Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-31
good. bye. and come there early tomor,


Then-heaven knows how / crushed
the feeling that prompted me to rush
tout and knock the man down-they
kissed! For full minute l saw only a
bloodred color, and when | came out of
the whirl the couple had parted; The
man had gone, and / could see Queenie
disappearing in the direction of the
house.
| was very sick-l suppose wounded
vanity helped to make the sore angrier.
had seen quite enough-(iueenie had a
lover already
And yet-how very miserable l was
before | saw what | saw | would have
staked my life on her truth. The scales
had indeed fallen from my eyes.
| In a fit of the blues. I got back to
the house and shut myself in the library;
there smoked like furnace. Blanche
had been quite right-but a rough mo-
ment would have ensued for her had she
dared to say so.
Later, the dog-cart came round. l
saw the groom lift the bag into it and
presently watched Queenie's departure
When | turned from the window and
Cooked in the overmantel, was startled
| by the Eaggardness of nv face.
| NcitS- ICdilSLu tildl IOh-GOlS Out
of my life. | laughed--the most miser-
able sound you ever heard pair of lips
| utter-and tried to console myself by
saying that all women were alike. But
| found that poor salve. My heart told
me that Queenie was unlike any other
woman.
Three months went by. The London
| season was in full swing. | was re-
established in Blanehe's good books, for
| was at her beck and call and she found
me easy to deal with.
| As a matter of TACT, hated the arti-
fieiality and sham OF society. But was
possessed of such feeling of unrest
that | welcomed any diversion that took
me out of myself.
] did not find Lady SYPHILIS presence so
hateful as before; was often with her.
| ! believe Blanche was laughing in her
sleeve all the time, ascribing this to her
town successful dismissal of her govern
ess. She had no knowledge of what
had witnessed beneath the trees.
The change that was coming over me
was not n pleasant one. | was conscious
of that, although | made 70 effort to
prevent it. Il used to be frank, open,
happy and laughter loving now wore
the almor of the cynical, sarcastic man
of the world,
The kiddies-poor little mites-saw
such change in their uncle that they
fled teTor-stricken from my presence
And | don't wonder As a matter of
fact, / was taking things very badly.
Forgetting was out of the question;
sleeping or waking, the sweet shy, dain-
ty grace of my lost love was ever before
me- | still loved her with all my heart
and soul.
At home, in my bachelor chambers, l
had grown so morose that friends
Stunned me. / was astonished, therefore,
when on an evening l purposed spending
alone-save for the companionship of my
pipe-there came a ring of the doorbell
My man entered to say that a gentleman
wished to see me.
Il am not at home" responded irri-
tably; addign: ''Who is it 7"
II don't know, sir. He gave me no
name; said he was stranger to you.''
Very well Show him in"
This sullen instruction was given more
by way of diversion from the unpleasant
ness of my thoughts than any desire to
be courteous When the caller entered
looked up carelessly, then was startled
into activity, coming to my feet with
the promptness of soldier obeying the
word of command.
To my utter amazement / was face to
face with the man l had seen beneath
the trees with Queenie. There was no
installing those dark eyes and clear cut
features. / remembered them too well.
What do you want with meW
! suppose ! shot out the question rude
ly. Anyway, my visitor fell back pace;
was plainly disconnected by the manner
of his reception.
Il am conscious" he replied nervously.
that | have no right to come here. But"
his voice faltered, 1T is for Queenies
sake; she is I'LL am afraid dying"
| felt that my hair must be standing
on end. But / could not have voiced
word to save my life; could only stare
at MIN with eyes that felt as if they
would burst from their sockets.
"Your name" he continued, SIS for
ever on her lips-if you would but come
to her! | know | am asking a great
deal-but it is so pitiful to hear her, and
the doctor says it is the only chance
Il don't understand / said, struggling
with the network of bewiderment in
which | felt enmeshed. "Who are you?
What me You to Queenie?"
L" he answered simply, ''am her
brother"
If ever Il man cane near choking with
rage self rage-I did then. Her broth
err Those two verbs seemed to possess
auger-ike qualities and to be boring into
my brain.
| leaptd to the hall; inside a minute
had got into a coat and rammed hat
on my head. l only just wanted suffi
cient time to grip MY visitors hand and
say brokenly:
Il wronged you, l wronged her-Heav
en- forgive me. l thought you were
Queenie's lover. l saw you together in
the garden that day that she left The
Towers"
A light seemed to break in on him, for
he said suddenly:
Il see it all nowl Poor little Queenie
ali my fife long l have been a trouble
to her, and now this lies at my door.