Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-01-05

from the ball, and explained how dull and
lonely she had felt when left alone in the
house after Mrs. Fenwick and her daugh-
tiers had driven away.
Of course, / would not have gone out
at that time with any one but Jim,
Godfrey" she pleaded; "but he has al.
ways been like q brother to me, and l
did not think there was any harm in it.
| And it was such lovely night"
Harm" Godfrey gave a hard laugh
and his fingers relaxed their hold of the
little hand he held "Go on! How did
it happen that Mr.. Westcot was SO dis
courteous as to allow you to return home
alone at midnight" he asked sarcastic
ally.
ut was not midnight, Geoff-it was
only IL when we left the pond. We did
not know it was so late; and as his train
went at half past II he was obliged to
leave me. He was very unwilling to 90.
but made him"
And it was after this, suppose, that
you met Sir Felix?"
Yes, near the gates. I slipped and
iell and cut my wrist" She pushed back
her sleeve and pointed to the scar on her
arm. 1T was bleeding, and 1 was fold
ing my handkerchief round it when he
came up and offered to help me-"
How very romantic! Then, I suppose.
he escorted you home ?" Cheviot asked. in
dangerously quiet tone, which sent a
shiver through Sadie. She had never
heard it from him before, but instinct.
lively she felt that it BODIED no good to
her cause. She was indignant also at the
suggestion that she would allow a total
stranger to be her escort, especially at
so late an hour, and she flushed hotiy as
! she answered
He did nothing of the kind, and Won
know that very WELL Godfrey! He did
walk behind me part of the way, but he
did not join me, or, indeed, address me
again. As if l should have allowed it!
You ought to know me better than that,
Godfrey"
He smiled sarcastically. ooh, it takee
a wiser man than l to fathom the mys-
ferrous ways of womanl" he said. 81
can believe anything possible to a girl
who first promises her lover-her legiti-
mate lover"-he laid a cruel emphasis on
the adjective-"the man who is her future
husband, to remain away from a ball to
which he is unable to take her, and then,
when he is safely out of the way, spends
the evening skating on public pond till
nearly midnight, along with all the rag,
tag and bobtail of the town with a man
who is secret lover"
HE is not Oh, you know that Jim
and have always been like brother and
sister," Sadie cried, with flaming cheeks.
He laughed again.
I'm not a fool, my dear Sadie" he
said significantly, "and have sisters of
my own. Fraternal affection is all very
well, but | never knew brother who
would travel over 200 miles on cold
winters night and run the risk of losing
his boat into the bargain, merely to pre-
vent his sister from spending a dull hour
or two. OF course, every one in Sunniford
knows that Jim Westcot is madly in
love with you, and that that is the rea-
son he dislikes me so much. They know
too"-here he gave complacent glance
at himself in the mirror-"that you
threy him over for me-"
''But never did anything of the kind I"
Sadie cried. 81 never thought of Jim in
that way, nor he of me. If we had-if
there ever had been anything of that sort
between us, wouldn't have thrown him
over, either for you or anybody else
That is not my way" Sadie added proud
| ly. Then her pride melted, and she laid
timid hand on Geoffrey's arm and
looked up at him with sweet, anxious
eyes. But you will forgive me, won't
you, dear? You won't mind very much
if people talk and say horrid things about
me2"
| 'Why should they talk about your"
Geoffrey's blue eyes grew very hard as
he looked down at the pleading face. 81
see no reason for it."
"They are sure to say something dis
agreeable when they know" Sadie fall
! tered. "The Wilson's will, I know. and
Martha Thorp, too; but won't mind a
bit-not little wee bit, dear, if only you
will forgive. me and say you know l did
not mean any harm. And you will, won't
you, Geofff" Sadie drew nearer to him,
and with sudden impulse flung herself
on his breast and clasped her hands round
his neck.
Few other men could have resisted the
| lovely face which was so near his own,
or the touch of the caressing white fin
gers; but Godfrey was as adamant, as
| Indifferent to her Establishments as if he
had been a statue instead of living man.
He did not exactly repulse or thrust her
| from him, but ne took hold OF her hands,
drew them down from his neck, and then,
still holding them in his own and looking
at her sternly, he said in a cold, severe
voice
81 viii forgive you on one condition.
Sadie, and that is that this shameful
confession which you have made to me
goes no further, but remains secret be-
tween u.s."
''Do you mean that have to be silent
that / must not tell what l know %
Sadie faltered, her eyes growing dark and
wide with surprise and alarm.
Exactly. No one will suspect or give
a thought to you. Even if you were rec
ognized on the pond, no one would ever
dream that you would return home alone
at that hour, or that the girl whom Sir
Felix met at midnight on the riverside
walk was DR.. Fenwick's daughter and
my future wife. They viii conclude that