Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-12-24
doors, thrown widely open in hsspitable

doors, thrown widely open IN hespitable
welcome.
| 1t was quite an event Tor the old house
to be the scene of such festivity, and
the sleepy neighborhood had reused Il
self up at once to respond to it, and was
immediately rife with gossip and con-
lecture as to what such an unusual move
on Sir Roger Greshams part l.ortended.
No doubt he was going to be married at
last, and had taken this opportunity of
introducing his future bride to the
county.
There was, however, apparently no
such reason Tor the entertainment The
host received his guests alone. aud in his
usual CHEEKY, hospitable fashion. Tea
was spread in the big entrance hall, the
visitors trooped out through the open
windows of the great drawing room on
to the terrace and down to The bowling
green, where little Anne with Phi: and
Gerry beside her, only awaited a signal
from Gresham to commence the enter
tainment.
And then suddenly bolt fell from the
blue-the bolt poor Anne had always
been dreading; and with one crashing
blow destroyed all her hard earned, in
nocent happiness.
1t came in the person of Lady Chilcote
herself, bland. large and smiling. in
black andwh broeade lace, and feath.
ers, advancing with outstretched hand
across the smooth velvet turf. followed
by her daughter Agatha. tall, fair. and
aCuiline nosed. faultlessly amayed in
clouds of tilmy blue muslin and chiffon.
Dear Sir Roger, such lucky chance !!
! EppNp va irl,+ -
Downlands with the Gwynnes. YOU know
only five miles of-couldn't resist re-
naming on another day on purpose.
What a delicious old place. Absolutely
perfect! And an al fresco entertainment
too! What lovely children! Altogether
too charming"
Her ladyship, having run down. like
a sand toy, paused for want of breath,
while Roger, divided between rage at her
unexpected and unwelcome advent and
dread that Anne would think he had
connived at such situation, muttered
some hurried form of greeting, and pro-
ceeded to find chairs for the new arrivals
as far from the platform as possible.
Meanwhile little Anne. after one SUI
preme moment of terror, when the gar
dens, the turf, and the trees seemed lit
rally to rock with her. proceeded to
gather up her courage valiantly and face
the position as boldly as possible. Per
haps Indignation real hct blaze of
| wrath at what she, poor child, imagined
was cruel breach of faith on Gresham's
part-had something to do with her sud
den occasion of bravery. She had been
too far off to hear Lady Chilcotes ex-
PLANTATION of her unexpected appearance
at the White Barns party.
He knew it all the time and wouldn't
tell me. He thought it would be fun
if she found me out He is cruel! /
hate him hate him" So thought lit
tie Anne passionatel to herself while
rafting out a selection of airs from the
comic operas on the piano with many an
improvised turn and flourish.
Whatever is the matterY" whispered
Phil as he bent over the piano for an
instant to tune his fiddle Neither he nor
Gerry had ever seen Lady Chilcote or her
daughter, and had therefore no key tc
the puzzle of Anne's sudden agitation
but anyhow the entertainment had to
go on and he and his little sister ac-
cordingly took up their places in front of
the piano
The music went on in admirable fash
ion. Anne, still strung up with a com
hination of excitement and anger. PLAYED
brilliantly, and the children. encouraged
and supported by her accompaniment.
surpassed themselves, and the delighted
audience was warm and enthusiastic in
its applause until the close of The first
part of the programme.
So far all had gone well Lady Chill
cote, thanks to Sir Rogers skilful ma
neuverong, had not as yet been near
enough to her little nursery governess to
recognize her, and, although a really mu,
steal and practiced ear might have noted
something familiar in little Anne's bril-
liant touch on the pianoforte, it would
even then have required a stretch of i'm
agination Of which neither her ladyship
nor Miss Chlcote was capable to cor.
meet the masked, chestnut haired girl at
the instrument with their shabby little
drudge.
Il believe we shall get through now.
won't novel won't STIR then I can't
meet her." said little Anne to herself,
clenching and unclenching her slender
hands as she watched the guests like a
cloud of gay butterflies in their many
colored dresses dispensing in knots and
parties towards the house in search of
refreshments"
ITO Ro Cop+;r,ol