Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-07-06

y
man, the trick was done. Forman was
head over heels in love; Miss Drummond
had been so kind to him before his good
fortune was known, he could do no less
than lay himself and his worldly belong
ings at her feet. Miss Patricia, after
looking at his offer long enough to avoid
any appearance of undue haste, graceful
| ly accepted him There is the true his
tory of the Drummond- Forman alliance
for you, my boy! / know for a fact
that Drummond had told her it was her
/ last season, and | don't suppose she
could have done better as far as money
goes than take Forman; and no doubt,
with time, she will turn him out present
able"
Does Drummond know"
Not bit of it. And I always say
Patricia is a clever girl. Not one in a
hundred could have carried out such a
| scheme. | wouldn't spoil sport, but---''
sudden uprising of the tall form by
the window and both the old men turned
to see big, broad shouldered man stride
out of the room, banging the door be-
hind him with considerable warmth.
! Sir Alan Davenant drew deep breath
and started to his feet.
Good heavens it can't bel OF course
have only seen him once, at his we'd
ding, but it struck me as he went out
that it looked like Forman himself"
! 1T is a piece of Internal bad luck if it
/ is" his friend remarked consolatorily.
But most likely you have been misled
by a chance resemblance Possibly the
waiter could inform u.s."
He rang the bell.
Can you tell us the name of the gen.
tleman who has just gone out?" he in
| quired, when his summons was answered.
Gentleman by the name of Forman,
sir" the waiter replied "a friend of
fsasyd Drummond | believe / am right
F1R<*aying that his lordship put him up,
SIR
The two men glanced at one another in
dismay when he had retired. Sir Alan
Davenant drew in his lips.
''Whew! | don't know what to make
of it. My wife is always telling me my
tongue will get me into trouble some
day; and now-well, / don't know what
to do, that's a fact! Should you advise
my going to Drummond or the man him
self"
''Neither!" his friend counselled "You
don't know how much the fellow may
have heard. You allow matters to settle
themselves, Davenant."
well, perhaps you are right" Ssr
Alan conceded, with an air of relief
Perhaps after all you are right"
Meanwhile Forman, his brain absolute
| ly whirling under the magnitude of the
deception that had been revealed to him
| by Davenant's words, was driving rapid
| ly homewards. determined to charge his
wife with her deceit. On the threshold
however, he encountered check. Patri-
cha had gone to a garden party, and he
had to wait with what patience he might
until she returned. He shut himself in
the room called his study, giving orders
that he was to be told at once of Mrs
Forman's return, and even Babette, priv
! LEGGED person as she was, knocked in vain
| for admittance.
1t seemed hours to him before he heard
the carriage drive up and knew that Pa.
tricia had returned. Hitherto in spite OF
all her vagaries, all her GOODNESS, he had
chung to the belief that the heart given
to him in his poverty was his still, and
| that only time was needed to make Pa
fricia wholly his own. Now, however, his
castle of cards had indeed fallen about
his ears, and it was a haggard and stern
| looking man who came into the hall as
Patricia was passing through.
Il want you moment Patricia"
His wife glanced at him in some sur
prise. Something in his tone was quite
foreign to her knowledge of him hereto
fore
My good Justin, have not a moment
to spare she replied. Have you for
gotten that we are dining with the Mau-
ghans tonight? l shall barely have time
to dress"
Nevertheless l must speak to you at
once" Forman replied, with a touch of
dignity. Il shall not delay you long
Comet"
He led the way to the study, and Pa
tricia, after a mOmentary hesitation, fol-
lowed him. Something in his expression
as he held the door open for her vaguely
chilled her.
There is nothing wrong, is there ?"
she asked anxiously. "Babette?"
"Babette is perfectly well so far as l
know 1t is about quite different mat
ter that | wished to speak to you
something affecting myself"
''You-oh" The look of relief that
swept across Patricia's features as she
seated herself was unmistakable.
Forman WINGED as his eyes strayed over
her. Still he did not speak; and his very
silence impressed Patricia with a sense
of impending calamity.
well, what is this tremendous com
munication, Justin ?" she began, with all
the lightness she could muster. II don't
wish to hurry You, but"
The compelling eyes opposite were
fixed upon hers.
"Why did you marry me?"
Patricia stirred impatiently.
"Why did | marry your Really, JUS
tin, you know that l am not sentimental
He put out his hand as though to
brush her remarks aside.
"Was it because all the time that you
were at the Towers. while You were nurs-
ing Babette and winning the very heart
out of me with your sweetness, you
knew that this money was coming to
meG"
Patricia colored holly: the question
was so completely unexpected, the con-
tingency itself so unforeseen, that, ut
terly taken by surprise, she lost her self