Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-04-24
vERA's NOTE.

the man to whom the note was adj
dressed, laughing grimly, read, re-read
and pondered it as though its writing
covered pages, and the small sheet with
those few words on it was state doeu-
nent on which depended the fate of
empires.
IN this progressive era OF searchlieht
and nnwholesome curiosity, when every.
ones comings and goings, doings and IN
tcntions, are chronicled, it stood to rea-
son that NO mystery could surround the
whereabouts of that charming society
luminary; that conspicuous figure in the
| pageantry OF certain exclusive circles,
Vera.
So Pendleton had arogaptly believed
six months ago
But time had disabused him of his
error, for the date at the foot of the
| lines he held and ruminated upon this
| soft, bright afternoon had been written
six months before. This was early in
June
A very pleasant evening, with a light
breeze sweeping over the city from the
river and light clouds drifting across the
setting sun, produced the effect of a fit
| full smile on Natures unsympathetic
face, while the air was saturated with
the perfume of flowers and the bloom of
early summer
And yet Pendleton considered it dull,
gloomy day.
THAT must be deuced unpleasant
hill. Chuck it in the FIRE, old man No
use running over the items. Never does
any good. Life is short, and all is van
less sympathy, IRON a comfortable arm
chair where he was reading the after
noon paper.
They were alone in the reading room
Of the clul.
Dick Pendleton laughed grimly while
slowly folding and putting away in his
inner pocket the note containing five
words words conned and dreamed over
(which meaut-well, pretty much cy-
Ierything to bin, he mad come to realize.
How bitterly he regretted having let
slip the golden-hued opportunities when
they lay at hand
Did you ever know of anybody dis
lappearing vanishing utterly ?" he asked.
Perry Folsom looked at him reflective
| ~. IF | were a good docking million
aire-'
oh, shut upl" interjected Pendlesen.
I'D be hanged il any woman could
lose me, or throw me off the scent until
agreed to let her go" continued Fol
som calmly.
NO doubt you'd do wonders, Perry
NO. not wonders. Only I'd have
little common sense, and | would marry
her if careo for her"
Pendleton olew a ring of smoke into
the pleasant June air, and remarked aft
er pause: Scotch Irish. which ac-
counts for your overweening assurance
arc impudenee"
shall tell you something you ought
TO known" resumed Perry placidly.
"You never would be in your present
Ipredicament if you had little of that
same blood in your veins. And what's
more, you ought - 20 out and find her"
BY the time they sauutered to the
front door of the club Pehdleton had
made up his mind to 90 for a months
wandering in the Blue Ridge ranges.
1t was an intense relief tC get away
from the city and to speed away toward
the mountains. and to find himself final
csts of the vast rolling ranges, where the
majestic mountains smile at the fret and
heart break of humanity.
The days slipped by for Pendleton in
hic rural retreat. where life was un-
eventful But It is a mistake to suppose
that the specter of recollection and the
torment of unfulfled desires can be as
suaged by alootnesa from Others.
Pendleon found that Vera, with her
changing moods, mellow laughter and in .
fiAite destinations, was much more his
companion when he sauntered through
the forests, sat on the porch of the pref
~ cottage he had rented. at dusk, or
when he vent at dawn t. fish in some
dark lake in the heart of the mountains
than when they wen together in gay
gatherings and IL crowded drawing
rooms.
Pendeton saw Vera always and every
where, at dawn and at nightfall.
That explained why he watched with
startled pleasure and strange thrill a
tall, graceful young woman who occu-
pied with an elderly relative cottage
a short distance away as she passed
lcisurely down her little garden path
and out in the winding public road, 90.
ing evidently for u tramp, a book in one
hand her face completely hidden by a
sunshade
who rents the cottage over the way,
Sam?@ Pendleton asked at breakfast
/ viz AtAN wy
"A Miss Cullom, / hear. sir. Very
wealthy people, Pm told, sir. No, sir;
| can't find out where they are from. Big
establishment, but they live very re-
tired, sir" Sam supplemented. Just
been here ten days"
Cullom? Pendleton knew no one of
that name. Since he had taken posses
sion of the pleasant bungalow ON the
side of the cliff he had seen no one in
the gray stone cottage but the graceful
girl so wonderfully like Vera in her
supple movements. The elderly lady
must be a recluse.
The days slid one into the other. and
Pendleton grew to watch for the girl
who so reminded him cf beautiful alb
sent woman. She and her companion
had handsome traps and horses. and
they often went out driving, but PEN
Gleton could never catch sight of the