Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-12-11

Grape. The clock had only struck
| few moments when she shut the front
door silently, and walked along the ave-
nue. to the gates.
Her way was thickly strewn with
withered leaves, and already the flower
beds and grassy meads of the low-lying
park smelt dank with the mists of
autumn.
Robins trilled sharply in the REDEEM
ing thorns, and now and again the brisk
sound of sportsman's gun, or the re-
sounding bark of dog, rang down from
the moat coyerts, where the Testers were
entertaining a houseful.
Diana sighed. There was a mild de-
preston in the air. Summer seemed in
deed gone. But on the hilltop she put
sad thoughts from her resolutely. Her
heart told her that it was her lovers
due to find her cheerful.
So in lighter spirits she followed the
zig Gags of. the road till the lodge of the
manor came in sight.
Her heart beat little as she neared
the place that would one day be her
home; and still more did her pulses
quicken as she saw Mcclure advancing
to meet her.
He held out his hind in a quiet greet
ing, and they passed into the fine old
grounds together.
Diana looked at him under her lashes
as they went, and her spirits sank sud
denly as she sorrowfully noted how thin
and worn he appeared.
you have not been taking care of
yourself" she said. you ought not to
have moved when you did"
Gone can't stay in Paradise for ever"
he answered lightly, with an assumption
of his old gaiety. Come, and let us sit,
down where we can obtain peep of my
ancestral mansion"
Unhappy, and perplexed by his changed
manner, she followed him quietly, her
carriage proud, her eyes Swallowed; and
together they reached a sheltered cor
ner of the garden where a narrow leap
ing stream made bright music as it
rushed along in noisy Joy to join the
lake at their feet.
Roses in luxuriant grace and wildness
struggled everywhere; the seat they sat
down upon was ancient and time worn;
even the path borders were INTENDED
"Odd you should light upon two de-
erepit estates" he said gaily This is
wilderness, isn't it? Yet red brick,
its old age that gray stone never
achieves. Turn your head yonder be-
tween the clipped box hedge and see the
Datchett demesne in all its glory and
faded pomp. Distance lends enchant-
ment to the view. At close quarters
those ruddy Elizabethan walls are in sad
disrepair, the very gargoyles leak dreari.
ly over the drawing room windows, and
bats congregate in the venerable porch.
What think you of such visible decrepi-
| tude2"
"Claud," she said, turning and laying
her hand on his arm, what is the mat
ter with you"
my dear lady, am gaining strength
hourly"
strength" she said; and she gazed
fixedly at him, while her proud lips
| trembled.
"Sit down, Miss Fayrer," he said in
light and pleasant tones. 81 have some
what to say unto you'
'Is this how lovers talk who have ex-
changed earnest vows?" she asked flush
ing.
Now you come to The point" he said,
hiding a swift contraction of his brows
by bending to brush an insect from his
sleeve. "Are we lovers2 Were not your
promises extorted from you in a moment
of maidenly compassion and surprise
merely the outcome of passing pity?
Was not our hurried love making beau
tiful and brief dream? Listen Diana ="
He came nearer to her; there was a
peculiar CLEAN in his eyes, and his white
face drawn and eager.
You are young and very rich. / am
burdened and very poor. This old and
i'll kept house. these neglected grounds,
this mortgaged estate-do they not all
strike you as a miserable equivalent for
wealth and youth and charm? brought
you here" he hurried on, chat you might
have a peep of this delapidated place to
which so disinterestedly | have hidden
you. Poverty and debt is serawled across
its every stone. And, hampered as am,
| haven't even free hand wherewithal
TO retrench or to economic. Richard is
still squire And while the gardens
languish and the timber rots, it is his
pleasure that the stables should be full.
Diana, want you to forget that Tues
day Henceforth it must be mine to en-
durc alone. l crave your pardon for a
horrible mistake"
For while, with hammering pulses
and with a storm of emotions in her
heart, Diana sat gazing ahead of her
upon the beautiful walls of an unhappy
| home.
! Then she rose trembling to her feet.
"A mistaken" she echoed with her head
| thrown up. "a mistake! Are vnu any
poorer today than when you told me that
you loved me? Is the manor more in
volved7 The timber more rotten? Are
men such weathercocks that the vow of
last week is the mistake of this? You
imply that l am marrying you for your
estate, your property, for well kept
| grounds, a mere establishment. Don't
you understand that woman's love is
more-more than this 2"
Il seem to understand better" he said
in a curiously restrained voice, chat
heiresses can secure more advantageous
parts than an embittered hermit and an
impoverished Inheritance Look you
Diana--for l want you to be reasonable
on the subject-there is Sir Gyles Lang.
ton of Bottiscombe on the lookout for a