Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-06-08
CHAPTER I.

The pretty soft color in Patricia Drum
r,hnd's cheeks faded little and her
brown eyes were very wistful as she
glanced at the tall, fair man in faultless
evening dress who was standing before
her.
.aYou meant" she said helplessly.
"That everything between us must end,
Don't You see, Pat, that
Fer moment everything gaily-
dressed folk who were saunteriRg back
wards and forwards before them, the ter
race itself. the handsome face that she
had learned to lexeZswayed and then
wbirled round before Patricia's eyes. For
one moment the girl thought that she
was going to faint; then with a supreme
effort she called her woman's pride to her
aid and rose to her feet.
Certainly it will be BEST" she agreed,
in her hnguid, musical tones. Il quite
agree with you, Sir Wilfred. l had
thought of telling you so tonight But,
YOU see"-with a slight bitter smile
iyou have forestalled me-"
Sir Wilfred Stonor fidgeted about from
one foot to the other uneasily.
"Of course l knew that you saw it in
the same light as / did, he said, salving.
over his conscience by the recollection of
her words, as the moon emerged from be-
hind a passing cloud, and by it's clear
light he caught one glimpse of the girls
white face. 1T was an impossible stu
alton, you know; the only thing was to
speak and end it."
Patricia glanced away from the good
looking reckless face.
Quite the only thing" she acquiesced
toneIessly.
Stonor glanced at her sharply; he knew
well enough that he was behaving like a
cad. that nine out of ten women would
have reproached him, made a scene-that
Patricia was treating him with unexam
pied generosity. But was he to blame?
He asked himself this savagely as he
watched the girls fair, proud face. If
destiny had been kind to them, if Pa
tricia had had fortune, if he himself
had had money enough to keep the prop
erty up without curtaiiing his pleasures,
there was no one whom he would rather
have married than Patricia Drummond.
As it was-he shrugged his shoulders.
eve can still be friends, Pat" he ven
tured to say. Dear, you know | shall
always
The girl turned slowly and he shrank
beneath the contempt in her great brown
eyes
"That is the usual thing to say, is it
not ?" she inquired disdainfully. ~But,
oh, yes, Sir Wilfred, if our paths cross in
the future we shall be friends, no Doubt"
with scornful emphasis. "But now
there is one thing I should like to ask
you, may 1? Then"-as he made slight
gesture of assent-+'who is the woman?"
What woman? What do you mean?"
he said
II mean the woman you are going to
marry Oh"-as he was about to offer
her his ready lie-'I quite understand
the situation, l assure you, Sir Wilfred!
There have been reports-some of them
have reached me- She stopped, her
throat twitched, her mouth felt hot and
dry, and her soft hands clenched them
selves convulsively.
For a moment her self possession even
deceived Stonor; his sullen face lighted a
little
Upon my word, you are taking it like
a sensible girl, Patricia. You say you
have heard"
''0f Mrs. Wildey-yes! She is your
choice, them" Patricia remarked, with a
hard little laugh. THE widow of a
wealthy American, is she not? A sport
lng woman-runs race horses or some
thing? Rumor does not lie when it cred
ITS you with intentions in that quarter,
l presume?''
Stonor began to fear that his mauvais
quart d'heure was by no means over.
She is rich" he said. his blue eyes
wandering over every detail of the pref
ty, seornful face of the girl beside him,
a. he mentally contrasted it with the
high color, the coarse features of the
woman who tomorrow would be his open
iy acknowledged fiancee. 81 have no
money, you know-it is you l am think
ing of much more than myself in this
matter, Pat. | should be brute to tie
you down to the lot that would be mine
II ! married portionless bride"
The girl laughed harshly.
Il win give you full credit for your un-
selfishness, Sir Wilfred," she remarked
ironically. "And l wish you every hap
plness with Mrs. Widely"
Her gesture was one of dismissal; but
Stonor, now that his object was attained.
felt strangely reluctant to depart.
1t is not Goodbye Patricia l shall
never forget the old days. Later on we
shall meet again as friends; you must
come to see us at Stonor."
The use of the dual pronoun was the
last straw. Patricia's hardly won calm
gave way, and she turned from him.
viii you please go?" she said in a
stiaed voice
de moved a few steps away. then
paused irresolutely and looked back. Pa
!rlca was still standing as he had left
her, her head turned from him. the long
iolds of her severely plain white gown
falling around her in statuesque lines.
For a moment he paIpably hesitated.
should be give up the dreams of wealth
mat had been his of late? Patricia was
very beautiful; that he cared for her as
much as it was in his nature to care for
any one but himself he fully recognized,
ana for one second he weighed the two
45IeTnatives-the next some chance ac-
4aalntaRce slapped him on the shoulder.
Stonor, my boy, here you are! You
are going on to Lady Donaldson's, of
course? The fair widow will be looking
for you"
'Oh-ab-voes sL:-Y- -Ion III