Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-31
In the Valley of the Shadow.

In the valley or the SHADOW.
Lady Blanche is one of the best of
women, but, STILL she is a woman. That
she should be a matchmaker and have
designs on her brothers future was, per-
haps, only natural. 1t was equally a
foregone conclusion that |, mere man,
should, in her opinion, not know what
was good for me.
was visiting at her home, The Tow
ers. Blanche's hubby was good sort
and my little nephew and nieces were
as mischievously attractive a trio as a
bachelor uncle could desire. l was pro-
longing my stay quite a time.
Something was upsetting Blanche.
For the last two or threefdays she had
been as grumpy with me as-well as a
sister can be.
! had to run up to London and, miss
ing the train back, did not return till
the morning, reaching The Towers about
lunch time. When | entered the break
fast room ! was surprised to find that
Blanche had not the Riddles with her.
"Hullo!" / exclaimed, "where are the
chicks2'
She looked me over keenly for a mo-
ment and then said quietly:
why not ask where their governess,
Miss Carstairs, isl"
You might have fioored me with the
proverbial feather. i felt myself turn
ing red to the roots of my hair. | own
up to that.
Come" | eXpostulated, you know
am .awfully fond of the little demons"
Il know you have seen great deal
of them lately" she admitted, adding
slowly, II have given their governess
notice. She is leaving this evening. 1
am not satisfied with her."
| did not flush at that. | rather fancy
turned pale-the news was disturbing
But / contrived to say quietly;
THAT is a pity. The children are very
fond of her"
With that / turned away. Blanche
had those steely blue eyes of hers fixed
on me in most disconcerting fashion
Though / ilatter myself / showed moth
ing of what l felt, my heart was hot
with anger.
The reason was plain to me. Blanche
--confound her! had discovered my Sc
cret. my love for pretty Queenie Car
stairs, She was turning the girl away,
in the hope that things had not gone too
far.
As if it mattered to me that Queenie
had been forced to earn her daily bread!
Was not my darling fairer, purer, truer,
and far more fitting for wife than the
cold, naughty Lady Sybil whom Blanche
had designed for met
Leaving tonight / flushed again, with
resentment this time. How cruelty I'M
fair such treatment was-how wom n
like!
Well, Blanche should see that she had
precipitated matters. / would at once
see Queenie and tell her in words, what
she must have read in my manner ere
this.
The midday hour was the governess
own. ! knew where to find her. She
took book and spent the time beneath
the trees at the southern corner of the
grounds.
Making an excuse for leaving
Blanche l got my cap from the hall and
leaving the house, sauntered in the d.
rection of the clump of trees where ]
guessed Queenie would be.
On the point of turning the corner
which would bring me to the open space.
| suddenly halted. Voices had reached
my ear, one of them Queenie's. | recog-
nized it instantly. To whom could she
be talking?
1Nas it mean Of me to pull aside the
bushes which separated us and look
through? Wen, perhaps. Anyway, I did
so, and started pretty violently at what
my eyes lighted on.
Queenie was with a tall, dark, hand.
some man. The pair We're holding an
animated conversation. The girl was
apparently greatly agitated, as if fear.
ing discovery.
Did | let the parted bush fall back
and hurry away before descending to
the common level of eavesdropper? No.
did not \ man feeling of jealousy pos
sessed me. and l remained rooted 10 the
spot, looking and listening fer all was
worth.
1t seemed that | was in at the death;
that is to say, that the couple were on
the point of parting, for voice which
had thought the sweetest in the world
sand:
You must 20 now. dear. 1t was mad
ness for You 20 come. I am going to
London tonight; here is the address"
She handed him piece Of paper. Nov.