Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-08-03
CHAPTER II.

us the room very nice, Sagef"
Quite nice, mother darling. Elizabeth
has scrubbed, and / have adorned and
the effect is distinctly satisfactory.
wish you could see it. Elizabeth has
made a chicken pie for tea. Jim is sure
to be hungry, you know, and chicken pie
is 500 essentially American that it
ought to make him feel at home
Sage was standing in front of the mir
ror in her mothers room as she spoke,
patting a disheveled lock of hair into its
place in rapid, preoccupied fashion.
81 shan't have time to change my
dress" she said. Never mind; do
very well as | am, don't l, mother?"
you look very nice. dear" replied
Mrs. Havant quietly, but her eyes rested
with fondest admiration on the slim,
graceful figure and the little head so
proudly carried and crowned by a wealth
of soft, ripping auburn hair. Sage
might not be beautiful in the strictest
acceptance of the term, but she had an
individuality of her own which influenced
everything she did or said.
The invalid was lying on her couch
beside the fire. She rarely left her own
room until the evening, and this had
not been one of her good days.
81 must see Jim tonight. Sage" she
murmured. Poor. dear Bessie,ss boy!
1t seems almost impossible to realige
that he is really coming here and that
Bessie is dead. How bitterly | resented
her marrying Ashley Milward! | had a
sort of provision that when she went
back with him to America | had lost
nv sister for ever, and | was right"
''He was a rich man even then" said
Sage.
YES. People looked on it as a great
marriage for q poor curate's daughter,
and she was a millionaire's wife before
she died. l wonder, Sage, what Jim will
think of our simple. homely ways?'
Sage's pretty lips took a slightly
scornful expression.
Jim must take us as he finds us"
she said. Now, mother you have talked
enough, and you must get nap before
Elizabeth brings up your tea. l am
going downstairs, so you won't be dis
| turbed."
She closed the door softly behind her
and ran down to the drawing room,
"A tiny. daintily furnished room,
which looked the perfection of comfort
in the freight that dealt so mercituly
with faded chintzes and a welldarned
carpet. Sage was kneeling on the hearth
rug warming her hands, when a familiar
sound brought her quickly to her feet.
'cThe pony carriage! Now. will Cousin
Jim be with them?" she wondered. She
hurried across the little hall and out
into the porch. which in the summer was
one mass of jasmine and honeysuckle.
II was almost dark out OF doors. but
Elizabeth had lighted the lamp IN the
hall, and Sage's face and figure were
thrown into strong relief by the yellow
glow behind her.
She stood listening intentiy; barbara
had driven straight into the stable yard
and Sage commended her sisters lore
! thought.
"Tbe sound of wheels On the drive
would have reused mother she told
herself. If Cousin Jim Alb. here they
comet
A light. swift footstep came up the
shrubbery path, and an instant later
Gatty almost precipitated herself into
her sisters arms.
aOh. Sage! On, Sage" she gasPed
yes. yes. he has come, and oh-it Is toe
DREADFUL He-he-"
Hush. here he Isl" said Sage, in q
rapid undertone, and with an unmlstak'
able shudder Gatty sprang through the
porch and vanished. She TaH hallway
upstairs. and then stood peering oyel
-te baristers and listened eagerly She