
into-into--
Loving each other" the woman said,
looking at him intently. "Let me cor
rect you, Jack; | never drift. | have
always known quite enough about you.
I'm sure / never cared to know the va
riety of your family tree or whether you
had a grandfather at all. You know
Won came highly recommended. It's quite
possible / might have seen in you every
thing | desired. don't care bit about
the past. It's the future with me now"
Harrington looked at the woman's face.
He knew how distasteful her present life
was to her, and he knew also how she
longed for the ideals of love and affec-
ton. Yes, he realized what she was
thinking of. She hoped, she knew that
she wanted to be his wife. She had ex-
pected it, and this was what he had to
offer.
There are some things about my past,
Olivia, that | shall have to tell you.
Something l should have told you long
ago"
For the first time a look of fear came
into the woman's eyes.
1T is never too late, you KNOW" she
said, and waited.
OLIVIA, what would you say-what
would you do if | were to tell you that
that | am married man? Please,
please don't start" he said.
The woman's face paled and her eyes
dilated with panied wonder.
Il will not start" she returned, and
then smiled graciously at the waiter as
be stepped up to refill her glass.
Are you a married MANI she asked
her gaze fixed compellingly on his.
For heavens sake, Olivia don't look
| like that!" he said, raising his glass to
his lips as he caught the walters curious
eye. Listen. dear girl. It's not pretty
story. 1t happened long ago. too. Do
you believe that a man outgrows his
wife? Well, that is what happened to
me- I married-heaven help me!-when
was boy of 81. She was older 1t
was before | had my luck in money
making. / advanced. She did not You
know that story"
"And you never divorced herr" the
woman asked in a tone that made Har-
rington glance at her in surprise. "Why
don't you"
rs a
sanitarium for years. She's abroad, poor
thing! No one knows what she made me
suffer. Her body is strong and healthy
as mine but her mind is gone. You see
why | cannot divorce her? Olivia, you
understand? | had to tell you. Our love
was getting beyond us, and l had to
speak before it was too late"
"Too late!" echoed the woman. at is
too late now"
"Olivia, you mean-'gasped the man.
The woman stopped to bow pleasantly
to a couple who had seated themselves
at table close by.
Il mean, Jack, that you have my love
for always. / cannot help that"
AS he stared at her he could see the
pain and anguish written in her eyes. He
haw her hopes blasted before him. This
woman-this beautiful creature whom he
would give ten years of his life to make
his wife, sat there with look in those
brown depths that he alone could read
"Olvia, | didn't know you loved me
like that!" he murmured.
The woman's hands We're cold and she
rubbed them together nervously; but
they were warmer than her heart, which
was beating like a piece of solid ice in
her bosom. And it had to come to her
this triangular love affair. She smiled
sadly as she thought of her scornful
pity cast upon other women of her pro-
fession.
"And the answer s. she said, as she
looked YEARLY into his eyes.
THE answer, Olivia!" he cried; "the
answer! All! how l have wished myself
deaf before | could hear it. 1t is you
| who must make the answer"
"And suppose, Jack, were to tell you
of love that could no longer control
itself-the love of a woman for a man
that claimed her. What would the man
sayf"
Harrington looked at her with an I'M
compromising daze IN mis- eyes.
"Olivia, my sweetheart, how can l be-
lieve it? You-you, of all wonderland