Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-24

Actecl She HAS ever ItNtlNeus anu as SitS
reads it over again establishment gives
way to self-reproaeh.
She ought to have seen, she ought to
have known; he and she have been so
constantly in one another's society, living
/ on terms of intimate friendship, working
| together with mutual aims and interests,
| and she ought to have noticed that he
! was learning to eare-that where she
! eXaeted and enjoyed friendship he was
! giving love. Instead she has claimed his
| help, taken his advice, accepted his con-
stand aid, made use of him as if she had
| right to his services, and Numbered into
mistake that less unselfish woman
would have seen and avoided. He was
wise to write instead of speaking-she
realizes that with rueful amusement. Had
he spoken as he had probably been some
times on the point of doing-she can re-
! call several suspicious episodes, now that
her eyes are open-she would in sheer
/ surprise have uttered NO" which would
have ended their pleasant friendship
abruptly, But now she has only the sim
! pie written confession of love that is
based upon intimate knowledge and deep
| respect and win always be hers whether
! she says Yes" or No and she has the
over the question. for he has begged her
not To reply until the evening.
| She has the whole day in which to real
ize that she. who never had a lover during
her girlhood. has at last attracted one
whose affection is worth having; who
would help. not hinder her chosen work,
and crown her busy life with his steadfast
| love.
Once or twice the wild idea of accepting
! him crosses her troubled mind She
thinks it would not be very hard to give
mp her solitary independence after all, to
! find her happiness where other women
! find theirs to learn to care for this man,
and. by her sympathy and companion
| ship, supply what is wanting in his eX-
/ istencc, and chase the pathetic reckless
| look from his face.
! But the thought is put aside as often
as it arises. What he Graves is love, and
that she is not honestly prepared to give
/ him So when the long hours of doubt
and suspense are over, and he comes foI,
his answer, it is ready for him. and he
seems TO read it in her face when she
moves to greet him
"Well?" he asks very quietly. as he
takes her hand. is it to be Nor"
Il am afraidit must be-" She dares
not look up. Il am very sorry" she adds
softly
You are quite sure Jeannie?"
Quite, Gerald. | wish / had written
! | would have done, but you asked me not
to do So"
NO. l wanted to see you, to hear from
your own lips"
The sound of his familiar steady voice
brings back her sef-control. She recov7
ers herself and looks mp at him
Il wonder whether ! can explain z" she
says hurriedly. with usefulness in hell
low voice and in her honest eyes. Il havQ
been to blame, but | liked to have YOU
for u friend; cannot bear the thought
OF losing you"
oh. but you need notl' he says quick
" as his grasp tightens painfully on tho
hand he still holds. Il could not bear
that either. If you cannot give me all [
want, give me all you can"
Indeed, l will do that she promises,
in low firm tones. The other is impossi7
BILE. but we can always be friends"
Thank You" he says simply, and drops
her hand. quite unconscious that he hai
made the crampad muscles Jingle and
ache.
How about the Dunstans - he inquiries
presently, in an altogether different tone.
do YOU mean to 20 there tonight -
Yes, we promised
Would YOU rather I came or not? ~
| In spite of herself she bushes warmly,
Il would rather you came" she says
distinctly.
She Is determined not to acknowledge
in any way that what has happened can
alter their relations towards one another,
or that this friendship to which she has
! Just pledged herself is To be in any sense
different from thai which existed before.
Then viii you tell them that | will
| look IN as soon as ] can! | have soms
work to do first
H. speaks in quiet. matter-o fact
! tones, but a he turns away she catches
a glimpse Of his face that makes her
! stretch out her band with an involuntary
! impulse OF rcmorse.
Mr.. Barclay Gerald forgive met
Il Will he returns, with a fieetine
smile. when you Offend But in spite OF
/ his smile his face is still curiously white
as he huTies away, and Mrs. Halliday
meeting him at tie door, lets him pass
without word Coming into the room
| she Chances sharply at JEANNE. whose
/ back is turned towards her
| Our friend is in a hurry this after
noon. she remarks suspiciously.
Jeanne docs not answer and the prett Y
old lady crosses the room and deliberate.
y catches her charge by her two shout.
| ders and turns her round, 10 stare re
proachfulIy at the tell-tale face. where the
unaccustomed blush IS still burning
JEANNE, is it possible that you have
refused him ?''
! .Ieannie mods
| "Oh. my dear, why?"
i do not care for him, Mrs Halliday. +"
| Then you must be uncommonly hard
| 10 please
Miss Carlyle signs, dries her tears and
leans her head against her old friends
shoulder with an unwontcd gesture OF