Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-01-15

"Aalth ; voice reached the listener.
4 want to be sure, quite sure" he
SAID. 1T seems too good to be true.
Wlll you say after me, 4 swear that
VIII be your wife. Cousin Ken'f''
There was pause long enough for
billy to have rushed out and interfered;
put he remained rooted to the spot. A
sort of dizziness had seized him: he nut
his hand to his head and steadied him
self. Then there came to him LIPS voice.
clear and gay, with little note of
triumph in it
swear that l will be your wife,
Cousin kenl" she said. She was half
laughing; her eyes had mischief in them.
Ihey were turned to the tool house, and
Billy saw Galbraith catch her in his
arms
he sat down on the floor and asked
himself what was the matter. What
concern of his was it whom Lii married ?
anyway, it would be years and wears
before she would be allowed to leave
nome nome. She was mere girl, and he
wa, mlIlam Daryll-a mere boy. No, not
that' net thati Suddenly he realized
that ne was no longer boy-suddenly
ne knew how it was with him. He rose
and looked out once more. The two
were no longer visible He sat down on a
bench and let his head fall in his hands.
lie had no idea how the time passed.
lie was stil listening; still Lii seemed to
say over and over again, with the laugh
IN her voice, 81 swear to be your wife,
Cousin Ken!"
Ske had taken an oath, there among
the roses, smiling all the while. and re-
peat1ng the words after her tutor. as
chlld repeats a rhyme; thoughtlessly,
without thinking of the meaning. But
DARYL knew Lii, knew that she would
not break promise-she was too true
Tor that-tar less would she break an
oath. He knew something else beside
he knew what the beating of his own
heart meant; he knew that Lii Iauris
ton was something more to him than n
mere playfellow, that she could never be
that alone any more.
He wished he had found this out be.
lore, II only an hour ago. 1t might have
made a difference. He had seemed so
very close to her, now he was so far off.
set there, in a few moments, by a new
experienc. Childhood was yet hers. She
did not understand; he did. 1t had been
revealed to him, in magic fashion. that
there was such thing as love. All this
was quite new thought, and he was
sure, quite sure, that it had not come to
lA. Everything that had happened APP
peared to her as one huge joke; she had
pllghted her troth in mischievous glee at
her playfellow's outwitting.
Billy ground his heels on the wooden
floor of the little Toulouse. He had no
idea how the moments passed, only knew
that the glory had gone from the sky,
that 1t was no longer illumined Pres
entity he became aware of movement
of the branches outside, of the futter Of
garment, of a voice that called to
him
Billy, Billy, are you still there?"
And there was Lii, in her shining
frock, dotted over with rosebuds. a rose
in her hair, the perfume of the tender
blossoms clinging to her. She held out
her hands, and cried
Down on your knees, Billy! I've
won! Down on your knees, and beg nv
pardon!"
He lifted his face to hers; it wore so
strange an expression that she caught it
between her hands. and said
rs there anything the matter, Billy
dear?"
He tried to speak, but felt that he
could only choke. She whispered to him
softly
Billy, Billy dear, your eyes are wet!"
Then he remembered he was a man.
that his boyhood was quite thing of
the past; he gathered himself together,
rose, and replied
eyes, you have won, Lii! There need
not be any more talk about it; there
need not be anything more between us
Goodbye!"
His tone was very strange, so strange
that she grasped him by the shoulder,
stood on tiptoe, and stared into his face.
There need not be anything more be-
tween usl" she echoed. "What do you
mean? Why of course there must be
everything more. You are my friend?"
Not now; not any more. You are to
be Mrs. Kennedy Galbraith. Lii Lauris-
ton is my friend, but the future Mrs
Kennedy Galbraith will be quite another
person!"
yes, vest" she replied gaily, eyes,
yes, of course! The future Mrs. Ken
nedy Galbraith is a grown-up person, and
YOU can't make fun of her at your pleas
ure, Mr.. DARYL. You must remember
that"
Back went the pretty head in haugh-
test pose.
Il sha'n't respect her as / have re-
spected Lii Lauriston. She is a bad
girl who has promised to marry man
She does not care for!" lac answered
sternly.
She hardly seemed TO understand him.
She passed her hands across her smooth
brow. He had to reflect that he was but
Just awakened, and that she still slept. |
he said tenderly-
Til Lii, why did you do it?'
She laughed back.
"Why not? All girls marry some day |
Or the other. He seemed to want me so |
very much. He is clever and handsome. |
he will do as well as any one else. Why |
not 2"
iii, Lit" he cried once more, and |
Iank down on the bench again
She bent DER him then; she was quite |
sure now that he was i'll. There was |
hat moisture in his eyes too.
at was such fun to think you were
1.