Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-23
CHAPTER I.

rbicb the postman had that morning
handed in.
The letter was written in e queer, ir
,eculaf hand, nervous and Informed,
Nth the lines trailing off mournfully at
tba end In a fashion which was calcu-
lated to depress the most cheerful recip-
lent.
The two girls were anything but cheer
t,l lust at the present moment, for their
father had been laid in the grave less
tSon a month ago, and the subsequent
examination of his affairs had revealed
tbs fact that he had made no provision
whatever for his two daughters, of whom
ne had been singularly neglectful all his
life.
usn Freda continued; "and though you
NAV the violin so well we cannot live on
that. We must do something, and here is
Amt Ruth's letter, which seems to solve
our difficulties" She spread the page be-
fore her and read:
~Pengarth, Cornwall, Oct. My
Dea- Niecas. arrived fortnight ago
At this place, which / have rented for
wear, and find it very lonely. Will you
both come to me and share everything
with me? ! was in Germany, as you
know. when the news reached me of
your grandfather's death, and that he
had left al. his money to me, not to your
father I intended to share my riches
with my brother, but then came the news
Of his death. I want to do the same for
his daughters, so grant my request and
come at once to Pengarth. shall be
expecting you both every day. Your af-
fectionate aunt, Ruth Percival."
"It's fair enough offer" Freda said.
In equity we are entitled to at least
half of grandfather's property, and Aunt
Ruth is doing what is right in offering to
share with us. She seems improved from
what I remember. Prosperity agrees
with some people. 1 feel / am one of
them Shall l write, Nessie, and say
that as soon as we can wind up our af-
fairs here-I need not mention that that
will be anything but complicated affair
we shall start for Cornwall?"
do you see that little black cloud
floating away, away from the sum-"
asked the younger girl, her dreamy dark
eyes fixed on the western sky where the
sun was setting in stormy splendor.
Presently it viii join that great bank
on the horizon and be lost for ever. We
should be like that if we accepted Aunt
Ruth's offer"
what do you mean?"
"0nly that we have got our chance"
Nest said, with energy, turning and fix
ing her glowing eyes on her sister. "The
world is the great glorious sun, full of
warmth and light and life, and we are
the little clouds waiting around either to
be made all golden and splendid like him
self or to drift off into Oblivion and
blackness, where we shall never live or
have any individuality or anything"
"And where do you intend to go, sup
posing that choose to drift off into the
uninteresting darkness of Cornwall?" in
quired Freda, with a half smile ooh,
Nessie, Nessie, when viii you learn that
life is prose, not poetry-that it means
bread and butter and frocks and shoes
and roof over ones head, not to speak
of duty and such things?"
81 shall go to London" Nest answered
firmly. "Freda, my mind has been made
up for some time, only / was a coward
and did not like to tell you my plans.
Read thati"
She drew letter from her pocket and
put it into her sisters hand. Freda's
face grew grave as she recognized the
writing
From Nine. St. Aubert," she said,
"0h, Nest, you surely did not write to
herr"
Yes, / wrote to her." the younger girl
answered. "You think no enc looks for
ward but yourself, but / have more
thought and sense than you give me
credit for, and | have secured a foothold
for us both in London the heart of the
world. Once established there / have no
fears-none at all-that we shall not
succeed Read what she has written"
Once more Freda read:
Dear little Nest: Your letter reached
me just at most opportune moment. l
am In the thick of my autumn engage
plents, vita the winter ones rushing on.
II you come to me at once, before / look
out for any one else, / can put you into
place. Only there must be no delay. The
young girl who acted as my accompanist
and went with me to concerts has gone
away, and if your musical talents have
improved at the rate expect from your
playing when you were at school, you will
suit me admirably. I may also be able
TO get you few engagements to play
the violin at some at homes As to your
sister, she might be useful in keeping ac-
counts and looking after things generally.
Let her come and try it, Before long she
may hear of something more suitable 1t
is a pity she has no special talent Your
ahectionate "Sara st. Aubert"
Well, what do you say? Isn't it just
the thing!" said Nest. ct is all nom
sense about your having no special talent,
LOT you are ter times cleverer than am.
She only means"
Oh, know what she meansI' Freda
interrupted. 81 am not so sensitive that
sarah Maekay could offend me. though
she Is so exalted since her marriage. She
seems to have fallen on her feet, and
am glad she is able TO push her way.
put Nest, she says nothing about pay
aent, and you know that for the last
Two years you have been spending your
Nhoie time at the violin. not at the pi-
ano. You may not suit at all. Then she
vas always vulgar, and / am certain
her marriage did not improve her. /
should be miserable faneying you among
uel set, because, you know, you are GER