Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-05-01
CHAPTER II.

1t was hardly break in the monotony
OF things to go and stay with the Os-
bornes at Hanson Hall, Erridge Green
She did not look forward to it much
She would play tennis with the Osborne
girls, who were most content with their
| aimless lives, and they would have the
carriage out every afternoon and call on
people who were never in, and perhaps
the curate might visit them in the even
ing. No, there was nothing to be hoped
for from that visit, and when she found
herself in the train speeding along to-
ward London, after bidding a calm fare
well to the Ladies Morland, she felt more
depressed than ever.
But how she would have enjoyed her
self if there had only been anything in
teresting to look forward to at the end of
the Journeys As it was, it made her
weary to think of sitting over the fire at
the Osbornes', answering all the polite
questions about her stepmother and her
grandmother and her lover.
She had the carriage to herself till she
reached Basingstoke; then the door
opened and the porter ushered in a lady
and gentleman and great array of
cushions, rugs, and bags of all descrip-
tions. They filled up every available
space, and Peggy thought they really
ought to have engaged carriage TO
themselves. She was glad though that
they had not 1t gave her something to
do to watch them
The woman was young, quite a girl.
with pretty round baby face, big blue
eyes, and peach blossom complexion.
There was something wonderfully win
ming in the girlish face, though the ex-
preston was petulant and the blue ewes
looked as though they were ready to fill
with tears. The rich cloak of sealskin
made her look younger by contrast. The
man was at least ten years older-a dark
man, with somewhat troubled express
sion and very commonplace face indeed.
Nature turned men like him out bv the
hundred, thought Peggy, when she had
nothing else to do.
The girl settled a cushion behind her
head, drew up rug over her knees, took
off her glove, so displaying some flashing
| diamond rings, and tapped impatiently
on the window. As for the man, he
opened a newspaper and appeared to be
absorbed in it.
Ted" said the girl at last, but the
man took no notice Ted" she said
again, little louder and with more
peremptory tone in her voice.
He laid down his paper
well Ethel, what is itY"
"Do you think she'll catch us up at
Reading?"
"As this train is going for Waterloo as
hard as it can. and Miss Baines distinct
! ~ said she was lourneying to Exeter to
see her ailing mother ! opine she will
not. Pm open to conviction, but
Now you are horrid!' The blue eyes
| filled with tears. But she can reach us
before the steamer starts tomorrow"
Il am open to conviction, Ethel, as /
said before"
The tears welled over on the pink
cheeks now, and Peggy thought that she
had at last found woman who looked
pretty when she was crying.
"But 1 can't go by myself"
"That is exactly what / have been say
ing" said the man, with slight note of
relief in his voice "If you are a wise
girl you will let us get out at the next
stop, go straight back home, and wait
till Miss Baines comes back"
Her mother may be III weeks"
an that case you can get somebody
else"
"But / must 90 by the Glaucus 1
must-I must He expects me, and
wouldn't disappoint him for worlds"
In that CASE" And the man re-
sumed his newspaper and the woman put
her handkerchief to ner eyes and sobbed
aloud.
There is really quite long stretch Of
country between Basingstroke and the
next stop when you travel by the quick
trains, and as the woman went on sob
bling and the man as calmly read his pa
per. Peggy, after it had gone on for
about five minutes began to feel uncom-
Portable. She fdgeted a little, walked
10 the window and looked out, made an