Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-05-21

little thing too; always laughing and
singing-she makes the place lively.
When will you come over, Veronal The
mother is sure to want to know, as she
can't come to you"
Il hardly can say yet; I am rather
busy. In few days" said Verona
You must make a stay when you do
come. You couldn't make it now, I sup
pose, and let me drive your" He glanced
back at the square, solid, creeperless cot
tage, with its small windows and fat
stone roof, strong, ugly and bare, as are
all Dartmoor cottages, and Verona Ford's
nome was nothing mos. you could
leave old Hannah alone here, couldn't
your"
IF she were here-yes, certainly! But
she isn't said Verona.
Not heref"
No; she went to her sons house yes
terday"
"And you are all alone here?"
Certainly" she said, and she laughed
do you know, l quite enjoyed lighting
my own fire this morning, getting my
own breakfast, and sweeping my own
floor"
Il don't like your being here alone
l never have liked it, or thought it safe
at any time" he said, "for Hannah is no
protection. But to be entirely by your
self is worse. You are three miles from
Hesslerigge Hall. and nearly five from
the farm. You might be robbed and
murdered hours before anybody SO much
as knew it'll"
! His face looked troubled; her express
sion of quiet amusement was in complete
contrast to it.
81 suppose l might" she assented,
smiling, "if there was any one about
likely to murder me, which there is not.
As for robbery, l possess no valuables,
and never keep more than five pounds
in the house. We are all about equally
poor on Dartmoor, likely to attract
neither thieves nor cut-throats. 1t never
| occurs to me to be nervous. You know
| it does not"
Perhaps not, but l am nervous for
you" Halstead replied, in his blunt,
tenacious way, though you are more
! plucky than most women. Little Nelly
was saying to me only today that she
wouldn't live here as you do for the
world--she'd be scared to death in a
week.
THAT child!" 1t flashed into her head
to wonder whether he had confided his
intedded proposal to little Nelly" The
fancy did not quite please her 'She and
| are very different. There is not the
slightest reason for being uneasy. l have
lived here alone for six years now, and
have never encountered anything more
alarming than an occasional-very occa-
sional-beggar" She smiled again,
1 ! 1.
wide rolling curve of the moor. Even
your mothers pet terror that sooner or
later a convict will certainly escape from
Princetown has never been realized yet 4;
and when you talk of my being quite
alone you forget Marcus here. He is a
| far more affectionate guard than poor
old Hannah"
! Marcus rose from the garden path at
the sound of his name, rearing himself
to put his massive, tawny paws upon the
low wall at his mistress side. He was
magnificent full -blooded mastiff of i'm
mense size and strength, and with the
curiously dignifed gravity of expression
which belongs to his species. Halstead
patted the splendid sleek head.
Il can't persuade you to come today,
them"
mo; l will wait until Hannah is
back" Her tone changed. "If she were
here 1 could not very well come today.
You know they are back at the hall, do
you not z"
"At Hesslerigge? No! Are they?"
"They are due this afternoon Have
arrived by now, most probably"
81 had not heard" said Halstead His
voice had certain tone of interest," and
respect Thomas Hesslerigge, master of
the hail. mine owner, banker, NJ P. and
millionaire. was person of large impor-
lance. THAT means you will T., having
the young lady here, suppose?" he OBJ
served, with satisfied air.
Eyes, Laura is certain to be over to-
morrow. She would consider herself ter
ribly ill-treated if / were away"
! "She's very fond of your"
"At any rate she likes to talk to me-
I suppose she really is fond of me- Re-
Numbering that we were schoolmates for
such short time, and / so much the
elder, often wonder at it. Perhaps it is
| because | am here"
"Mr. Hesslerigge has not made his
money, them
He had not made nearly so much of
| it. The daughters of not too successful
doctors are not often found at the same
school with those of millionaires,
fancy" She looked amused. 81 expect
some very thrilling condolences tomorrow.
Laura tells me that she is engaged to
Lord am not sure what. The name
is not very distinct in her letter"
"a lord, Ell? That will please Mr..
HessleTigge."
"Oh. yes When she was little thing
in short frocks at school / remember how
gravely she informed me that she was to
marry a title when she was oil enough.
hope it is not altogether to PLEASE her
father, though"
From what I've heard of the young
lady l should fancy that she's too spoilt
to take any way that wasn't her own
way" He laughed, and lifted his arms
from the wall, preparing to depart.
We'll, Verona, when she tells you her
news you'll have something TO tell her"
Yes" said Verona.
She stood where he had left her when
he had driven away in his dogcart along
roo1,roty t-b;nh fravprgad that