Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-01-19
HILDA,s HERO.

| l. ne words were ueHdHb Whisper,
breathed into the ear of an elderly
maiden lady, between one of the pauses
in Faust fantasia, and then carried
to the ears of tall. thin clergyman, who
Immediately flushed and looked away.
"Hilda!"
The tone was one of reproof. 1t came
in good second with the big drum!
Miss Lely and her niece were spending
few early summer weeks at Bourne
mouth in pursuit of peace and pleasure.
A curious looking parson had wandered
in front of the band stand in search of
a vacant chair. He had long, thin face,
wore an Inverness coat of ancient date
and carried small black leather bag
Yet he was young, and should have
taken some interest in his personal APP
| pearance.
"He has eyebrows like-like the pause
marks in music!" the girl murmured, in
defense of her sweeping criticism.
| Somehow the younger Miss Lely felt
she had a right to a grievance just at
this time. Her family had lately been
bent on coercing her into marriage with
a clergyman, who, according to all ac-
counts, seemed to- have the virtues of all
the ages without any of the vices.
| Hilda had never seen him. 1t was
some family arrangement which the
family, exclusive of Hilda, hoped would
come off, some day. Rev. Ronald Mar
tyn's father and old Mr. Lely had al
ways been friends. The Martyrs emf
grated shortly afterward to Australia.
while the Lelys stayed in the old eoun-
try. Ronald was due in England on
! long visit to some distant relatives, and
the meeting fraught with so much impor-
lance was to take place soon.
Il shall not go out again" Miss Lely
said, when they reached their lodgings.
IF you want to 60 and hear more of the
band this evening, Hilda, will ask Mrs.
Hunt to let her Mary take you!"
| Hilda's eyes sparkled.
81 am never tired of listening to that
band!" she said. and I'd love to 90.
aunty!"
And she went. Alas, yet another cler.
gyman caught here eye. 1t was an old
and deorepit one this time, VINO seemed
to be enjoying the music so much that
he went to sleep with a rapt expression
on his face and not thought about fall
ing off the end of the seat. A tall, fair
haired man opposite, with limbs like Her
cules and the face of an Adonis, strobe
across the grass and propped him up Just
| in time.
A day or two later the scene was re-
called to her. She and her aunt were
crossing Old Christchurch road when a
motor car whizzed round corner with
out warning. The elder Miss Lely
gasped; the younger pushed her with
all her might out of the way of the ad-
vancing monster, and was in turn thrust
out of danger by mighty hand. There
was whizzing sensation in her ears; for
one awful moment the street ran round,
and the ground rose up toward her and
refused to stop-then she found herself
clutching lamppost, while some one
muttered in her ear:
by Jove! That was close shave!"
She looked up hastily. The hero of
few nights before was standing over her
with an anxious expression on his clean
shaver face and in his deep blue eyes.
Aunt Ellen! Where is Aunt Ellen?''
she asked, Il little wildly.
Her rescuer nodded in a sympathetic
manner. "She is all right, if you mean
the old lady in a black bonnet and spec
tacles," he said. Il expect she is home
by now. They took her in a cab"
"A cabl Was he hurt, then?'
The tall man laughed. Not hurt at
all" he answered "Only very much
frightened. And promised to bring YOU
on immediately. But, OF course, as YOU
know, you tainted and I couldn't If
YOU are sufficiently revived / will call a
cab"
Hilda laid her hand on his gray tweed
coat sleeve. She had already decided in
her own mind that Rev. Ronald should
wear dark gray tweed. when she sud-
denly remembered that he was clergy
man.
Don't call cab for me, please" she
sad, lmplorngly. Il can walk quite
driving"
"All right Then 1 will walk with
you" he answered, eheerfully.
Didn't L see you at the band concert
IN the winter gardens the other even
, ing?" he asked
Hilda nodded and smiled.
You saved an old clergyman from
tumhllng off his chart" she said. amused
iy. i saw you. Why is it clergvmen
are such a stupid set of men all roInd y,
He gave a slight start.
Soc -stupid-clergymen he no.
, peated obviously, as if he had not heard
Alright.
, Hilda thought him quite dense. yes. ;,
she explained merrily. "Tm afraid dis
like clergymen. It's very wrong of me.
: know, because"
She paused and a brilliant flush snf.
fused her delicate cheeks as she suddenly
became interested in the sea.
Because" he repeated. patiently
awaiting her answer.
"Because-oh! I'm supposed to be 90
/ ing TON! l don't quite know why. .
f she SAID incoherently You see Well.
. l dare say You will laugh at me-but rye
e always been brought up to expect that
some day l must marry a clergymanl
II Is very stupid. Most probably if dad
nuu wanted me to marry an actor /