Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-09-08

ner. and declared her opinion that the
stranger was pretty figure of man,
with which her husband agreed, adding
mat he was not sure but he might be a
foreigner, seeing his swarthy face and
black hair But. as the stranger spoke
perfect English the idea was secuted as
absurd
The lad returned, but brought only
verbal message in answer TO the letter.
That 1t would be al right"
lie had. however something to say in
reply to the questions put TO him in the
kitchen.
He had delivered the letter to its ad-
dress--the lodge keeper of the park gates
OF Quinton hail.
The letter had been opened before his
eyes and the envelope had contained be-
SIDES a letter second one enclosed, but
to whom addressed he could not see
However, he was sure of one thinguthat
a folded bank note was within the first
envelope, which the lodge keeper had
pocketed with evident satisfaction.
After this the strangers movements
were watched with greater interest than
ever. More than once the landlord ven
tured uncalled for into the little parlor
to ask II his guest required anything;
but, except once, when he ordered some
brandy, the visitor required nothing, sit
ting always near the window. smoking
a short briar-root pipe, and gazing
thoughtfully across the road at the
houses opposite
As ) o'clock struck from the church
clock he sprang up and left the hotel,
saying that he should want bed for the
night. The landlord, gazing after him,
saw him take the direction of the park
gates, and concluded that he was on his
way to see the lodge keeper; but in this
he was only partially correct, for on
gaining the gates, the stranger passed
through the side one, the keeper merely
touching his hat to him.
Although the moon was shining it was
all but dark unde. the trees of the ave
nue., and had it not been for the silver
streak on each tree trunk it would have
been difficult to keep the path.
At a hundred yards from the gates the
stranger stopped. \ shadowy form had
detached itself from the black pillar of
tree trunk and had advanced towards
him.
Jim? 2"
Is that you, Cora -
Hush, for heavens sake! If You will
have mercy on me will do anything you
wish. What are you doing? You would
not shoot me, jim? | am not fit to die"
The man gave a grim chucke
Not yet" he said. Il am here to as
sert my rights as your husband. | am
square man, and wrote to give you
warning and a chance for you to say
anything for yourself if you could"
The woman seized eagerly at the
chance
what have done wrong?" she walled.
When you did not return thought you
were killed, and
1t is no good lying, Cora" Jim Tarl-
ton answered. Il have come some thou
sands of miles to find you, and l reckon
I've come to learn the truth. Most of it
| know. Saw your photograph in a
smart shop window in London, and when
/ asked was told you were the beautiful
Mrs. Charlton, who made such a sensa-
ton this year. After that it was easy
to find where you were living. What /
want to know is how it came about that
you married this young chap?"
Sick with fright, all the stronger that
he spoke without his usual buster and
the wreck, and how it came about that
she filled the position of companion to
Lady Hammersly, assuming the name of
the rightful Ella Tremain. She could not
see his face, only the mere outline of his
figure, but she knew that his eyes were
fixed on her. and, in spite of herself, the
truth was forced from her OF Lady
Hammersly's death she said nothing
When she had told her tale there was
silence for a full minute. Then the WON.
an, who at any moment expected to be
murdered, or at least carried before the
man she had caught in her tolls and her
whole history told, uttered piteous
moan and fell 1 her knees at the feet of
her husband.
Have mercy, JIM" she pleaded Re
member how hard the life you led me
was to bear. l lived in fear day and
night, and now the old fear is on me
again. Dear Jim, is there nothing / can
do to ransom my life? / swear | did
not marry this man out of love. but
merely to gain a position and pro-
tector"
His iron fingers grasped her shoulder
and he lifted her to her feet, but more
gently than she expected
Il own up on being rough on you" he
said. and Pm ready to wait day or two
to learn the bearings of the case before
l put spoke in your wheel and carry
you back to the Cape. You have played
it mighty low down on me, but ! am
white man, and would deal squarely even
by YOU"
For an instant Cora breathed. and then
came back the dead that this sudden
on the part Of her injured
husband was not ma tural.
She had waylaid him on his approach
to the house with the very faintest hope
of obtaining a respite-time to think;
and the ease with which she had succeed |
ed dismayed her.
THAT is good of you, Jim she fall
tered IF you would only not expose
me-if l could only make amends to you,
somehow"
1T would take the whole Of Quinton
to buy me off It's you l am wanting, |
it's you l am longing for, though you |