Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-12-27

A cup OF tea was produced after few
moments, which she drank eagerly, and
then rose to her feet, trying to smile.
Ihank you all for your Kindness" she
said, looking round. s1t was long
journey, and l felt weak at the last.
think | can 60 on now"
Where are you goingi" asked one Of
the officials. 81 think if it is far you
ought to wait until one of the porters
fetches fly from the town. Yon don't
look fit for much yet"
oh, | am quite WELT" she said, with
the same effort to smile. 81 am near the
end OF my journey, and the air will do
me good. How-how much am | to pay
for the tea you were so kind as to get
met 1t was very meet"
"Sixpence. But hadn't you better send
for f1y?"
No, will walk" she answered hasti-
ly. She paid the sixpence almost her
last coin-thanked them all again. and
set forth without making any inquiries
as to the way. She was encountered by
her rug and shawl, but she would not
leave them behind. No one should know
that the forlorn, fainting creature who
had been lifted from the train was niece
of Miss Percival and sister to Freda. She
had no money to pay for a fly She had
heard 1t was only four miles to Miss
Percival's. She would take her time and
reach it at last.
1t was between s and 9 O'Clock in the
morning, and a bright, cold day. Nest
presently met an old man from whom she
ventured to inquire her way. She found
there was a short cut which would short
en- her walk by half mile, and she
turned off the main road. Every step
was bringing her nearer to Freda. She
did not doubt but her aunt would receive
her. Freda had more than once sent a
message from Miss Percival asking her to
change her mind and join them, but she
had never replied.
How wicked and ungrateful her con-
duct now looked to herl Her eyes had
been opened, and she saw everything
with dreadful clearness. While she had
been following phantom the real things
in life had escaped her-love, home, shell
ter, and duty If she ever reached Freda,
if she ever saw Godfrey again, she
would be different. Oh, would the way
never come to an end!
At length her aunt's house came in
sight. She knew it from Freda's descrip-
tion, and her heart feebly leaped. She
was going to be ill-she knew it, but
there was always Freda!
Tremblingly she rang at the door.
A maid servant answered, and Nest
knew, from her doubtful look, what a
shabby and dishevelled figure she must
be. In faltering voice she inquired for
her sister.
Miss Freda is not at home,7 the girl
said
Not at homel" the wanderer cried.
"You mean she has just gone out, and
viii be in shortlyf''
"She went to London" the maid said.
II do not know when she will be back.
She started this morning"
Nest uttered gasp.
May l see Miss Percival?" she asked
family.
She is engaged just now" the maid
said doubtfully, ''but if you will step in
/ will ask if she win see you.'
Nest dragged her slow footsteps across
the hall and sank on seat in the room
into which the girl ushered her. In all
her wanderings the thought of meeting
Freda had sustained her, and now FIRE.
da was gonel
Presently lady entered. Her step
was hurried and painful excitement
was visible on her face. Her transparent
hands clasped and unelasped each other
convulsiyely. Her eyes were averted from
Nests, nor did she, after the first glance,
allow them to rest on her.
| She was clad in mourning, and her tall
shadowy figure and worn face told of
constant suffering of either mind or body.
She might have been go or even older
| Ill-health and settled look of misery
| were written on her aspect. Though Ere
da had partly prepared her for her aunt s
appearance Nest. wTetched though she
was, felt alarmed. She rose.
Il am sorry to have come like this,
Aunt Ruth" she said. Il have been very
foolish and ungrateful, but if you will
take me in l will try to do better"
| II dc not know who you are" Miss
Percival said in strange, hurried voice.
"You may be some impostor-I cannot
tell. Freda went away this morning to
her sister in London--she was sent for. |
cannot take you in, for know nothing
about you"
| She spoke like one repeating a lesson,
and her hands were wrung together. Nest
locked at her frightened.
/ II am your niece, Nest Percival. | was
in London yesterday, but / came away.
have been travelling all night, and / am
so tired. If Freda were only herel Oh,
Aunt Ruth, you do not know what !
have suffered Do not turn me awayl
shall diet l have nowhere to go--no
lmoney-nothing!"
II do not know who you are" repeat
ed Miss Percival Nest is in London,
not here; Freda said so. You must 60
away"
But do you know what that means -
Nest cried, appalled, at her sentence. Il
have told you | have no money. Where
am | to go? There is nothing for me
| but to die on the roadside. ! am worn
out cannot 90 a step farther Oh,
Aunt Ruth, for my fathers sake-you
once were children together-do not send
me away to persist"
An uncomfortable paroxysm seemed to
seize Miss Perciyal.
Her ashy pallor alarmed even Nest
but she speechlessly pointed to the door
and her white lips framed the syllable
I