Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-12-25

instead OF shortening. 1t was WIN
heartfelt relief that Molly entered the
wide gates leading to her home, too tired
TO notice the beautiful scene before her.
The half-ruined lodge, transformed in
the moonlight, was not vouchsafed
single glance. Her only wish was to
enter the privacy of her room, there to
be alone with her WEAKNESS
The broad stone steps, fanked on
either side by the scowling Darce lions,
which had been sadly broken in the
troublous times of Cromwell, were slow
" climbed, and, after receiving a grumpy
"Good night" from Betty, she made her
way to her bedroom
Never had it looked so inviting before.
The old cat, purring in its accustomed
place at the foot of her pretty white
bed, seemed to send a ray of comfort
to Lady Molly She soon retired and
cried herself to sleep with her arms
around old Tabby, who gave a sympa-
thizng purr to each fresh sob. As she
dropped into restless sleep the faint
odor of cigar was borne in on the even.
ing breeze through the open windows,
and she sleepily wondered who could be
smoking OlduQO IaNOTICe
She little thought that Claude himself
was seated on the moss grown sundial in
the garden below, the glowing end of his
cigar making a bright spot in the dark
ness 1t was not in Stanton's style to
serenade his lady love, but he had wished
to watch her to the moment she entered
the door to assure himself of her safety.
"Poor Molly" quoth he-'T suppose
this is to be our first real QUARREL
wonder if her father will take any notice
of this if Betty tells him9 She is sure
Ito let the secret outl" And then the
thought of Molly sobbing herself to
sleep, as he knew she would, drove all
Others out of his head. As he strobe
home he quietly hummed a verse of the
song Molly had sung to him the day be.
fore
'Her cheeks were red, her eyes were blue
Her hair was brown, Of deepest hue,
Her foot was small and neat to view,
Her waist was slight and taper;
Her voice was music to your ear,
"A lovely brogue so rich and clear.
Oh the like Ike l ne'er again shall hear.
Next morning Molly arose early to
take a walk in the garden before break
fast.
i WOuuGI IL IdtUeT Will De angry, IOT
i suppose Betty has told him already 2"
she thought, as she descended the stairs
Anyway, it is most likely he will not
say word-only give a 'Humph!' as he
always does when he hears of any new
scrape"
In this, however, she was mistaken
AS she reached the foot of the staircase
the breakfast room door was opened and
her father called "Mary .Evelyna!" in a
tone she had never heard from him be-
fore. She entered the room, and her
father closed the door behind her
Then ensued the stormiest half hour
it was ever Lady Molly's lot to pass.
The earl had never been so reused before,
and he delivered his sentence upon Mol
ly's advnture with force quite appall-
ing The unfortunate girl was to be
sent off to the keeping of a sedate aunt
i'm the north of England In the one
week preceding her departure she was
Ito be considered in disgrace, although
allowed her liberty.
Molly left the room choking with sobs.
She had once paid visit of a week to
her aunt, and she remembered it as the
gloomiest and most miserable time in
all her life. And now she was to spend
two years
After a perfect tempest of sobs she
became sufficiently Gained to array her
self in her riding habit and saddle Ma
vourneen. She felt that only long
ride could quell the rebellous thoughts
that kept surging through her mind. A
low leaden sky threatened rain-indeed
a few drops were falling even now; but
Molly set out undaunted The rhyth-
Imical stride of the galloping horse
seemed to soothe her ruff1ed temper as
nothing else could, and the cool rush of
the air into her face cheered and re-
Ifreshed her
Molly's patriotic spirit suffered to
think that she was going to leave her
own familiar Ireland for strange, dismal
England. And then-Claude! She won
Idered if he were angry, if he had for
given her; and, filed with such thoughts
as these, she rode farther than she had
at first intended. 1t was growing dark,
and she decided she had better return.
I'll take the short cut home," thought
Molly; and she rode off by little track,
once well worn, but now partially over
grown by the grass At length, reach
ing the ill-omened Fence, she paused and
thought moment. Should she jump
it2
LING HeE HUIHeT, Molly was IOIDIuueH
to take the dangerous leap. The mother
had disobeyed and had been killed for
her temerity; would the daughter follow
suit and meet with like punishment
Molly remembered how the subject of
the Fence was very rarely preached in
the presence of her fathr, and then only
IN hushed tones. She knew how the old
earl had, in giving her Mavourneen, i'm
pressed upon her this fact, that if she
ever jumped the Fence he would never
forgive her
Lady Molly was in somewhat de-
tant mood, and, with a muttered Il
don't eare!" and lash of the whip, she
rushed Mavourneen to the leap.
Perhaps Molly had not judged the dis
lance well in the dreary drizzle that had
commenced to fall or perhaps the mare
was tired, but, whatever the cause, Ma
'Tourneen fell
As Lady Molly rolled to the ground