Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-10-29
CHAPTER XIV


Retta looked up from her correspond
ence, brought to her by that mornings
post. She had Just opened an envelope
containing a card.
See, Philip" she exclaimed. "It's an
invitation to Lord Gartmore's wedding.
Claude will have had one too. | sup
pose? Why, Wen meet every one there!"
"Oh, no, my dear! No doubt there will
De some very, very nice people there;
but it viii be a very quiet affair.
must ask Claude if he will 60" And the
doctor went up to his brothers room.
Claude lived with him now, and Retta
made no objections.
Nine. Vassie was now living with her
two daughters. She had elected to take
home in London, and their simple lit
tie establishment was kept up handsome
~ with kathleens and Irma's allow
ances.
But it won't be for long, mother
DEAR" Kathleen said. "1ll come in for
my fortune when Pm married to Alick,
and then I'll be able to treat you as l
ought"
OF course Claude visited the house
daily. He was able to bear Irma's pres
ence now without the least thrill or
tremor, he told himself. He honestly
believed that never by word or look had
be betrayed himself, and Irma thought
that she had been equally circumspect.
And yet Nine. Vassie knew.
She thought it all out one day alone
the day before Kathleen's wedding Per-
haps these were the saddest moments
of Rose WASHES sorrowful life. Perhaps
she reached now the most sublime height
of self-saeriice. She knelt down and
prayed for a long time by the bed on
which We're spread Kathleen's simmer
ing robes; then rose up, purified from
every selfish thought.
She would make her child happy, she
would make the man she loved happy.
But to do so she must appear to be
colder, shallower than he had thought
her-than she was. For Claude and
Irma to be truly happy they must never
know that it was at the cost of her
happiness.
Kathleen's wedding was over, and all
the guests were gone. Irma, who was
very proud to cry in public, had gone
to her bedroom to shed few happy
enough tears for little Kathleen, who
had been taken away from her.
Nine. Vassie and Claude Surtees were
alone in the drawing room
LET us sit down for a few minutes,
Claude" Nine. Vassie said. 81 want to
talk to you"
They sat down on couch, Nine. Vas
sic with her back to the light.
Claude" she said, 81 don't think you'll
like what Pm going to say to you. It
may give you pain; it may make you
angry, and injure me in your estimation.
Pm afraid / have made mistake in con-
senting TOTO marry you"
She was watching his face-how
eagerly for any sign of emotion; and
she could not help feeling glad when
she saw his face become pale.
81 made a mistake" she went on
steadily. II was alone and terribly
lonely, and 1 snatched at your friend
ship as being precious thing. And
then-then-whe you offered me your
love l was afraid to let it go, lest your
friendship should 60 with it. You un-
derstand me? II is different now. / |
have my children. My life is very full
very happy I should like you to be a
friend-a kind of son to me-"
There was silence. Claude was still |
very pale; and she could not quite faith |
ON the look in his eyes,
do you mean that you have no love |
for met" he asked.
"No, dear-not that l shall always !
love you'll shall love you more every |
day-but as a friend"
6You are sure he said. chat no one |
has suggested this to you-no one has |
said to you that you were wronging |
me-"
NO one has said word to me. I have |
thought it all out. 1t has been in my I
mind for a long time-ever since / found |
my girls again.
await a minute!" Claude exclaimed. |
you're sure-sure, dearest. that that's |
allH l haven't done or said anything to
make you changer"
my dear, dear boy! l haven't /
changed morsel, except TO love you
better than ever; but you can't think
how completely motherly l feel to you"
Afterwards it seemed to Rose Vassie
that those minutes, which she had
thought the bitterest in her life, were as
nothing compared with the months that
followed. She sat and looked on--a
spectator, an old woman whose romance
was supposed to be over; beautiful
woman who was made to be loved and
who had never come into her kingdom.
She watched the drama unfolding day
by day-the gradually growing freedom
and intimacy of the two young people.
She was well aware that every one
thought she had behaved "sensibly'' in
breaking her engagement to Claude.
Even Irma had thought so after her first
surprise and protests.
At last there came a day when Irma
sought out her mother and murmured
confession in her ear; and Claude came
later in the day, proud and happy, quite
ignorant that there was for her any
pain in the news. II