Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-03-26

secure.
She went to the window to watch the
trim little figure in heather tweed and
scarlet tam % -shanter run down to the
gate and climb into the pony trap, turn
ing TO blow her a kiss Afterwards she
sat crouched over the bog wood blaze
till the dusk fell every nerve tense, every
sense on the alert for the click of the
gate, for the step on the gravel that did
not come.
Lady Bannatyne was mistaken she
said, as the freight began to shine in
the little room. The man has no idea
of Mona, beyond admiring her as pretty
little girl"
But even as she spoke Mamie opened
the drawing room door and announced
Lord Trefoil.
As he came forward, blinking in the
dusk, Mrs. Gerard rose and faced him.
Then she gave a little cry.
"Acheson Eyrei"
You didn't know?' he said, Laughing.
Il thought you didn't; and / didn't tell =
Il never kle,' you by that title
Il haven't owned it very long" He
had her hand in his and was peering at
her, closely and kindly, in the uncertain
freight. 1T was an old grand uncle
his son and grandson killed in South
Africa on the same battlefield-only died
himself last year. IL don't think
should have known you"
Hardy" she said. 1T is great
many years-and years in Madras! But
l should have known you"
wait till you see me in broad day
light" he said, taking the chair she in
Dictated on the opposite side of the hearth.
then the lines will show-and the gray
hairs. And, alas, would so gladly hide
them-at least for this occasion!"
And why for this occasion?" she
asked, but her heart sank.
"Ah, well" he said, Il don't know that
| should care to sail under false colors,
even for that | am no good at beating
about the bush. viii you, for the sake
of old times, promise me your good will
if-if-n
"WellT" she suggested coldly, when he
began to stammer like schoolboy.
''Will you give me your little girl, Mrs.
Gerard, if she will have me?"
The formal name. which she had never
heard before from his lips, gave her
courage.
Il can promise you nothing, Lord IRE
foil.'
But you will wish me luck. at least p
There was ring of disappointment in
his voice.
Mona Is very young. l could not
countenance any engagement for years,
even supposing that she cared for you. "
For years." he said you must re-
member | am not a young man; have
no unlimited period of time to which to
look forward"
yet you want to marry Mona! !" There
was scorn in her tone-scorn in the look
she cast at him across the hearth.
81 do want to marry Mona" he said
"She does not care for you"
Il would try to make her care" he
said.
Gould you make her happy?" asked
Mona's mother, with a steady gaze
Il could" he said boldly, with lift OF
his head that she remembered, III she
loved me-
"Ah, if! But do you think girl OF
her age ever could?"
She did not spare him; but she could
not lay the fattering JUNCTION to her soul
so dim was the light of the fire, that she
Jldu even IldQG liilA htlitt- I1du LllGlt OlU
regard for each other changed to ami.
mostly, she wondered that she was SC
keen to hurt him?
Il know | am too old" he said, with
sigh that might have been for his lost
youth. "One can't have ones cake and
eat it. I've lived long time-enioyed
existence for MANY years before Mona
was born. That | would give the past
up gladly to be a young man now for her
sake is not, after all, saying much
But you woud?" she said, oddly con
sidering him.
The world was made for the young
he answered, smiling little; and yet
don't know-a boy is fool" He looked
at her now as she sat opposite to him
A log bIazed up and filed the room with
| light. dancing on her black gown, on the
shawl about her shoulders. throwing a
strong upward CLEAN on her face that
seemed to accentuate the shadows. He
thought she looked worn, sorrowful, even
old And Mona had said to him only
| yesterday-"My mother is quite young
| II suppose you've forgotten all the old
/ days on board the Peggy" he said, lean
ing forward with hand on either arm
of the chair; "and yet l thought
! hoped-some regard for your former
playmate. for Ned's old chum, might
/ plead for me now. You will hardly be
! lieve me, but it was some faint resem.
I blance to you. though she is not like you
| that made me love Mona first
THAT was strangel" Mrs. Gerard said
( She did not add, for you never loved
me-" but the idea came into her mind
The grasp of his hands relaxed, he
leant his head back, his eyes travelling
over her face.
Il remember our last sail together or
/ board the little cutter he said. Il can
picture it all as if it happened yesterday
/ we had been becalmed all day ON tbs
/ lake. but as the evening breeze began u
ruffle the water we tackled in, YOU steer
I ing, Ned holding the main sheet,
stretched out over the gunwale 10 pick
up the moorings. The sky was all red
4 a deep orange red-the Galway hills
stood out against it as though cut ir
purple velvet. sharp and clean. You wor,
a sailor hat and serge Jacket, and you
I watched the sails and quoted the Ancient
Mariner ana sang Nancy Lee and Nec
Z II