Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-12-24
CHAPTER Iv.-Continued.

neut down there was no bachelor house
hold, but consisted of a small staff of
efficient servants, the housekeeper and
butler having been in the service of his
father before him.
Now, however, he found himself for
the first time interested in a woman
Anne Oliver, shabby, poor, unobtrusive
in her shy prettiness, eking out her
scanty governess' wage by playing for
money in the public streets. had achieved
what no well-dowered, well born damsel
IN his own rank of life had been able to
accomplish; for. all unknown to himself
I'd TO the present, and certainly without
intention on her part, she had innocently
found the way to Sir Roger Gresham's
hitherto unsusceptible heart
Bit by bit during the quiet sunny
hours they passed on board the yacht
together the young man drew from the
girls innocent lips that story of her
hand to hand struggle with poverty, be-
ginning with the circumstances of her
father and mothers death and ending
with her present courageous efforts to
obtain the change of air so essential for
her young brother and sister, by turning
their combined musical talents to ac-
count
Roger listened, and marveled as he
listened The patient toll, the cheerful
ness under adverse circumstances, the
undaunted energy and resolution dis
played by so young and frail creature
as little Anne aroused in him an adnira-
ton he had never experienced for any
woman in his life before.
&c JNndI L
ard she's a lady from the crown of her
head to the tip of her little shoes" he
thought, glancing furtively under the
peak of his yaching cap at his COM
paniQp, sitting beside him in red -cush-
toned chair on the PetreFs deck. in her
faded blue serge skirt and plain white
blouse.
1t was a very hot day, and, with a
shy little effort to follow the fashion,
Miss Oliver had ventured to dispense
with collar for once and wore only q
little string of very common little pearl
beads round her throat, her sailor hat
lay in her lap and little wandering
breeze -Ufiied the soft curls of chestnut
brown hair that rested on her forehead,
and brought a delicate tint like the lin
ing of a sea-shell into her pale smooth
cheek.
Mastered by a sudden impulse, Roger
said abruptly
"You must come over to White Barns
mean to have an afternoon party there
the end of this week You and Gerry
and Phil shall give a concert on the
bowling green, and We'll rig you up a
grand platform, and have no end of fun.
You'd like it, wouldn't you? Do say
you would"
Something in his tone Of voice made
little Anne glance hurriedly at the
speaker and look away again.
Eyes, I should like it, but really l
don't know how ~ could manage such
q thing, Sir Re ger, she answered in
rather a nervous Jne. eve ought to
return to London on Saturday. / have
20 begin lessons with the Chilcote chill
dren on the following Wednesday, and
our holiday is nearly over. We have
had lovely time thanks to you and
and everybody" she ended in a sudden
furry
"Had lively time? You talk as if it
was all over. There'H be lots more fun
yet" replied Roger, finging his cigar
cite end into the sea and rising to his
feet.
ITO begin with, you're not going to
spoil my garden party by refusing to
entertain for me. Surely you won't be
as hard hearted as thati / want to have
ut on Saturday. I'm getting the cards
printed now" continued this mendacious
person in whose fertile brain the project
for securing whole day more of little
Anne's society had only that moment
been Matched. There's no sign of a
Break in the weather, and people will
come any distance for a party in the
country. Thererl be the fee too. You're
such money grabbing little person that
4 shall hold that out as an inducement,
and then you can't refuse" he added
trlumphantly. But little Anne, being
Of somewhat liberal and very simple
turn of mind, shook her head, and mod
estly declared that she felt herself ag
grieved at this suggestion.
L am sure that the only inducement
you could offer me to remain for your
party would be if we may give our sery-
ices to amuse you and your guests for
nothing" said she, with a dove-like
herceness that caused Roger to adore her
more than ever. you said we were
friends. l thought friends did things to
help each other when they could without
any talk of payment, Sir Roger?''
SO they do, was forgetting. For
goodness sake don't be angry with me,
Anne. Oh, Pm going to call you Anne!"
Gs the girl shrank back, alarmed at her
companions sudden boldness. "Whoever
heard of friends not using each others
christian names? OF course you shall
play at White Barns for nothing if you
wish it, only don't refuse to come. You
can go back to London on Monday just
as well as Saturday, and be in time TO
teach the Chilcote brats all the same"
And little Anne, with some faint show
OF reluctance, was forced to admit, after
great deal more of his pressing and
persuasion, that perhaps she could.
CHAPTER V.