Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-05-22
A BRIDEGROOM FROM THE EAST.

Well" he said, q suppose I must
wait, but men of my mothers race do
not like being kept waiting"
1t was the first time he had referred to
ms mixed race, so Peg only smiled sweet
" and said good night. Then she went
back to her charge, and, sitting on the
ped IN the big bare room, the two girls
held each others hands and watched
Pegs little travelling clock as it licked
buslly on till midnight At first the
night was full of sounds, the chatter of
voices under the house, strange rustlings
In the walls, the sound of weird and bar
barrie musical instruments.
But one by one the sounds died away,
the chatter ceased, the music was ended.
Peg devoutly hoped that Mat Han had
retired to rest. Ethel was so terrified
now that she chung to Peg and dared not
speak above whisper. They had only a
little night light burning in front of the
clock, as they wanted to give the impress
sion that they had gone to bed, and when
by its light they saw it was FIVE minutes
to Peg rose to her feet.
Don't leave me!' implored Ethel.
Only for second, dear, to see if the
coast is clear" 1t was curious how both
girls, though no word had been spoken
between them, tacitly acknowledged
there was danger What danger thew
could hardly have said, but danger there
was.
Peg softly opened the door leading on
to the veranda and stepped outside. A
night-bird cried in the bushes and a
cicada was shrilling loudly, but other
sound of life there was none, save a
deep-drawn snore that came from near
the steps that led from the high veranda
to the garden. Peg went softly and
swiftly along and found Malay in
full dress lying close to the steps. She
| believed he had been put there to keep
them in, and she felt too that he had
been sure in his own mind that they
would never dream of trying to make
their escape. Dared they try to pass
him? They must-there was no other
way-and if he awakened they would
merely declare they were sleepless and
desired to walk in the garden.
| Then she went back to Ethel, who was
lying shivering with her face buried in
the pillows. Peg felt that if Mat Har
| had appeared before her with the parsor
and desired to marry them there and
1 then she would probably have shrieked
and chung to her. No, Ethel would moi
marry Mr.. Douglas Stewart, and Pes
! shuddered to think of what would have
been their fate if Christian Petrie hat
not happened to dart in at that gate
She was thinking only of Christian Pc
trie; it seemed to her weeks since sh,
had met him. She gave not one though
to the man she was engaged to whom
/ Eha had not for fhraa Low
| And Ethel thought of Lieut.. Denton
ooh, if he is not there!" she sobbet
under her breath.
| "But he will be there He promised
and Pm sure he keeps his promises" Sh,
was thinking all the while of Christian
Petrie.
Very softly they stole along the veran
da, and Ethel shuddered and shrank bacl
when they came to the sleeping Malay
His gaily striped sarong showed up il
the moonlight, and there was the hilt o
a long kris just under his right hand
Peg said nothing, but she frightened he
! grip on Ethel's arm and stepped past tn
sleeping man. Her skirts brushed hi
hands and she held her breath, but he dix
not waken, though he stirred uneasily
and the next moment they were dow
the steps in the black shadows throw
by the palms and the great clumps o
bananas. She heard a suspicious sount
/ in Ethel's throat, and it made her fee
desperate.
Ethel, if you make murmur he vii
kill you," she said in quick whisper
She did not dare walk in the moonlight
left some sharp eyes should see them
but stole along, taking advantage OF TIL
black shadows. Presently she found her
self at the gate where she had beer
earlier in the evening. For a momen
her heart sank. There was no one there
Had he forgotten, or was this man, Thu
| Christian Petrie, on whom she was build
ing her hopes, but dream? A LITTLE
anxious murmur rose to her lips, and thu
next moment a hand on her shoulder
made her start.
Thank Heaven, you have comet"