Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-09-04
A Hayward Beauty.
By the Author Of Under False Colours etc

Il
am ever to repay you for all this Grim
lhally eXtraYagant OUTLAY 81
My dear Beryl, pray be calm. There
Is really no need for all this wild ex-
etement, |, as your guardian, am
merely advancing you money while your
affairs are in an unsettled state. When
the plantations pick up a bit you shall
repay me, with compound interest. if that
will please YOU"
Can | /? Can / indeed? All. no.
You are laughing at me-eruelly laugh
ing-when you know full we'll that the
sugar plantations viii never look up, as
You call it. / shall have to languish
perhaps for years, under an aceumula-
ton OF debt that would be bitter hui
imitation If owed to a stranger while
co you it is-oh!''
And, overcome by her bitter mortifica.
ton, Beryl hid her face in her hands and
sobbed unrestrainedly.
The turn affairs had taken was a com
plete surprise to Franklin. He had in
tended that Beryl should know nothing
OF this business until the day it righted
ltselt-if indeed that day should ever
dawn. All had been going on smoothly
till this bomb had suddenly exploded
lighted Of course by a wonan's fingers.
lie gently disengaged one of Beryls
hands, and caressing 1t with the tender
ness one might use TO a frightened, I'M
reasonable child he asked
Why should you feel a slight obliga-
ton to me so peculiarly unbearable,
Beryl?"
She tore her hand away from his
grasp and replaced it over her flushed
face.
Because you-because Lob, l don't
know! What shall / do? | have no
friend to whom ! can turn for advice.
There is no possible way that can see
out of this terrible trouble"
"Beryl" There was depth of feel
ing in his voice that she had never
heard before. There is a way. A very
simple way. But, oh, so glad and bright
to me If you would but consent to take
it!'
She removed her hands from her face
and stared at him with wide open ewes
that glistened with tears.
ooh, what is it,"
She leaned forward in her eagerness,
and placed both her hands in his.
Promise that you will be my wife,
Beryl, and then there can be no question
OF obligations, of favors too heavy to be
borne, of the repayment, with accumu-
lated interest, of tiresome old debts"
The hands that lay in his neither re-
sponded to his pressure nor were with
drawn. The mouth took a dropping
curve OF unutterable seorn, and there
was a cold glitter in the blue eyes.
"Oh!" she sighed at length "What a
poor contemplate thing / must be in
your eyes that you should insult me So
cruelty"
He dropped her hands as though Their
touch burnt him
Through your fault" she went or
hurriedly, Il am in grievous trouble
burdened with an insufTerable load OF
debt, and now, for the purpose of free.
ing myself, you ask me TO marry you
| You say nothing of love on your part
| You do not. even care to know whether
have affection to offer you This con.
tract is to be simply q bargain. / am
to sell myself TO buy my freedom from
an intolerable pain. Is not this an in.
suit ?"
She rose and looked at him with
flashing eyes.
Thank you, Mr. Cover. for the homo,
you have done me in Offering me your
name and part of your fortunel am
sorry that circumstances compel me ts
decline both But you will understand
that when / marry l should prefer a
husband less-less solemn, less grave; in
fact, one who was more my equal in
in every way"
With hysterical laugh and an exag,
gerated copy of the curtsey which she
had sedulously practieed for the purpose
of salnting royalty, Beryl passed ma.
| jestically from the room
When Franklin entered the drawing
room ten minutes before the dinner hom
he found Lady Beauchamp alone. She
advanced to meet him and placed let.
ter in his hand.
| This was on my dressing table. Frank
Have You any idea what it can mean p
With sinking heart Cover glanced
at the contents which he OWNED almost
without reading, The letter was from
Beryl. She thanked Lady Beauehamr
most gratefully for all her kindness. and
went on to say that under her altered
circumstances it would be impossible to
continue her present mode of life. There.
fore she had determined TO earn her own
living by giving music lessons, and she
begged that Lady Beauchamp would
| take no further trouble about her MOI
seek to discover her whereabouts.
What does it mean, Frank :" repeated
Helen
Cover made sorry attempt to laugh
silly little girls" he exclaimed "She
| is music mad / viii 60 to town and
| fetch her back"
Il am not sure that ! viii have hen
back" returned Helen Indignantly This
is a poor return for all that we have
done for her / have given out that she
has been hastily summoned to visit a
sick relative. She viii have to sue very
humbly for my pardon before / consent
to receive her again at Damorey."
Sand yet she saved Eddie's life" said
Franklin eoldly.
Lady Beauehamps eyes filed with
| tears.
"You are right. Frank, she said "It
| is I who am ungrateful. / loved the girl
and her behavior stung me. / really
believe that We are invariably the most
severe to those we love the best"
ssIau aha any money do ynu aurxr 30