Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-02-05
A Youth and a Maid.
BY Arthor OF Hearts Avyak.ooo, ga KsoI. A.ty
"a Fascinating Radical" "The Man Of Her cbo;ce Ftc

bralth. 1t doesn't alter the fact that
you are engaged to him.
But it is going to-"
She nodded her head, with an air of
wisdom.
2" he asked.
oh, you silly boy! Listen! have
written to him to tell him to come to
see me this afternoon at 8, because /
have something very particular to tell
hm-something that will change the
current OF our lives. l put it that way
to-to break it to him gently
TO let him down easy"
Yes, just So"
And when he comes
When ne comes shall say, 4 am very
sorry, Cousin Ken, but | can't marry
you, 1t is quite impossible. l have found
out that am in love with Billy DARYL.
dld not know it before, but l am quite
sure OF it now. And l have found out
something else. Billy is in love with me-
And we are going to be man and wife
we are, aren't we, Billy, dear?"
Her head rested on his shoulder, and
he stroked her bright hair.
Yes" he cried, with catch in his
voice
Why, Billy"-she trembled a little,
and her gladness was dashed-"you don't
seem certain! Cousin Ken cannot wish
me to marry him when he tlnds out that
love somebody else
| Billy shook his head.
HE cannot, he cannot! For he loves
me, so he will wish me to be happy. If
he did not it would not be Love-
ut isn't" replied Billy simply; at
never was"
She did not toss her head this time,
nor dispute with him. She did not ask
him whether he thought her too plain
and uninteresting to be loved. All her
innocent coquetry forsook her. With
dread creeping into her eyes she chung
to him, and cried
oh, you are wrong-you must be
wrong! He will set me free"
! HE won't!!" urged Billy gloomily.
Not hel He has set his heart on get
ting your money"
MY money, not me, you really think
not me!''
He nodded resolutely
He made you swear, you know" he
added after a moments pause.
Yes" she answered sadly, 81 know.
But he won't keep me to that He won't
remind me of it; he could not be so
cruel-not when he knows that love
you"
Billy was silent.
And perhaps you are wrong.
He may care for me little bit, after all.
just enough to make him do the right
thing by me. For he is so much older,
and he ought to be kind to me because of
that, AID because | am young and fool
ish. l was foolish, l know. But it was
your fault, Billy-you made such fun
of me, and I wanted to show you that
l wasn't quite a child. You ought not
to have leased me So"
II know ought not" replied Billy.
His unwonted meekness was the last
straw Lii broke down.
ooh, he can't, he can't be so cruel!" she
cried.
But if he is, what them"
Suddenly Lii dashed the tears from her
eyes.
of he does not set me free then the
oath binds me- she said. 81 shall have
to be his wife, and make as good one
as know how. But it will be good bye
to happiness, and goodbye to you too,
Billy. | must never see YOU again if I
marry Kennedy Galbraith."
She fell away from him, and he from
her. They looked at each other from
out their innocent young eyes, half afraid
because of the great love that made their
untried hearts beat so warmly. and
flushed their smooth cheeks.
But of course" she exclaimed. eve
are both talking nonsense! Cousin Ken
is not monster of wickedness. He will
tell me to do what gives me most hap
piness. He will say to me Coz Just as
l should say to you if knew that YOU
cared for some one else. And it will be
all as we could with Then you will be
sorry that you were so positive. / am
not mistaken, depend on it, If | were
this would be Good bye fond Good
bye Billy dear"
With a swift change of manner she
lifted his scorched hand to her lips and
kissed it as she had before. Then she
it drop hurriedly, and was gay again.
She left Billy dumb and foolish, and,
turning, waved her hand to him, crying
mockingly-
'You will have TO kneel to me once
more"
Two days later her little letter came
to him. 1t had oil happened just as he
prophesied, she said, and there was no
one to blame but just her foolish self.
She would be brave; he must be brave
also. Only he must not try to see her,
she could not bear that. Indeed it would
not be possible. She was going away to
stay with Cousin Kennedy's mother.
That was best, because she must get
ready to face the future. She was bound
by her oath; no one could loose that ex-
cept Kennedy Galbraith, and he refused.
IT would go on my knees to you if you
were near" the girl wrote, "for it is
surely not me whom he loves, though he
says so, or he would be kinder to me.
but my money, and that alone. l would
go on my knees, but dare not trust
myself with you, lest should beg you
to run away with me. And it would be
so hard for you to refuse, seeing that /
am so miserable"
After she had sent this letter Lii went
Ito bed with headache This made a
good excuse for her heavy eyes next
morning. Indeed, at this period, Aunt
Cr-ou ot;TI Fy,TV %