Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-12-15

AtOAA oChliu the lsidIu Just Jlen, waving
the lost bangle triumphantly over his
head, Sadie did not give it second
thought, but fastened forward to meet
him.
ooh, l am glad! l should have had
such wigging from Geoff if / had lost
it," she said gaily. whats the matter,
Jim ?''-for Jim was glancing at his
watch with a perturbed facets it
late2"
"Ay, much later than l thought-iust
H. and my train goes at half past.
can't get to the station in much less than
twenty minutes, so we shall have to make
rush for it, Sadie"
Jim tore off his skates, Sadie PROMPTLY
following his example, and they ran.
hand in hand, along the path to the gates.
Under ordinary circumstances the dis
lance to the station could easily have
been done in twenty minutes, but prog
ress was difficult along the frozen, slip
perry path, and it was impossible to walk
very quickly. Several times Sadie slipped
and would have fallen had it not been
for the strong arm to which she chung
As they passed through the gates into
the lane the clock struck the quarter. and
Jim gave another dismayed exclamation
which frightened Sadie
Jim, you must not miss your train
you must leave me. / shall be all right.
and you viii get on much quicker alone"
she painted breathlessly as she ran along
by his side.
Leave you here at this hour alone .?
Impossible, Sadie!"
you must! Oh, Jim, / would never
forgive myself if you missed the train
and your boat!" Sadie cried passionately.
1T was all my fault. You We're Just GO
ing to look at your watch when l lost
that wretched bangle. Dear Jim, do go
l am not a bit afraidi'
you are sure Sadie?"
Quite sure; | shall be home directly.
Oh, Jim, you must got"
jim glanced at her irresolutely and
drew quick breath. He hated the idea
of leaving her to go home alone at that
hour; but he knew that she was no cow
ard, and that she spoke the truth when
she said she was not afraid to be left.
In all probability Sadie would not meet
soul Letween the grange gates and her
own home. Any one who was abroad
at that hour would have rushed off to the
fire, which was still blazing. 1t would be
~ Nt4y ah hNdlu IldILeI 10 HISS UTSJ MS
train and then his boat-he dared not
contemplate the possibility of such a
catastrophe.
Jim, if you love me, go!" Sadie gasped;
and Jim, with a sigh, caught her in his
arms and kissed her passionately; then
with hasty Good bye, and forgive me,
darling!" left her and ran swiftly along
the path.
Sadie gave in her turn a sigh of relief,
and stood still for a moment to rest and
regain her breath, while she watched him
out of sight.
How fast he ran! There was no fear
that he would miss his train now that
he was free from her hampering presence,
she told herself. Dear old Jim! What an
impulsive, affectionate boy he wasl Who
but Jim would have taken a long, cold
journey on a winters night just to spend
an hour or two with his old playmate
and prevent her from feeling lonely and
dull?
ut would have been different matter
altogether if l had been his sweetheart"
Sadie told herself; and then, for some UNI
explained reason-perhaps because of
that kiss which was still lingering on her
lps-Sadie colored holly and mentally
determined that perhaps after all it would
be better to allow Godfrey to remain in
bhssful ignorance of Jim's visit. She had
quite intended to tell him, for Sadie never
made any secret of her sins of commission
or omission, and after they were over and
beyond recall or prevention she would
confess them frankly enough and accept
the portion of wrath or condemnation
which was the natural consequence. But
on this occasion she told herself that Isl
lence was golden"
"It just serves Geoff right" she said
to herself, as she tripped leisurely along
the pretty lane and looked with admiring
eyes across the wide landscape and the
| frozen, moonlit river.
The sound of footsteps-footsteps
which seemed to sound both before and
behind her-startled her a little She
pulled her hat over her brow, and, muf-
fling her furs round her cheeks, quickened
her pace. The lonely part of her walk
was nearly over; very soon she would
reach the gate which opened from the
lane into the High street, and there she
would feel perfectly at ease-for in spite
of her courage she was unwilling to be
seen alone at such a late hour in the
lonely lane.
The footsteps behind came nearer; the
man was evidently in a great hurry.
Presently he passed her, but so quickly
and with such complete disregard of her
presence that she almost thought he had
not noticed her. She glanced after him
curiously, but he was walking under the
shadow of the hedge. find though she
could not see his face she fancied that
in height and general appearance he
strongly resembled the man she had seen
on the ice with the pretty girl from the
mantle shop.
Perhaps they may have had another
quarrel and he has lett her to come home
alone" Sadie thought amusedly; but just
then she slipped and fell on a slide which
was hidden by a thin covering Of snow,
and in falling cut her wrist rather deeply
against the sharp edge of her skate. so