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


noble family of which she might have
been member.
The new Viscount Gartmore. Alick
Torrin. had taken Kathleen and Irma to
london with his mother. His father was
stiIl in Rome, slight illness having de-
iaved his Homecoming. Alick Lorrin, in
he earl's name, had begged DR.. Surtees
and Mime. Vassie to remain in the house
as long as they wished. 1t was in fact
necessary to remain, for Claude made
INIT slow progress towards recovery.
The girls did not yet know of their
mothers existence. Mime. Vassie shrank
nervously from revealing herself to them.
"They are going away tomorrow" she
said to herself the evening before the
day fixed for the girls departure. She
was in the drawing room with them,
while DR.. Surtees was having cigar
with the viscount.
Kathleen was at the piano, playing
softly. Irma was sitting in a low chair
near her mother They were young and
beautiful, these girls-her daughters.
Life was all before then-al to come.
They might be so happy--life might
bring them so much Joy. Surely she was
not to be asked to sacrifice her life's best
gift?
It would be hard But perhaps she
was not going to be called upon to
choose. There was no doubt, as yet,
that he was hers. Yes, he loved her; and
she could not be wholly sorry. The
wears to come might hold something bet
ter for Irma. The girl would forget-it
was perhaps only a girls fancy-and in
L. 80
Mime. Stephanoff," Irma said, "you
know that Kathie and I will leave for
London tomorrow. I-we-we would
like to say Goodbye to DIR. Surtees and
to thank him."
She looked straight at Nine. Vassie as
she spoke, imagining that she had quite
succeeded in keeping her secret.
"Of course; he is quite well enough to
see you," Rose Vassie said.
So next day Kathleen and Irma had
been ushered into the sitting room where
Claude lay ON a couch. Nine Vassie sat
beside him.
The young man blushed violently at
sight of the girls. In her black gar
ments, Irma was more stately than
ever; and Claude felt overcome with
shame at the thought that she now
knew of the boyish trick he had played.
he began to falter out an apology.
"0h, that's all serenei" laughed the
viscount, who had come in with the girls.
They aren't angry with you, any more
than / am Kathleen wants to shake
hands with you"
Claude, still blushing holly, held out
his hands to Kathleen.
Kathleen's little hands trembled in his,
as she eagerly thanked him over and
over again.
81 shall never forget how good and
brave and clever you were," she said
you and Irma too. Why, if it hadn't
been for you, Alick would still be be-
lieving that about me-
Claude pressed the little hands warm
ly Kathleen's child-like frankness and
effusiveness made it all the more appar-
ent that Irma was standing aloof.
He took courage to address her di-
rectly-
Miss Irma?" It was the first time he
had ever addressed her by that name.
lrma trembled from head to foot, and
her cheeks first flushed then grew pale
But she met his eyes bravely and put
her hand in his.
q have nothing to forgive" she said
gravel J. Il am very, very grateful to
you-I always will be-"
Claude was seized with a passionate
desire to press the white hand to his lips.
he did not know that he would ever see
her again, for he had heard nothing of
Nine. WASHES relationship to the girls.
de felt his brothers eyes fixed on him,
and, realizing what he was doing, he
released 1rma's hand, his pale face f1rsh-
ing
few minutes later the girls were
gone Nine. Vassie had gone downstairs
with them; and the doctor who had
come in Claude did not know when, had
taken her place by his bedside.
Claude, if you don't feel tired, want
TO have talk with you"
Claude opened his eyes and gave a
snort whistle. 1t was coming now. Phil
was going to start preaching about the
Trick he had played on him.
I've an idea of what you're going to
say" ne replied, "and | want you to
Understand that Pm quite ready to ad-
mt l was in the wrong. I'll apologize
lark"
You needn't" said the doctor. his
color deepening "I-in fact l wasn't
tainking about that affair at all,
Diaqde" He bethought himself that
hetta would have strongly disapproved
~. y, treating thus lightly a serious offense.
Notwithstanding" he said, assuming
s Sn5 manner, you did very-very wrong
les" his brother said, putting one
nahd over his mouth, which showed
FeoeLhous inclination to smile
u What was going to say" said the
DOCTOR, stroking his beard, "was that
I'M What did you mean just
by saying that you had paid dearly
~ your lark?" He put the question
?Sofuptly, with sudden searching look
iD.o his brothers face
1 mean that I've broken my leg" the
!Vang man said doggedly.
claude, I'm not at all pleased with
Soo progress; simply can't account
~ tae slowness of your recovery-nor
-51eeG Tor your complete breakdown.
'@4t doctors fell ma tbof --o,,5,,o bonv