Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-08-06
THE ELEVENTH HOUR.

THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
81 am not at home to anyone, jerks"
Eyes, sir. Shall l take tea into the
library, sir?"
NO." was the curt answer The door
of the library was closed with decisive
hand and locked.
He crossed over to the fireplace and
stood for a few minutes leaning on the
mantelpiece. with his haggard eyes star
| ing down into the recess of the glowing
coal. Then he seated himself at the
writing table, and for the next ten min
utes there was no sound but the tear
| ing of papers. He wrote two letters,
both equally brief, and addressed one to
his wife and the other to his lawyers
| and placed them before him, without
pause, he opened a little drawer and
brought out a small revolver. He did
pause then, and moving his head took
slow survey of the room. The hand
pointed to five minutes to 8.
A grim smile fitted over his face.
Il will wait until 50 he said aloud
| -Four minutes to the hour. Three
minutes. Two. Eternity swung in sight
the portals of death were open when
someone knocked with a boldness that
demanded entrance.
what do you want? Who is it,
cts me, father-Doll," said clear,
childish voice.
Go away, Doll" he said thickly 60
to Miss Carter, Doll-I'm-busy."
but Miss Carriers gone to wedding.
and she won't be home till z, and it's
dreadfully lonely"
Il can't see you now"
''Not wher it's my birthday" indig-
nantly.
In spite of everything he could not
Withstand her. He must let her in for
minute and then send her away. He
slipped the revolver into its drawer
again and opened the door.
ooh, daddy, how cold you are; and
| yet"-peeping past him-"you have got
lovely fire. Darling are you cross, or
not we'll"
"A bit of both, perhaps, Doll"
''Not cross with mel"
mo, Doll, no."
You We're lonely like me, weren't
you? And you wanted me-really?"
"Old woman, | can't let you stay here
this evening"
"Are you very busy, darling?"
eyes"
She gave deep sigh
1T was dreadfully lonely upstairs"
she began apologetically; 81 don't care
two pins about Miss Carter being away,
but it's-my birthday, and-and'--
Itragically never wished me any
happy returns
Il am brute, DOLL he said UNI
steadily.
He took her little round chin in his
| fingers and looked down into her honest
eyes-replicas of her lovely mothers,
but with depth soul in them that
had never shone in the sparkling orbs
of the fashionable beauty Now as Dolls
eyes met his he flinched before them,
for their pure glance seemed to reach
the recess of his guilty soul.
Ten today, are you? Getting quite
an old lady" with a forced smile Good
angels guard you, sweetheart, for many
years happy years"
Father. let me have tea with YOU
it would be perfectly glorious birth
day party, Say yes, do"
Very we'll" he said quietly Have
your own way, Doll.".
She gave a little ecstatic scream and
flew into the hall like radiant white
bird. too impatient to ring.
jerks, jerks! am going to haze
tea with father! Bring it to the library
directly, please, and the cake!"
She was back again, all movement
and vivacity. The man from the chair
where he had thrown himself could not
take his haggard eyes from her-sbe
seemed the very embodiment of life
And after the tea was over he cou,d
not get rid of her without absolute
sternness.
do you remember last birthday. darl.
| ing? | was 9. and mumsey gave baT
She promised me one this birthday hut
she had to go to the Latouches. Won
know. Mumsey is away a great lot >
she said with little regretful sigh.
And you are very disappointed IN
be done out OF your party, old woman? - |
Not very," said Doll stoutIy. "Next |
year mumsey is sure TO be at home She
says so. And she sent me this. ISn'f |
she darling. sweet mumsev.p
She opened little gold locket al. |
| tached to a slender chain round her |
| neck and showed him the charming /
smiling face of her mother.
He took it in his hand and looked AZ |
| 1t long and intently. Tomorrow those |
gay blue eyes would be cloudei-fbat |
haughtily poised head abased with his /
dishonor. Well, he thought bitterly. she
had had her hand in it. They had never
run well together-she had gone her own
way and he his. Once things might have
been ditferent-was it his fault or hers