Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-04-30
LINGFORD'S GIRL.

sparkling eye. and quantities of pre-
maturely gray hair. He was the kind of
man one asks about. / asked about him
in due course My friend told me he
was rich, and had wife who lived three
parts of the year in Paris, had fine
figure and dressed at Paquin's. Incl
dentally there were children-also in
Paris and-in the absence of Mrs Ling
ford "Lingford's girl"
The girl came to dinner on Saturdays,
and ON Sunday spent the day. The out
ragged proprieties stared at the girl end
cut her. as is the outraged proprieties'
way. Once, when she had the audaeitv
to go to the drawing room the outraged
proprieties put down their foot on such
good purpose that Lngford's girl walked
cut
listened to the familiar little history
with idle amusement-the delinquencies
of people who do not concern one are
always amusing, and my friend had the
gift of telling a story well-then l for
got all about it till Saturday and Ling
ford's girl arrived.
/ They came in late for dinner and the
room was full. Every body stopped talk
ing and eating to look at them AS she
| followed Lingford. who came first, with
his usual easy assurance and his eyes
sparkling more than usual / noticed she
wore a brown hat and walked badly. AS
l picked at my fried whiting | wondered
how she felt.
1t was not until the sweets were
served that / permitted myself to look
over at Lingford's table. Lingford was
eating applicant with a fine appetite.
Lingford's girl was slipping her claret in
listless sort of way. 10 my surprise
her dark eyes were fixed on me.
Her eyes were the redeeming feature
of face whose only charm was its SEN
sitive palIor The mouth was too large,
the nose too broad for beauty, but the
eyes were wonderful. They held a whole
world of pathos and humor and entreaty
as they met mine across the room.
Next day at dinner they came in late,
as usual Her face was waxen in its
fragile pallor. l noticed she ate nothing
and amused myself willing the dark
eyes to turn and disclose me the secret
of her newly added pain. Had she quar-
relied with Lingford, or had, as | more
than suspected, soio of the women been
unusually unkind?
| | cut short my friends raptures on
her pet priests sermon, and found out
that such indeed had been the case.
THE idea of her pTesunling to tell
me the wind was cold," said my friend
tossing her fair head until the gold grapes
in her white ermine busby nearly fell on
to her plate.
What right have you to judge her ?"
| asked her. For all you know, this
girl is as good as you or T.
My friend burst out laughing. "Do
come here" she called to an acquaintance
who was passing at the moment. "Such
fun! Here's this dear, delightful lunatic
going for me because | very naturally re-
fused to speak to Lingford's girl. Just
imagine. the creature had the audacity
20 speak to me this morning!"
The woman, an idous person, all friz-
zleu hair and bangles. rolled malignant
eyes. My dear: Ne! What unfor-
givable impertinence!'
let us hope the lady in question will
not consider my impertinence unforgiv-
able when speak to her" said dryly
The two of them stared at me as if
I'd suddenly taken leave of my senses.
You're mott" they gasped together.
Pardon me. | am!'
We'll, l WON'T" declared my friend
with vigor "Will your"
The malignant, virtuous eyes shifted
uneasily. "Of course, if dear Lady Cal
throp speaks to her, my dear"
l left the frizzled head and the ermine
busby wagging together and went into
the drawing room. | knew she always
"repS in there, while Lingford-who,
though he possibly loved her, loved him
self considerably better-went to the
billiard room and smoked a cigar The
room was empty. | sat myself down and
waited for her to come
For one whole hour by the clock. for
my sins, / waited in that CHASTITY room.
But the fates were against us. For the
first time, probably, since she came to
the house, she never came near it. Chilled
aDd disguised, l dressed and went out.
1t only came to me later that the morn
ing's encounter had possibly determined
her never to enter the room again.
On my return | found friends had
called whom | was most anxious to see.
They were passing through London and
would telephone at 7. 1t was then about
five minutes to- / went into the draw.
ing room to wait out of the draughts in
the hall. The room was crowded with
women. The news of my proposed con-
deseension had evidently circulated. There
was not one single mOccupied chair.
ing for the telephone bell. which was lust
outside, to ring. Suddenly l heard Ling.
ford speaking
Il know she's in there" he was saving.
Il saw her go in
told myself amusingly that she UNI
douhtedly meant me-"
DO 80 in" said Lingford. shes not
an old cat like the others I'm sure
she'll speak 10 you and put things right"
Il daren't," said the girl piteouslv.
Don't ask me tot"
smiled to myself triumphantly. The
soft voice matched the eyes.
To please me-" said Lingford.
There was a moments silence, then
the door was pushed gently open and
she came in.
For an instant she stood timidly ON
the threshold looking at us with dark
| beseeching ewes. Then she saw mo Her