Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-06-25
CHAPTER VI.-Continued.


balance, would regain and recall her old
self. Surely it should be easy when this
new self was barely fortnight old. 1t
vas Just fortnight to the day since
4obert had asked her to be his wife.
Just a fortnight since, through the beat
ing Of the rain, she had heard the STUN
bling, uncertain step upon her garden
path. and had opened her door upon the
man who had almost fallen into her
arms.
Well. she would probably never see
him again; it would most likely be easy
enough to avoid doing so. She raised her
ewes with sharp sudden start and thrill
and saw him standing within a dozen
yards of her.
His motor car stood at the side of the
road; he wore the long light capped gray
coat in which she had first seen him, or
one like it. That he had recognized and
waited for her approach she understood
before he said as much, which he did at
once. It was only for a moment that
she stood still at the sight of him, then
she advanced as he did.
81 knew it was you," he said, "as soon
as you really came in sight. Yet l did
not expect to see you. 1t is long walk
from the farm" He had taken her hand
Trying to draw it away she found the
effort resisted, and looked at him There
was appeal as well as trouble and re-
proach in her dark eyes. He released
her hand.
"You know l have been at the farm?"
She would have recalled the words the
instant they were spoken, and yet what
IL Gould oh
Rather guessed it, knowing that the
people there are friends of yours. And
j knew you were not at the cottage"
"You have mott"
mol" He answered the unspoken
question with something like a laugh.
81 have not been there; I don't forget
your dismissal I have only been near
enough to see that you never came out
that there was no sign of you. You
did not forbid me to do that, l think. l
said to myself that if I did see you
would not speak. I should have kept my
word as admirably as l have done at
present, no doubt"
Verona did not answer She could not
bear to look at his restless, clouded,
darkened face. One glance had shown
her the change in it, as well as the red
seam across the forehead where her
strapping had been. She stood miserable
and dumb, feeling her cheeks burning as
her heart was throbbing under the keen
eyes which must divine the one as clear
" as they saw the other. The viseount
spoke again.
you are angry of course" he said
abruptly. Gas 1 acknowledge it, you
have every right to be- wondered as l
watched you coming what you would do
if You looked up and saw me. Turned
your back and walked away, suppose
You are not particularly merciful, you
know Well, 1 shan't offend again, if
that appeases you. I am leaving here
tomorrow"
Tomorrow" Verona echoed. "For-
for good2" she faltered.
For good?" He laughed again, but
the sharp irritation and bitterness of his
tone changed to one of mockery. "Of
course, for good-in all ways for good.
What more delightful occupation can fall
to man than to make preparations for
the reception of his bride? And / have
short time allowed me. You know the
day is fixed, do you not?"
NO"
For a fortnight hence. My fiancee, by
the way, is in some doubt as to whether
SIib SHAH VI shall lOJ IAsiSJ upoA yOui
presence. You shut yourself up so, and
are so out of things, it appears, that she
fears you will hardly do Justice to the
occasion. 1t is to be quite a function,
understand, as the wedding of a million
aires daughter should be. Quite out of
your line, of course"
"Quite!" Verona assented. Her voice
was steady, but she could not bear much
more, she knew. 81 shall tell Laura she
is right in thinking so. I have nothing
to do with either fine occasions or fine
people. 1t is not at all necessary for heI
to invite me-" She glanced at the car
"You were going for drive, Lord Mar
tingale, and | am keeping you. / will
go on now'
"a drive? Yes, was" As he glanced
at the car as she had done his face sud
denly changed, losing its moody look
"You have never been in a car-you told
me so. Come with me now"
With your she echoed.
Eyes, why not? l was going to follow
that road to the right of the morass that
you showed me that day--do you remem
berthe only one that motors can fol
low across that part of the moor, you
said" His hand closed on hers, gently
eagerly. 81 am leaving here tomorrow
i shall never see the moor again. My
future wife loathes it as much as you
love it. You need not grudge me a last
hour or two-you won't be sorry tomor-
row to think that you gave them to me
You will come 2"
Why not? Verona thought, with sud
den recklessness. He was going tomor
row. What difference could it maker II
would be something more to remember
What harm could it do to Robert, what
to Laura, if she granted the last request
he would ever make to her? She let him
place her in the car, hardly realizing that
she had spoken no word of consent, prop
erly conscious of nothing but his close
presence beside her, and OF the sweeping
OF the fresh wind into her face as the cal
swung along. The rug which he hac
tucked round her slipped presently; he
stretched his free hand round her shout.
der to replace it. and she suffered what
seemed to her a +arribla irnrlI1sn NOT r.