Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-23

US. write to Nine. st. Aubert and
say that you are provided for otherwise,
and decline her offer civilly for us both.
we can start the day after tomorrow
for Cornwall"
i will not go to Cornwall Nest said
IN low tone.
Think of Godfrey Howard" Freda
suggested
1t was a most unwise speech, and she
knew it the moment it was uttered.
The click of the gate announced a WIS.,
ltor' and both girls, looking up, recog-
nIzed the person whom Freda had lust
mentioned. He was a tall, broad shout.
dered man, many years older than either
OF the girls, with pleasant smile and a
genial, CHEEKY, sensible aspect.
shall tell him all about both let
ters, Freda said decidedly. "Geoff is
Just the person to see things in their true
hight, and he cannot be prejudiced against
Sarah Mackay, for he never saw her."
Leave me to tell him!' Nest cried.
"oh, Freda, you don't know what it
means to me! l have so longed to get
away. | must gol Give me the letters.
Don't wait, dear darling Freda. / want
to get everything over and settled"
Geotfrey's step was heard outside. and
Freda, yielding to Nests eager entreaty,
vanished through side door as the Wis
itor entered.
We'll, Nest" he said, coming UP to the
| girl and taking her hand in kind CLASH.
Il have come to have a good long talk
with you both, so / hope Neda has gone
TO make tea l saw her whisking out as
came in"
/ ac roH hsNy- 10 r 4
you these letters" Nest answered. Her
hands shook little as she held them
out to him, aud he looked keenly at her.
Her dark eyes were glowing and a strange
exultation seemed to pervade her whole
! frame.
well, let me see them. You may as
well sit down, and l suppose l may do
the same. We are old friends, Nest, are
We not2 We need not stand on cere-
mony with one another"
"No-oh, mol l wanted you to read
them," the girl said rather incoherently.
You were perhaps little uneasy about
us-Freda and me-but you need not be
so. You will see that more than one way
has opened for us in the difficulty"
He kept his hold on the futtering hand
and little smile passed across his face.
you are going to do something fool
ish, Nest" he said. "You got Freda out
of the way because she would have been
on my side, not yours. Lack of courage
is not one of your failings, and you want
to bear all my anger yourself. Isn't
that it7"
please read" she said, coldly with
drawing her hand.
| He sat down where he could still see
her face. She had moved some distance
and established herself on the wide win
dow seat. If he felt anxiety or trepida-
ton he did not show it. He quietly went
through. both letters before he spoke.
''Is Freda going with your"
"She is going to Aunt Ruth's."
"Who is this Nine st. Aubert 2
Don't you see, Nessie, that her letter is
the letter of a selfish woman who is
| studying her own interests, not yours 7
| should like to know why her late con-
panion left, what sort of a provision
she win make for you, what kind of
society you will be in, what character
she bears, what protection she will af-
ford you. Are you clear on all these
points2"
81 know Nine ST. Aubert; I am
sure it viii be all right. She was the
music mistress at the school where Freda
and I were, and she married NJ. st.
Aubert. He died soon after, and now she
is making her own way in the musical
world. She is a genius and has heaps of
engagements. l shall be perfectly safe
with hers
"When do you gof"
She looked up eagerly, surprised at his
IN NIL
"Oh, Geoff, then you will not oppose
who cannot stand alone? You are good,
very goodI"
'FWould there be any use in opposing
your" he asked, with the same half
smile. "And yet, Nessie, have one
thing to say to you"
"What is that? Say anything, Geoff."
''Will you put aside these two plans
and accept a third? Freda and you have
been very dear to me all my life, and
there is no necessity for either OF you to
go out into the world. Be my wife, Mes
sic darling, and let Freda's home be with
her sister and her brother. l have an
empty house. come and make it home.
have an empty heart, come and fill it."
He had drawn nearer, and her hand
was again within his.
81 cannot bear to part with you," he
went on, his voice falling to very ten
der information. you are the dearest
thing in the world to me, and Freda
comes next am sorry that l cannot
take you abroad and show you the world,
but we can have a holiday of some kind
after our wedding / feel sure that this
Nine. st. ALBERT is not the person you
ought to be with, nor are you the person
who ought to be with her. What do you
sayt"
~ am very fond of you, Geoff, but
do not love you," Nest said, again with
drawing her hand, and this time with
very decided gesture. 1T would be wrong
of me to marry you"
Then you will go with Freda to your
aunt's? ?" he urged anxiously.
Il am going to London to Nine. st.
Auberts Why should l live in depend
cree when / can stand alone and earn for
myself"
"And this is your final decision 2"
Eyes. Godfrey. ! am convinced that it
is the best"