Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-11-24

simply to please old Mr.. Leigh, and be.
cause, forscoth, knew no one liked bet
ter! And how is it with Guy Armitage
himself? Perhaps
Good evening, Miss Trinder," SAYS a
familiar voice at my side "Were you
lost in admiration of the scene or CON
templating sucideH You did look SO aw-
fully serious"
turn with an effort to find him beside
me. and feel that the time for my con-
fession has come.
think | was dreaming"
"0f mef" he asks tenderlv. stooping to
try to look into my averted face.
@Oh of people and things in general"
l answer, in a particularly matter of fact
tone. Then, taking my courage in both
my hands, add, you know Stanley is
going away tomorrow? His holiday is
over, so ought to have been dreaming.
of him. It's the proper thing to dream
OF ones fiance, is it not, especially when
he is going away?"
"Fiancef Stanley?" he says, in a tone
of utter amazement. "You don't mean
All, but you're having a joke with me,
Miss Helen, and / can't stand any joking
on that subjeet!''
Indeed am not" l say family,
frightened by the look which comes into
his face. Il have been engaged to him
for a year. thought you knew / took
it for granted Cissie or 10 had told you
until-'
Until"
Until last night | murmur, turning
away my face
Have /, then, been such a lukewarm
lover-so wanting in ardor-that you
could not sec that | worshipped the very
ground you walked on? Did you imagine
| came to Westoyer to see Mr.. and Mrs.
Leigh, or Stanley?"
Il don't think / thought of you at all
in that connection l say, getting holder
now that the ice is broken.
And | was on my way to Westover to
ask you to be my wife. had made such
plans for the future-our future, as |
hoped it would be. I thought I would
buy farm in the neighborhood, so that
you might be near your friends, and
But'-with a sigh-"all my castles have
fallen to the ground, and you belong to
another mani"
between us for some few minutes.
Helen he whispers, turning towards
me suddenly, "if it had been otherwise
If you had been free, would there"
"Don't!" | say. Don't! Oh, Guy.
help me to be true-true to Stanley and
myself, and worthy of youi"
hear him mutter my darling!" in an
undertone, and then, with an effort, I
brace myself up and hold out my hand
to him.
Il must go now" 1 say; at is getting
quite dark, and they will be wondering
what has become of me. Good-byel No |
don't come with me. shall be per-
fectly safe, and would rather say Good |
bye to you here"
He takes my two hands in his and |
raises them to his lips.
"ForRve mel" he says. "This is all l |
shall ever have of you, and he will have |
you always"
So we part in the gathering darkness
two insignificant figures in the worlds |
history, but each with a burden that |
seems at the time too heavy to bear
Stanley does not go away on the NOR
row, however, or for many day after. |
When | reach the house, full of my own /
sorrow and misery, old Deborah comes
to me and tells me that the mistress is |
not well and has gone to bed ga cold" she |
thinks.
"She said she ached all over" the old
woman adds.
go upstairs and into the bedroom. |
Mrs. Leigh is in bed, moving restlessly |
from side to side. l speak few words
to her, put my hand upon her forehead,
and then 60 down to Stanley's "den,"
where he is packing, preparatory for his
departure tomorrow"
Stanley" 1 say, edo you know your
mother is i'll 2"
"Oh, got cold, Deb says!" he replies,
wandering about the room aimlessly, as
people do who are packing and cannot
think what they want to take and what
to leave.
1T is no cold, Stanley" I answer, rath-
er annoyed at his coolness; "she is in a
burning fever. / have just left her You
had better go for the doctor at once"
Oh nonsence!" he says, and then
mutters something not very compliment
airy about women and fuss"
win you go or shall II" I ask, bring
ing him to standstill in front of me.
Mr.. Leigh has been up in the ten-ac
field looking after the men all day, and
Is not home yet, or l needn't have
troubled you"
"0h, if any one is to go, of course, 1
mustl" he says. "But 1 dare say Ds
Gordon will think us very easily
alarmed" And with that he goes off, not
IN the best of humors, and l return to
Mrs. Leigh's bedside
Dr.. Gordon looks serious when he
comes in half an hour later.
Influenza" he says; "and of a most
malignant type! Who's going to nurse
I shall, of course!' say.
Keep her well covered up. will send
you the medicine down and win look in
again early in the morning"
a week goes by and she is no better
if2V and niah$ T ,aY.ren | 7