Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1906-03-17
CHAPTER Ill.

/ a fortnight later Gerald Barclay. max
ing his way along the familiar meadow
path from IIazcldene to the Mill Farm,
/ does not bctray any particular anxiety
/ to resfCiiT his dtGSPination Once or twice
! he pauses altogether, and with his arms
crossed on the top-bar OF a stile he gazcs
with dreamy content over the well-lmown
/ landscape, and bares his head to let the
sweet scented air careSs his brow. Cuum-
/ try air and sights and sounds have been
foregone Injuries with him for 4 long
while, and now that he has come back
/ to them he realizes how much he has
missed them.
! An hour has elapsed since he left the
/ station before he walks up TO the wide
open door of the Mill Farm. and is met
! by the children with noisy rapturous wei.
come
| You see. they have not forgotten YOU"
{ laughs their mother, greeting him with
0utstretched hands, though YOU have
! given them time enough" Then as she
| looks him over with anxious aircctionate
scrutiny her face changes.
! oh, Jerry" she cries involntarilv,
''how old you have grown!"
| Gerald has taken both her kind hands
i'll his, and his lustrous dark ewes smile
! frankly into hers.
"How young YOU have kept" he re-
torts promptly, and Stops to kiss her.
/ You are not day older than YOU were
when last you welcomed the returning
! prodigal, and You don't mean to kick me
out even nowg"
That depends on how you behave
That will do, children; run in and take
your places. We are Just going to have
tea, and hope You are ready for it"
He looks as if he had not had a meal
since he was here last" Blair Munro cries
from the dining room door. Don't you
begin flirting with my wife. young man.
[ have been used to having her to myself
lately"
"Oh, l did not know YOU were at
home!" says Gerald. unabashed. Return
ing his hosts cordial and-clasp with in
terest, he enters the pleasant, home-like
room and finds to his surprise that he is
not the only guest Miss Carlyle, APP
parently very much at home. is cutting
up the bread and butter Tor the children.
She greets him with quiet friendliness.
4 had a good mind not to speak 10
y Vhs ShN ItiIS nun 1T vi WstIuSs NIt4i IL
show of severity. Il have terrible com
plant to bring against You. but / wond
not injure You in the estimation of your
friends by mentioning it before Them
"Now, my dear, don't quarrel her
hostess remarks promptly You may
take my eldest ov"-ehe smiles at Ger
aid as she passes him-"into the garden
and make much OF him for half an hour.
then shall be at liberty to join you
II am afraid Miss Carlylc's services are
no better appreciated in the nursery than
mine used to be-" Gerald says lightly as
he opens the door for her DO not be
long"
Il suppose" Jean remarks as they
stroll on to the lawn, this ia quite
second home to you, Mr. Barclay?'
Second to none" he replies carelessly
Il own no other. BY the way, Miss Car
lyle, | have found out your poetical
friend"
Rupert Dunstan? OH" Miss CARLYLE
promptly deseends from her high horse.
What did you think of him."
Il thought more of his poor little wife.
She does not look fit for roughing it."
Poor Cissy-nol But he is seriously
i'll, and she is not
HE is dying" Gerald reioins gravely.
and the sooner it is over the better for