Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-04-09

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ing yourself miserable about. after all.
you have been no worse than ninetv-nine
women out of a hundred-better prob
ably. Delorme isn't the kind of man to
kiss and tell if that is what YOU are
worrying about. He won't say a word
to dispel any of Garth's foolish fond IL
lusions. He can still picture YOU in
snowy robes, soaring above polluted
world
Mia laughed more naturally.
i believe you are right" she said. Il
have been imagining all kinds of dread
ful things that are never likely to hap
pen. Thank goodness, | have never had
anything to do with a man who wasn't
to be trusted. How some women can
take up with the cads they do | can't
understand"
The rest of the evening passed fairly
happily, but when Nita went to bed.
some OF her fears returned. She lay
brooding in the silence and darkness.
vainly wishing that she could undo the
past, that Garth and Delorme had not
met.
The day must come, sooner or later,
when they will speak of me-
She waited a minute, staring into the
darkness, picturing the scene that might
happen. The two men would be al me
together one night and get confidential.
Garth would take her photograph out
the one in the little leather case which
she had told him he must keep in his
breast pocket-open it a little shyly in
the way men have, and show it to De-
orme as his betrothed wife. What
would Jack do when he saw it?
PART II.
|, The expedition to Central Africa. of
which Garth Houghton had charge, had
come upon evil days. The greater part
of their stores had been stolen, their
carriers had deserted, and sickness and
death had logged their heels from the
time they started on the return Journey
till now, when they were within few
days march of the coast. The expedi-
tion had been so successful at first that
perhaps they had grown a little careless
and taken their good fortune too much
for granted. They had accomplished
what they had set out to do, and their
labors had been richly rewarded. When
they got home
They'll be wondering what has be-
come of us at home,' Garth said, pres
emily "We reckoned on reaching a mis-
sionary station before this, and it's
months since we were able to get any
letters through
That's one comfort in being unat-
tached. You're not worrying about any
body and nobody's worrying about you
| don't flatter myself that anyone is
having sleepless nights on my account
Of course" after a moment, cts differ
ent with you"
Yes" drawing a long breath, 1T is
/ am sure neither she nor | would wish
it otherwise, whatever might be in store
for us. It's something to have met the
one woman in the world that matters"
Its a great deal, said Delorme,
grayely
Il wish you and she had met, then
you would understand better. It's not
only-or chiefy-that she's beautiful,
though she has the loveliest eyes l have
ever seen. Her thoughts go dancing
across them like shadows on a pool. I'm
getting poetical" with a half shy laugh.
Delorme did not answer He saw
those big, brown eyes again how often
they had laughed up into hisl-and his
wasted hand clenched under the sheet.
The end came to Jack Delorme very
suddenly, almost without warning. He
had only time to give a little cry which
Garth heard and came running in. He
tried to speak-tried to tell the secret
he had kept so long, but it was too late,
death interviewed. Dear old chap" he
said, ''sory-I-Im going" And that
was all.
When Garth Houghton arrived in
England some weeks later, he was
startled at the change he found in his
betrothed. She had suffered more than
he had, though in another way.
''Why," he said, as he held her close,
''you might have had all our hardships
by the look of yen What do you
mean---?'s'
It's been dreadful" she said, with
shudder. "Fve been through all your
horrors and worse. Eve imagined
things" She broke off and chung to
him. But it's all right now, we're 60
ing to be happy, aren't we? You won't
leave me any more, nothing shall ever
come between us. Promise Promise!
"Why, darling" as the tears rained
down her face, what is it?-how you
are trembling! OF course, we're going
TO be happy as the days long, what
should prevent us? I wish l could have
brought poor Jack back with me, but
otherwise"
"Yes-yes," she said, hastily, that was
very sad, of course; but suppose it had
been you!" She shuddered at the
thought. ooh, it has been one long pen
ance Don't you think | have balanced
the account, Garth don't you think /
may shut up the book ?''-Derek Vane in
Black and White.