Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-31

idu aiIditSeu WIFI the guard Tor q re-
served first-class compartment before the
rest of the party arrived, Violet was in
white, with a bunch of pansies at her
belt and lavender ribbons in her big hat.
Billy thought her lovelier than ever.
what toffs, to be sure?" cried Clara. re-
splendent in hat trimmed with cher
res. and delighted with her frst-class
carriage.
Billy didn't mind Clara's looks or her
language, or William Sanders cheap
cigar and broad stripes. He was so COM
pletely swamped in love by this time that
he had neither eyes nor ears for any one
but Violet. 1t was Billy's first love af-
fair, and he had taken it badly. Now
and again he had a little qualm on the
subject of 1.-The old girl as he called
Mrs. Benton; but that was soon forgot
ten in the delirium of looking at and
listening to Violet.
They strolled through grassy lanes to
the inn, where they had good country
tea, with cold ham and eggs, and crisp
green lettuce and honey After it was
over they had still couple of hours to
spare before they need make for a train.
| They left Clara and Mr.. Sanders fling
| ing hay at each other in bayfield,, and
strolled on into wood. They found a
delightful place to sit down, in a green
shade, where the only sound was the
summer hum of insects and the singing
of birds and the falling of little stream
far below. There was a tree trunk for
| Violet. Billy, in his immaculate gray
| frock coat and light trousers, flung HIM
self on the moss at her feet. While she
was settling herself, with soft frou-
frou, he surreptitiously kissed the hem
of her skirt.
He had been falling in love all those
weeks when he had hung about Nine.
Elodie's shop windows. Now, he was
fathoms deep in it. He was going to
marry Violet if she would have him, and
as soon as might be- 1t would be hard
on ''the old girl"; but she was so kind
and loving, he thought, wistfully, she
would forgive him when she knew how
his heart was in it. Besides, she couldn't
stand out against Violet for long. Billy
was no wiser than THOUSANDS of unwise
! lovers before him.
| He was grateful to those unknown
people in the Oxfordshire village who had
brought Violet up with the speech and
manners of lady. But if it had been
Iotherwise-he would still have loved her,
have let every other consideration 20 for
her sake. A look at her face, demure in
| in the shadow of her hat. made even the
thought of "the old girl vanish. He
leaned back till his face was against her
skirt.
Violet" he said, Il love you, darling!
| And"-his voice was full of delighted
amazement-"yo love me-"
| He drew her face down to him and
kissed it rapturously, and she did not
Inv him, -,
him. He smelled her crushed pansies by
his cheek
you will have to marry me-" he said
ut is very soon," she whispered, "and
you know nothing about me. And =
know nothing about you, Billy, dear"
! He laughed out.
Il am perfectly respectable" he said,
"and quite able to maintain a wife. But
| have the dearest old aunt
She had other views for me. You will
have to placate her, darling"
And you," she said. you will have to
please my uncle. You've no idea of how
imperious he is. Poor papa and mamma
| can twist them about my little finger.
But Uncle Gran! You've no idea what
a terrible person he isl"
Il hope he'll let me down easy-be sat
isiied with me, l mean," said Billy, play
ing in an infatuated way with u loose
tress of Niolet's hair
Hes quite capable of sending you
about your business
In that case we should Just have to
disregard him, sweetheart, shouldn't we?
! We can't let anybody stand in our way"
1T would never do to displease Uncle
Gran. And then Aunt Min; looked to
Aunt Min to finance my bonnet shop and
to get me customers"
You don't suppose | am going to let
you keep bonnet shcp?"
"Oh, Billy, you'll have to, You don't
know how much money is to be made out
of it"
Il have plenty of money"
For yourself. You can't imagine what
luxurious tastes l have. That was what
made me think of the bonnet shop. |
want heaps of money. My sisters are
content to sit at home genteelly. They
are Mortified at me. You've no idea what
a money loving little wretch ami"
80 long as you didn't think of marry
ing for money
Il did even that, before I knew YOU,
Billy. Now, ] should never marry any
one else, no matter how rich he was. 1
shall run the bonnet shop for both of us.
You don't know how much money it will
bring us in"
You darlingl"
IN ask madam for leave next Sun
day, and take you down to Oxfordshire
to see the family. Papa and mamma are
dears. You won't need to be the least
bit afraid of them"
You think not ?"
! Billy looked quite anxious
They've always let me do everything
! wanted to do"
Just like Aunt Sarah with me-
\ little cloud fell over his face
! But Uncle Gran is terror. You
won't mind if he's rude, Billy? He thinks
so eXtravagantly about his family And,
of course, dear, though you're a gentle
man, still-a private in the guards! What