Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1908-05-08

nature of her proposal But she per-
sisted in it to such good purpose that
IN the end she almost convinced him
that it was the only fair thing to do.
And what her words left unargued his
love completed for her. and laid him at
her mercy. In the end, not only did he
consent, but, having consented. he was
eager for the trial-his pulses throbbed,
and the old gambling fever that had once
been his undoing was firing him again.
BY an odd twist in his nature it seemed
to him that, did he win her in the man.
ner she proposed, his self respect would
be safe. He looked at the beautiful face
before him, and as his mind dwelt upon
the charm OF her personality, he was
smitten by the chilling fear that he
might lose her. He put out his hand.
accept, Evelyn" he said in tense
voice. But your conditions must be re-
yersed. If ] win, | win you; if | lose,
lose you. 1t is more-more gallant So"
She looked at him searchingly. Then,
III a low voice. she consented to the al
tered conditions, and gave him the as
surance, on her word of honor, that she
would abide by the issue, exacting the
like promise from him in return. He
was eager now to have the matter settled
without delay-that very night, in fact
He swore that he could not sleep or eat
while his suspense endured. She hui
mored him in this, and upon reflection
she mentioned the names of her brother
and her sister-in-law.
Il am sure that Jim and Freda would
oblige us-for / suppose that you would
prefer bridge. | know that they are at
home tonight
Then, for heavens sake, let us go at
once" he implored her: and she con
sented, impelled as much by his eager
ness as by her own anxiety.
They rose Immediately, and i1n min
utes later they were speeding back to
town in Evelyn's motor
They found the Batesbys at home, as
she had promised him, Jim and Freda
waxing torpid in post-prandial, domes-
tic sluggishness, and only too willing to
adopt the suggestion of bridge, which
Evelyn was not very long in making.
True, Freda-a little fair woman who
by the time that she was 40 would most
certainly be fat--feigned reluctance,
pleading her husbands usual crossness
as her reason; but she was given Harvey
Stone for partner-a matter on which
Harvey might congratulate himself, for
she played a game of remarkable sound
ness.
The game began, and at first it ran in
favor of Harvey and Freda; they piled
up five tricks then the opponents won
the next three; the ninth trick fell to
Freda But now it seemed to Harvey
that he and his partner had done all
that was possible. He had located the
cards. and, lying as they did, the odd
trick must belong to the opponents. and
the odd trick meant the rubber Freda
led a spade and Evelyn covered it with
the master. For just a second Harvey
hesitated in the throes of an overwhelm-
ing temptation. Then he succumbed.
Holding spade, and Knowing it, he de-
lihelately trumped the trick.
jim erumbled that the rubber was lost.
They've simply fluked out, partner"
he complained And Harvey, in mortal
dread that the revoke should be discov-
cred, finished the game like a man in
dream
Rubber to you" Jim announced in a
ehagrined voice, and he began to add up
the score Harvey breathed more freely.
the revoke went undeteeted
The score was added, and the trivial
prearranged stakes were settled Then
Jim proposed another rubber, but Eve
lyn objected She pleaded that she felt
a headache coming on, and that Jim
played rather too seriously for her, and
she wondered whether they would mind
much if she went home.
at does seem shabby to run away like
this after disturbing your evening"" she
confessed, "but l am such bore when
| have a headache"
The Batesbys were all solieitude. But
Evelyn quietly treasured and pacifed
them and having gained their rather sur
prised consent that she should 90, she
turned to Harvey and begged him to
drive her home They went in silence,
silence Evelyn could no longer under
stand, which endured until their hanson
was approaching the Marble Arch. Then
she turned to him.
Harvey, DEAR" she said at last, "don't
tell me that you regret what we have
done. Say that you are glad to have
won me. Don't leave everything to be
said by me. Are you glad, Harvey?"
''Glad?" he echoed gloomily, for re-
morse had him and was ravaging his
soul by now. Il am wretched." Then.
WIN a OlSAhaf ~ was W save III
self respect that / consented to that
camel" he exclaimed. Il had better be
honest, Evelyn, and tell you that | have
not won you And, unable to contain
himself. he bluntly told the ugly truth.
II cheated that time when ! trumped
your spade in the last hand. | revoked
consciously and purposely. suppose we
all have our price," he added cynically.
In the old days / lost fortune with
out having my honesty shaken. But, to.
night, was playing for more than l
could afford to lose. You had better say
good might, and let me get out here,' he
suggested, his face rigid 81 am afraid
YOU won't find it in your heart to for
give me- That | should marry you is
out of the question. | am a cheat--that's
what | am"
But she didn't say good might. She
nestled up to him.
Harvey, dear" she whispered, with