Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-07-06
CHAPTER V.


oHe will have to look out for another
widow"
"Drummond told me last night that he
should feel it his duty to warn Forman.
II seems Stonor is by way of being his
bosom friend; he is going down to Dun
plas next month";"
'Does Forman know the terms he was
on with his wife, | wonder?"
81 should say not. He would hardly
be likely to encourage any further init
macy if he did. But have you heard"
and the two old gossips put their heads
together.
4 man who was lying back in one of
the lounge chairs in the smoke room at
the Junior Rag" moved his paper slight
Nv aside. Apparently the view of his
face thereby revealed told nothing to the
couple of elderly gentlemen who were
j. discussing his affairs. The day was wet
and chilly, and they drew their chairs
nearer the fire, after a cursory glance at
the third person in the room. After a
moments hesitation Forman picked up
his PAPER again; the men were strangers
to him. Buried in his own thoughts as
he had been, the trend of their converse
tiop had entirely escaped him until the
mention of Stonor's name, and he was
not at first inclined to attach any i'm
portance to their hints of some previous
nderstanding between the baronet and
his own wife.
That Patricia had had many offers and
refused them all, thereby mourning Lord
Drummond's wrath, he had learned long
ago from Babette's childish prattle; no
doubt, he told himself, it was to soma
such story as this that the old men
were referring.
Yet, in spite of his best endeavors, he
could not altogether withdraw his atten-
ton from such fragments of their talk
as reached him. Quite evidently they
regarded Stonor's position as a desperate
one; they spoke of his gambling heavily
since the breaking of his engagement
with Mrs. Widely, and even limited at
bankruptcy proceedings.
He was revolving various ways of
helping his new friend when the voices
grew louder.
Eyes, there is no doubt he treated Pa
tricia Drummond abominably; paid her
every sort of attention. had it from
Drummond himself-and then when this
Widely woman came across his path he
threw the girl over like an old glove"
d
the other remarked more thoughtfully.
"You know, / was abroad at the time,
and l never could understand Patricia s
marriage to clod such as this Forman
is described. But if"
The hand that held the newspaper
clenched itself unconsciously. Forman's
face darkened ominously; he made a
half movement as if to rise, but some
force stronger than his own win kept
him in his seat.
ooh! AS for that"-the first speaker
chuckled-"I don't think anybody knows
the true history of that marriage but
myself. Pom my word"-with a eau
tious glance around-'it was the best
joke in the world"-slightly lowering his
voice.
The other bent forward with apparent
interest.
you mean Patricia Drummond and
Forman?"
81 mean Patricia Drummond and For
man. his friend assented. at was the
queerest thing | ever knew. You re-
member Lady De Winton's ball which
was one of the events of the season last
year2'
Il remember hearing of it, but was
in Rome then"
"Ah, l remember! Well, Stonor's en-
gagement was talked of as an accom-
phshed fact that night, and there were
many speculations as to how Patricia
Drummond would receive the news. They
danced together more than once, and
finally disappeared on the terrace in one
of the intervals. Well, dare say you
know that Masterton, my nearest neigh
Dor in Yorkshire, was one of the eXecu-
tors of old Forman's will, which left
Dunglas and all his real and personal
estate to his brother George and his
heirs"
OF course / remember; he was one of
the few people the hermit. as we used to
call old Forman of Dunglas, had kept in
touch with"
Precisely! Well, that very morning
| had letter from Masterton telling me
that he had been sadly bothered to find
Forman's heirs, but that he believed he
was on the right track at last. George
forman, after the marriage which finally
aIenated his family, had emigrated and
died. but Masterton had every reason to
believe that he left a son who brought
has mother back to her native village and
obtained work on Drummond's estate.
lie asked me to make some inquiries
from Drummond about him, without be-
traylng anything to the man himself I'M
III certain needful documents had been
obtained from California. In consequence
Drummond and l had good deal to talk
over, and as a crowded ballroom is not
precisely the best place for discussing
business we strolled out on the terrace,
and ! told Drummond how matters
stood. Just as finished l saw a bit of
white dress peeping out from behind
Inc bank of shrubs by which we were
sitting, and knew that some one had
heard everything we said 1t didn't strike
me as of any moment, though / felt
YeXed at the time, but l said nothing
70 LTummond, and only walked him off
70 the other end of the terrace and kept
my eye on the white train. hadn't long
70 wait, for as soon as we were well out
u the way who should sweep out of the
corner but Miss Patricia You see how
eh?7
Not exactly" his friend remarked in