Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-06-03
THE FEAR OF LOVE.

to tell OF the terrible fire at sea the
name of Bray Chalmers was only men
toned as one of the missing passengers,
Esther Mallerton began to abandon hope.
Others concerned his father and mother
and two sisters-had done so long be-
fore. She, however, was tenacious, de-
faint, insubordinate TO the cruelty of
passonately, her long acceptance of
hopes friendly hand being an implicit
avowal of the measure of her love for
the man so miserably obliterated
Some people had not liked Bray, had
seen serious flaws in his character and
had endeavored to dissuade her from en-
gaging herself to him; but this had but
attached her affection more deeply 10 its
object. In the year and a half, however,
time had begun to smooth out the
creases Of life with a conciliatory hand,
and the giving up of hope on Esther's
part was merely as the quiet relinquish
ing of something ON which her grasp had
already slowly relaxed
Esther was not the sort of woman to
whom men concede only the Difference
due to womanhood; she could be viva
cious without meretricious smartness,
could be calm without dullness, hence
her period of waiting had been compli
Gated, especially as the verb Ito nope"
had no place in her vocabulary. Only
Stanton Drew, the constant worshiper
al her shrine, knew what long, slow
storms exhausted themselves beneath
her gaiety; he, with his sympathy had
brought to her hours of companionship
when she had told him those doubts,
those fears. those hopes about the fate
Of Bray Chalmers. Thus, slowly and
steadily, Stanton became friend and
a chum.
Such state of affairs cannot last.
The intercepted glance charged with
dawning passion; the clasp Of hands
that only intended consolation and com
radeship, but thrilled to something in.
finitely deeper; the flush, the swift pal
Tor, the sudden tear-al loves sweet
machinery runs softly to bring to birth
the critical hour And to Esther and
Stanton that hour soon came.
They were talking one evening in the
freight, chatting quite casually on in
consequent subjects, when a remark of
hers became the breath that blew his
7AiA'dlhNl Tux ioNt " d NlNlu tdtit.
There was a paragraph in today's
papers about the Atlantis did You no
tice it?'
OF course did replied Stanton,
smiling. And then as he glimpsed the
usefulness of her face. the utter hope
lessness aud futility of it all gripped
him.
Esther" he said, what's the use -
hn -
and Stanton, leaning forward laid his
hand on hers and clasped it, as he did
so he noticed that her eyes were full of
| tears
"Stan, dear old boy, is it like that
with your" she whispered.
Yes, Esther. couldn't have kept
my secret much longer. Is there any
hope for me?F
Il could not give you the love 1 gave
him, Stan"
| II don't want i'll want some for
| myself Could you give me any,"
II couldn't help it-you've been such
a ripping friend" She spoke the com
monplace words very gently, and with
more of reverence than of passion Stan
ton kissed her.
Il happened, when Esther and Stan
tOii lidI btti uldiIitu dBOul Three
months, that the newspape readers were
interested one morning to see that five
more of the missing passengers of the
doomed liner had stepped in an extraor-
binary manner ON the stage of the world
once again, Carried in their small boat
Tar from the track of ships to a tiny
islel, they had existed there .for many
months, and one of the names was that
of Bray Chalmers. 1t was irving mo-
ment for Stanton Drew when he passed
the paper to his wife at the breakfast
table, but her smile relieved him. and
when she came round TO lay her face
against his, whispering. 1T doesn't make
any difference he could have
knelt at her feet in alteration
81 don't suppose he will call" said
Esther. But she was mistaken
One afternoon. when her husband was
out the card of Bray Chalmers was
brought IN by the servant. She could
hardly refuse to see him. He entered
the room. For an instant they both hest
tated in slight surprise 1t was an an
pralslng approving glance which reused
in her some uudetnable autavoniSm.
some shadowy repusion. CouceaIing it
by smile, She held out her hand
| 'A'" Wv ,''h up, MI I M linprS ? she
said.
How do YOU do. Mrs. Drew or
rather, Esthery" he responded. The posi-
lon was difficult as he took her hand.
How splendid to come back to life
again she remarked vivaciousv AS he
retained her hand Whatever does it
feel like? You should have plenty to
tell MS"
1T feels splendidly certainly to come
haek-to YOU"
She withheld her hand. checking her
intended phrases Of felicitation and vel.
come,
You viii stay. Of course, and me-.
Stanton
How can greet the man who has
stolen YOU from me-"
he careful, please, how YOU speak of
my husband"
"louu admit, perhaps that it is a
tribe hand ON mes"
But ] refuse TO discuss 1T. am mar