Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-04-13
THE MILKMAID COUNTESS.


Magma of the big brick house with the
bay windows, standing in the midst of
wide spreading fields and looking toward
the Wrekin. The strange man" had
come to Bolas Magma from no one knew
where. and while he tenanted that house
the Bolas Magma villagers were often
sorely perplexed concerning him.
His arrival had been suggestive of
mystery.
The night is coming on and | have
walked long distance, and there is a
storm breaking. Can you give me a
bed p
Such were the words with which the
strange man introduced himself to Mr..
Higgins. farmer and shopkeeper, of
Bolas Magma.
1t was on a June evening that the
stranger had walked into Higgins little
shop. with its sanded floor. its small coun-
ter, and its miscellaneous articles. The
village possessed no inn which could of
fer the stranger he'd, and he had been
referred by neighbor to Mr.. Hoggins as
the only person who might be willing and
able to put him up for the night.
The stranger was young man of
about 30 years of age, Of pleasing, clean
cut features, and shapely person. He
was dressed IL plain though good walk
ing suit, and had a knapsack on his back.
lie was clearly townsman. His man
ners were refined and he was well spoken.
Il have walked a long way" he ex-
planned. and / want some place where
1 ,ss,l,A
told to come to you. | am informed
there is no inn closer than five miles"
Il am sorry, but we have no room to
put you in" replied Hoggins.
He spoke Drusquely and decisively.
Mrs Higgins, who had come into the
shop at the same time attracted there
by strange voice, eyed the newcomer
and agreed with her husband. Rebuffed,
the strange man was about to leave the
shop when he caught sight of a third
person in the place.
1t was a girl-a girl with a sweet face,
large dark eyes, and wealth of dark
brown hair-standing at an open door
leading, to the kitchen. The stranger
stopped in his passage from the shop
and turned back.
You must really put me up" he de-
clared Look what night it is going
to bel You cannot turn me away in
such a storm as this. | have money and
will pay you web. If you cannot give
me a bed. let me have a chair in your
sitting room am accustomed to rough
ing it, and | shall sleep excellently."
1t was not an evening, indeed, for
good hearted country folk TO turn any
one away from their doors. The storm
had broken, and the thunder was rolling
and the lightning flashing overhead. AID
the stranger had money! The storm and
the sight of the gold his visitor produced
from his pocket caused Higgins and his
wife TO agree.
That night the stranger occupied a
chair in the lower room.
Such was the coming of the strange
man to the sleepy little village of Bolas
Magma, with its green lanes and apple
orchards. The man whom that summer
thunder storm drove to take refuge i'll
the Hogginses' house that night was not
to leave Bolas Magma hurriedly.
He had taken liking to the place. he
informed Hoggins and his wife the next
day, and wished to remain there short
time-a week or two, perhaps He would
for attendance.
His name, he Informed them, was
Jones, but his manner, reserved although
agreeable, did not encourage Mr.. and
Mrs Higgins to ply him with many
questions. He had gold-plenty of gold
and the shopkeeper and his wife after
talking the matter over together, at last
resolved to make Mr.. Jones as comfort
able as they possibly could.
He stayed for weeks and weeks A
man of mystery. Once. indeed. when
Mr. Hoggins pressed him, presuming
upon the friendship with which the
stranger seemed to regard him, as to
what his business was. Mr.. Jones in
formed him that he was an undertaken.
Whatever his business might be, he
certainly attended to it very carclcssly.
At times, however ,tyhen the gold in his
pockets seemed to have run low, he
would disappear from Bolas Magma for
few days, TO return later with his
pockets heavy with new treasure This
fact aroused the villagers of Bolas Magma,
TO suspect that MIR. Jones was engaged
in some unlawful occupation-that he
left Bolas Magma to secure booty, and
returned to it to lie in hiding from the,
police. The villagers of Boas Magma
Hooked forward to Al sensation some day
Perhaps the officers of the law would
descend among them and carry away the
strange Mr.. Jones.
The straTpcr---~indeed, seemed pos
Ses>ed OF large amount of mysterious
wealth. suddenly he took it into his
head to purchase a large piece of land,
on which lie erected the big brick house
with the bay windows. Till now he
had been living in that humble cottage
with the grocer and his wife and their
daughter. Sarah Hogsins. the pretty
glrl Of l. whom he had seen that night
on his first entering the Higgins shop,
standing in the doorway leading to the
kitchen listening to his pleading for shell
ter.
II was Sarah who waited on him. who
waited ON her parents, who was from
morning until night busted in household
work, and in milking or IN baking
bread,
To Mr.. IIoggius' amazement. the
STRANGER ono lqN- informed hin, thot b.,