Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-02-26
HIS TEST.

what he nau called fHHlselI llll ne DC
came engaged. Then, one day he saw in
Ursulas eyes what he really was.
1t all happened quite suddenly. They
were starting for concert, and Gerald
had gone as far as the pavement to see
whether taxicab was in sight. Ursula,
al the top of the white steps, was put
ting ON her gloves. In the road little
girl bowled hoop, and on the opposite
pavement her nurse slowly wheeling q
perambulator. fiirted with passing post
man. Geralds eyes were turned away
from the little group and toward the
other end of the street Suddenly, a
motor-horn sounded behind him, and he
turned. A car had come swiftly round
the corner of the house, and the child
with the hoop gave little startled cry
and attempted to jump back. Fler feet
caught in the hoop and she fell.
Gerry gasped Ursula; "oh, Gerry,
quick!"
At the spur of her terrified voice he
started forward, but stopped as he
reached the edge of the pavement. In
the hundredth part of a second he saw
what would happen. There was no time
He would Just reach the child, stoop to
would 90 over them both Shuddering,
he closed his eyes. A sound reused
him; it was Ursulas sobbing breath as
she passed him, running across the road
"Oh, how splendid! How splendid! /
thought you were both killed. | couldn't
see. How did you do it,"
The postman shuffled his feet awk-
wardly; he was unaccustomed u being
center of interest.
1T was the hoop, miss" he explained
"You see, the little girl, she was kind of
mixed up with it through falling, and it
suddenly come across me that if | could
get near enough to give it a pull she'd
most likely come along with it. So l
done it,
ut was splendid" said Ursula again,
but this time her eyes were on the
ground. Gerald had joined the group
The owner of the car tipped the post
man, patted the little girls head, and
gave an order to the chauffeur. The
car glided away, the postman shouldered
his bag, and the nursemai1 turned the
corner with her charges. Gerald and
Ursula were left alone. For an instant
neither spoke. Then Ursula raised her
eyes shrinkingly to his, and he read in
IHem the worn tUdL bOit nun NildC NC
was
q don't feel inclined for the concert"
she said in low voice. 81 couldn't en-
JOY it now"
"No," he assented duly, and watched
her as she crossed the road and entered
the house. Then he walked away with
that look for company.
Six hours later he came back Many
L., Il L.,
than six hours.
He was shown into UrsGla's sitting
room, but she was not there. He sat
down heavily, and his eyes wandered
round the room. That was new song
on the piano; Ursulas dog had been
lying on one of the sofa cushions; the
date on the calendar was yesterdays.
He got up and tore off the leaf. There
was quotation on it; he read it.
Then he crushed it fercely in his hand,
and his mouth set in grim lines. But in
a minute he smoothed the scrap of paper
out again What did it matter if he
lied? 1t was the last thing belonging
to her that he would ever touch. Very
carefully he laid it in his pocketbook
Ursula came in and shut the door. He
did not keep her waiting.
I have come to set you free" he said
She leaned against the closed door,
and he noticed that her eyes shranl1
from him. Yet there was no cruelty in
them His mind CROPPED for their mean
ing, and suddenly, like the flick of
whip, it stung him. It was shame that
her eyes held, yet not 50 much shame
of as for him-so infinitely worse was
his plight than hers. She was putting
-, 4,
bearable in comparison was her own.
IF there is anything" she began,
and broke off. Il viii try to understand"
she added, almost entreatingly.
He hesitated. There is one thing. but
it doesn't make any real difference"
let me Judge" She moved to the
window. and stood looking out.
Il have come to set you Free" he said.
you've probably heard that my fathers
only brother was murdered"
Yes"
Did you also hear that my father
was for a time suspected of having Iilled
him."
She shook her head.
You wouldn't, perhaps--it is so long
ago, and he was so completely cleared
in few weeks But it was Just before
the confession of the real murderer that
| was born"
lie saw by her attitude that she did
not understand
Don't you see what my birthright
was. Ursula? Can't You imagine the
agonies of fear and suspense through
which my mother passed?'
oh" She drew n tremulous breath
and turned. Gerry, II am sorry But
she could not meet dis eyes.
Thank you" he said quietly But it
is as | said; it makes no real difference"
For a moment there was uneasy ST.
lence.
81 wonder if you would tell me, Ur-
sula, whether, till today, you knew
was actually a--coward?"
She WINGED No; oh, no.'
so | have accomplished something.
Oh. don't misunderstood me. I'm not
making light of what happened this aft
ernoon. But have done something As
child | was afraid of everything: of
the dark of animals of crowds Of nbvs