Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-09-17
CHAPTER III.

He had called one December after
e at the Montgomeries, and, on be-
mo shown up to the drawing room, had
Eonnd Mrs. Montgomerie and another
lady there.
Mrs Montgomeries greeted Claude in
snrightly manner, then introduced
him
.sfr. Claude Surtees Nine. Steph-
anoff."
The lady bowed She was of medium
height. and Claude was rather tall. Yet
somehow the impression remained with
MIN that he had looked up at her
1ooked I'D into beautiful face lined by
oore. there was sad, wistful express
s;ou in the eyes, and the hair was three
narts silver. But time could do no
prong to the exquisite, clear-cut features
Nine Stephanoff and / were deep in
a very frivolous conversation when you
came in" Mrs Montgomerie said with
a laugh. "The children are going to a
fancv.dress ball. Nellie and Mona are
10 take part in minuet, but they are
horribly nervous about their steps Wait
minute-here they are coming down"
costumes of delicately tinted silks, and
from the conversation that followed
Claude was able to conclude that this
beautiful, refined woman was a teacher
of dancing.
He met her several times at the same
house. and Mrs. Montgomerie gave him
4 brief outline of her history. Though
she herself never referred to her troubles
In the past, he found Mme Stephanoff
perfectly frank and open about her pres
ent almost friendless condition She
seemed TO take an immediate liking to
she Young man, and Claude found him
self looking more and more to her for
sympathy and advice He had even
asked permission to visit her, but she had
laughingly told him she lived in Stun.
They met by appointment in picture
galleries, at lectures, and churches.
Their friendship grew so rapidly that
Claude could hardly believe, when two
months had passed, that he had seen
Mime Stephanoff only some twenty
times Then came the summer, and that
sudden meeting with her at the Catesbys
hn August. Claude had not seen her
since the end of May, and after an alb
sence one notices changes which escape
notice in frequent communication. Claude
started when he looked at her, his pro-
fessional eyes noted the thinness of her
face, the blush lines about her mouth
She had just coma to Perth; it was
fortnight's engagement, she told him
When it was over she would go back to
London.
The following winter Mrs Montgom-
erie and her family went abroad Claude
kept up a communication with Nine.
Stephanoff. He wrote to her, end saw
her frequently, but it seemed to him
now that she was often unwilling to go
anywhere, and that it was very easy to
tire her.
At an earlier stage in their friendship
y she had shown interest in Claude's
q Eudies, and he had told her all about
8 hs treatment for alcohol and drug VIC
4 fins, and the high hopes that he had
Of its success.
One afternoon he had been visiting q
case in a poor street After leaving his
patient he descended to lower landing,
when suddenly woman's loud cry of
distress came from within one of the
doors, which was almost at the same
time thrown violently open A gray
haired woman rushed out.
What is the matter? Can | HELM
you" the young man asked quickly,
laying hand on her arm
"Yes-come I'M" the poor creature said
eagerly. She showed him in; it was q
one-room and kitchen house. On the
Sitchen bed young man was lying, his
mead thrown back, his face livid.
It's my son; e was taken with a
MT" the woman sobbed out.
Yes, | know. You've no brandy of
rousef I'll 60"
Claude was already at the door. He
Found himself face to face with Nine
Stephanoff.
i live next door," she explained quiet
~ III stay with him till you come
The young man died three days later
ponng his visits Claude heard the poor
mothers story. Her son had been out
oI work for more than a year, his lungs
wasted away She had worked for them
Voth out many time they would have
starved If it had not been for the "for.
elgn Idly" in the next room.
The night that the young man died
olaGde and Madame Stephanoff watched
WIN the mother by his bedside. When
~ was dead and Madame Stephanoff
stayed with the mother to comfort her,
o'aude waited for her outside the door.
ohe came at last Dawn was Just
IDtteaang, and in the grayish- yellow light
sn e. looked old and pale.
rake me into my ROOM" she said
suddenly swaying towards him. and then
she tainted in his arms
ne pushed open the door and carried
u. asr IN. He could feel how light and thin
sue was in her old velvet gown, he could
Sc now emaciated her face and hands
were now that the eyes were not smiling
aor the lips speaking to draw away at,
Sention from the fact that she was slow
~ starving to death.
What do you mean?"
l mean that want to marry Won and
take you away from here" Claude
sac I mean that / love YOU with all
ne was not denied access to her room
- ne came day after day. and she
seled him with pleasure which abe
A9t attempt to hide. But for a long
y JUG ans protestations could not win her