Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-01-17
ownership would be that I could share

II.
"Ah, with the mysterious damsel who
reigns in your heart, and whose name
you never will tell mel"
He nodded gravely and kept his eyes
fixed on the distant sunset, determine
ton almost stern in its strength harden.
ing his features.
The little Viscountess looked at him
and sighed.
i know if You say you won't nothing
will move you, you most obstinat. mani
But can't think why | shouldn't know
her. | might be useful to her now Pm
such a grand parsonage. suppose
should surely like herr" she added a
little wistfily.
No answer from the secretary.
"Ah, don't look so solemn!" cried the
girl, dropping TO the ground. you dis
approve of my abominable curiosity; i
am aware of that But I think have
right to be curious about your love af-
fairs. ! tell you what 1t is, John Dene,
don't believe you are in love at all.
1t is Just clever way Of protecting
yourself from my match .making propen.
stiles. You're a humbug and frauds
But he did not take up the challenge.
He smiled his grave, self-contained smile
and murmured something about its be-
ing very good of her TO show interest in
his concerns.
NO goodness at all" she retorted We
hemently, stamping her foot in an anger
that was half real SOh, you are very
maddening creaturei How I should like
to take and shake you thoroughly If I
were your mother, sir, I'd do it too. You
behave as if you were the one person in
the world not worth talking about or
considering, whereas whereas - You
aren't" she finished lamely and vague
iy. "And l don't believe it is humility
either; it is nasty stiff pride, and you
ought to be ashamed of yourself"
John Strengthened his tall figure and
squared his shoulders with the air of a
man who is suddenly called upon to face
an unexpected and vigorous attack Then
he glanced quickly at the Viscountess
and marked her wrathfu eyes, her
flushed cheeks, her heaving breast. He
hesitated She was in earnest. Her on
siaught covered some real sense of in.
jury. Should he-dared he-meet her
half way and speak out of the depths of
his heart.
The pause was very brief; but it
doubtless decided much of their future.
do you think it fair to scold man
this weather, Lady Avrill ?" he asked. in
smiling reminder of her own complaint a
few minutes ago.
She shot one glance at him from under
dark eyelashes and saw he meant to
treat the whole matter as joke.
Very WE'LL" thought she silently;
so be it." and continued aloud-"Oh, I
don't know about the man, but it is
very foolish for ones self I'd got pref
ty cool before you came, and Ive prom
ised to play tennis with your brother |
wonder he hasn't arrived"
Hes coming" replied Dene; 81 saw
him cross the meadow just now. BY
the-bye, Lady Avrill, please don't forget
he isn't my brother"
mo; you told me, / know, that your
mother-Mrs. Dene, mean-has lust
explained you were no relation of hers.
Then what is your name or what is
hers2 For it seems impossible you
shouldn't be John Dene"
He shook his head.
Il am quite in the dark. / know
nothing whatever. If ! am not her son
then Heaven only knows whose son I
am"
He spoke in a tone of bitterness rare
with him. and his listaner looked at him,
disturbed by the sound
she might have told you earlier, I
think" eomInentea the girl; "and she
must surely Know something furthaw.
She is a strange woman. l can say il
now perhaps don't trust her. Don't
you either"
"She has been good to me in her way, y
was his answer as he gathered ND his
papers and turned away, remarking. 81
shall lose the post if / don't take care"
His grave composure vanished as soon
as he was out of Lady Avrill's sight, and
his face worked with scarcely restrained
emotion.
"She tries me almost beyond nv
strength" he muttered, with her sweet
ness and eager sympathy. If / dared
take it-but / daren't. / should never
keep myself in hand if l responded to
her delightful overtures. As for telling
her the name of the girl love, why. /
should have to leave here at once and
lose my chance Of serving her. No, the
thing was hopeless from the first, as l
knew, and as the old lord took care to
tell me in his cynical, kindly way. Now
tkat it appears l am a nameless found
ling it becomes an insult to her to even
contemplate it. No, I'll keep my secret
and work for her. While I can do that
/ count myself fortunate"
ITO Be Continued