Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-09-07
CHAPTER TX.

CHAPTER TX.
Cousin Sage-I beg your pardon. Miss
Havant, but | didn't expect to find you
here"
Il don's suppose you did Sage re-
sponded dismally. II have been spend
ing the day at COverham, and | missed
my train at the junction, so that made
me late"
'Ill see you home" he remarked, I'M
furling- his umbrella. ooh, yes, you can't
deny me that small privilege, Cousin
| Sage! l ran up to town yesterday
there didn't seem to be much doing here
but I've come back now to stay, for
the present at any rate Did you Won
der what had become of me-"
Sage murmured some evasive reply,
and they began to plod through the twi-
light, along the muddy lanes, and then
he proceeded to make himself so agree
able that Sage grew interested in spite
of herself and almost forgot her ia
tigue. He told her about his father and
their business" in Chicago, giving her
side ghmpses into his own life, until it
became impossible to look upon him as a
stranger any longer.
The old man has made his pile, you
see," he said. But that doesn't mean
that l am to walk through life as
gentleman at large. Pll tell you the
real reason for my visit to Europe Our
| firm is anxious to extend its branches
more freely in the English manufactur
| ing districts, and it is more than posi-
| BILE that / may conclude to make my
headquarters here in the end. | always
had an odd sort of hankering after Eng
| land-my mothers blood, suppose. The
| dad knew that, and he is quite willing to
humor me- All he asks is that should
marry and make a home for myself. l
shall see a good deal of my own people
if l settle down in England, Cousin
Sage"
"Y-yes?" Sage faltered tentatively.
She was tired and cold, and the easy as
surance of her companions tone seemed
to complete her discomfort. He was
suggesting unforeseen complications, and
Sage's courage began to give way COM
pletely. She had almost forgotten to
take him into consideration during the
stress and excitement of the last few
hours, but Cousin Jim had evidently no
| intention of being ignored. Sage felt
/
task that she had undertaken; failure
and discovery doomed large before her
imagination, and a lump rose in her
throat. She stumbled over a rut, and
would have fallen had not her companion
caught her hand and drawn il through
his arm.
"Steadyi Don't be in such a hurry!"
he advised cheerily. Remember, / don't
seem likely to have the pleasure of a
walk with you as often as one might
naturally expect. It's a bit of good luck
my meeting you like this. have heaps
to say to you, Cousin Sage. l want to
know how long this sort of thing is to
continuef"
ooh, 1 don't knowl" she responded,
with an irrepressible sob. II can't
tell you! l wish I could Oh, jim, ev-
erything is $3.50 difficult You are not
going to make it worse"
mo, no; don't worry. l shall keep
my share of the bargain we made the
other night. A rather one-sided bar
gain, by the way, for you left me prac-
tically no choice. But the more I think
it over the less like it. IL wish you
would take me into your confidence,
Sage &c , ,, :, -, .,., .
al wish | could" she said, with a
sigh. 'But it is impossible, and-it
would not be fair to you"
"Why notf"
81 can't tell you"
"You English girls are cool customers"
he remarked. eve Americans allow our
girls a pretty free hand, but Great
Scot, Sage, didn't mean to make you
cry! What q brute / ami"
ut isn't you-Im only tired, and
and 1 don't care if you do despise me-"
Sage said through her tears.
Il despise your My dear girl"
please don'ti You win only make
it worse IL quite understand" she
interrupted vehemently.
Jim was silent for moment, and when
he spoke again his voice sounded unwon-
tedly grave and gentle.
Look here, Sage" he said Il can't pre-
tend l like all this mystery and--and
deception. I have taken your word for
it. as far as is possible, that there Is
nothing-nothing- He floundered help
lessly, and began on a fresh tack 1t
has been rather knock out for me, you
know. I have been looking forward 70
making the acquaintance Of Aunt Jessica
and my cousins, and ! intend to do SO,
sooner or later: butt won't be the
same thing now"
Mother viii never forgive ne" sighed
Sage. "Oh. jim, how / wish I could eX-
ulain But I can't. You-you are very
kind and considerate. you mustn't think