Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-08-11
AFTER HOPE WAS DEAD.

But | am 16 years old"
oh, are you? l would not have mag
ined it."
Bruce Conklin's attention had been dis
tracted, but he now took a good look at
the girl standing before him, with down
cast eyes and crimson cheeks Her dress
first claimed his attention 1t was
faded print, darned in many places and
was evidently the best she had. From
the garment his eyes wandered to the
curly brown head, which Just reached to
his breast, shifting and resting finally
on her sweet and pretty face Her fea-
lures we're regular and delicate. The lit
tie nose was straight. and eyes large,
and the mouth--wher had he seen such
mouth? Its expression when she smiled
bcgot i'll him an almost irresistible desire
to stoop and press his lip to it.
I'm afraid, Pm afraid" he said at
length, as the girl modestly turned her
face away fItm lis searching scrutiny;
Pm afraid you are too little and too
delicate
"Oh, but I am not, indeed. l can
work. You will see that l can"
But your weight wonld not hold you
down to such work as you would have
to do here. It's one everlasting grind at
this farm, let me tell you. l am sorry
to say it, but it is true There doesn't
seem to be any end to the work. The
last girl we had wisely threw up her Job
and decamped. l didn't blame her But,
somehow, things keep cropping up all
around you that must be done, and there
must be some one to do it. If it is al
lowed to accumulate it simply swamps
US. You are too little. You couldn't
stand that sort of drudgery."
But. since you want a girl. would YOU
at least give me a chance to try?"
"Well, yes, 1 might do that, but l
would first have to consult my aunt.
She's housekeeper and queen regent Just
at present, and it wouldn't do to take
any steps where the household affairs
are concerned without first consulting
her. Surprising we go to the house and
see what she says about it. OF course
you ale from the village, but tell me your
name"
My name is Sallie Meadows" the girl
answered, and once more she blushed be-
meath the searching scrutiny of his eyes,
and her own fell. Modest in the ext me.
her flushed and heated face bore evidence
of the ordeal she was undergoing of
which Bruce was eventually aware. He
did not suspect, little as she was, that
there was a woman's heart beating be
meath her shabby garment. and that it
was his handsome face which had de-
privei her of her self-possession.
Owing to the unceremonious departure
of their late domestic, who could not be-
come recoDciled to a life of drudgery on
the farm. the need of some sort of helm
was urgent, and Miss Collins, the aunt in
question, concluded to give Sallie a trial.
She had her misgivings, as she looked
at her delicate little hands. but even
these hands would be better than none at
all. This decision having been reached.
Bruce hitched up the buggy and took
Sallie home, engaging to come for herself
and her belongings the next day.
As might be supposed, Sallie's belong
ings did not materially tax the carrying
capacity of Bruce's buggy, and a feeling
of pity surged to his heart as he noted
the extent of her wardrobe, deposited. as
it was, in a receptacle no larger than an
ordinary handbook. 1t was but natural
that she should be fond of pretty clothes
but those little hands of hers would first
have to earn the wherewithal to get
them, and to earn it on a farm-Bruce
knew what that meant.
The week which followed was one of
surprises to Aunt Jane and Bruce. More
to Aunt Jane, for that the
village, the brazen and frivolous girls of
which she had always held in supreme
contempt, should have held such a little
Jewel as Sallie she would not have
thought possible Mild, gentle and af-
fectionate. an Industrious and competent
little worker, that was what the week
had disclosed of the new acquisition to
the household. But the surprises were
not confined to Miss Collins and Bruce;
Sallie had also been agreeably unde-
ceived. Her first impression of Bruces
aunt was not hattering. and that she
should prove anything but the exacting
tasNmistress she had thought to find her
was a revelation She knew now that
she would be able to hold her situation,
and dearly loving her surroundings, this
thought occasionally brought the ira
GRANGE Of song from her lips. There
was vet another thought. later on. that
stirred her heart into giving vent to these
little melodies which occasionally caught
ID UCt : tttt. ne IiNdiidDlN SbDpleu 10
listen when he heard her sing, for these
outbursts we're trilled by a voice that
was soft and inexpressibly sweet
1t was not long before Miss Collins
began % suspect the possible source Of
the inspiration that had come into the
girls life. rendering her impervious to
fatigue. She was such little thing that
Bruce had been treating her very much
as he might have treated a child it was
so natural TO catch her, in passing, and
press his lips to hers, or rub his face for
au instant on her soft cheek, as he might
have rubbed it on that Of an infant.
Sallie took it all in good part, so what
rs the difference But Miss COLI
thought differently as this state of affairs
finally came to her knowledge.
Bruce was engaged. Engaged TO
fashionable city butterfly who would
make but an Indifferent farmers WIFI