Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-06-17
CHAPTER III.-Continued.

lust as she would have risen to ring
Cor her maid. Delmar was shown in.
q am afraid have kept you waiting,
desr." he said; "but just as 1 was start
inc fellow came in and kept me talk
inc However, 1 don't think we shall be
late if we start at once"
At that moment the door opened
sgain. and a footman entered.
III YOU please, ma'am, person wishes
N see YOU. l told him you were en-
gaged, but he refuses to go away; he
saws his business is important.
TELL him | can see no one; but he
can send his card up by YOU"
James departed, and presently reap
neared, bringing on a salver visiting
card. which he duly presented to his
mistress.
Before she looked at it, her glance
went to the door.
The caller had followed the footman,
and stood IN the room.
'Bertram, save me-from him, my
husband"
Delmar caught her outstretched hand,
only half comprehending her inarticulate
cry.
James looked on in astonishment, and
would have fingered, but the stranger
shut the door upon him, and then ad-
yanced to where Mildred stood, trem-
bling and afraid.
"a nice welcome home! my wife in
another mans arms, and without word
to say to her husband"
Liar she is not your wife!" cried
Delmar. "Her husband died three years
ago Repeat that, and I will shake the
breath from your vile body"
And find yourself in court; assault
with intent to murder? MOI Mr.. Who
ever you are, that little game won't pay.
Come, Mildred, my girl, say you are glad
to see your husband"
81 viii speak to you," she answered.
hoarsely, "but you must not come near
me; | should die. Tell me what you
want, and how it is, after three years.
absence, and after you were reported
dead, you come back, when I hoped to
taste happiness, to make my life tor
ture!"
ITO make a long story short, was
not wounded mortally in the duel you
heard of. On recovering, l made some
attempt to find you, but the people at
your place in Devonshire either could or
would not let out your abode, and |
have only just found you living here.
Things look prosperous with you; you
must be willing to share some of this
wealth with your dear husband?"
Come again tomorrow. / cannot talk
more now"
you hear what she says" cried Del
mar. Come at eleven o'clock to-mor-
row, and rest assured she will deal fairly
with you. NV go!" aud he rang the
bell
When the intruder had gone he turned
to Mildred.
Say this is only Dream she sobbed
Would to God couldi" he responded.
you really recognise your husband in
this vile wretch"
She shuddered, but replied:
ut is my punishment. took my own
way once, and now l must pay for it.
Oh, say something to comfort mel"
What can I say / am overwhelmed
with misery as great as your own. There
is no happiness in store for us on this
side of the grave" he ended; and then
there was long silence.
When did you tell him to come
again?" Mildred asked, at length, and
her voice was so altered that Bertram
looked up startled. She seemed to have
grown ten years older, the light had
gone out of her eyes, and the smile from
her face
AT eleven tomorrow"
'Will you be here to help and advise
met"
If you wish it, Mildred"
And now we must say good-by."
Let me kiss you once, my darling
1t is the last time"
For moment he clasped her to him;
then he put her back in her chair, and,
not trusting himself to look again on
That sweet sad face, hurried from the
room. Mechanically he hailed n han
som, gave his address, paid the driver,
and stumbled into his rooms.
tbs mind was in tumuit, and for
a long time nothing was really defined
out that Mildred could never be his
VIE, and that they were parted by some
thing worse than death.
A few minutes before eleven next
morning he was shown into her library.
When Mr.. Gaylord was announced, Mil
0red went downstairs and joined the two
men.
what contrast! Delmar, tall strong.
handsome, gentleman. The other, her
husband, prematurely old, broken down
toy "lckedness and vice, shiftily turning
ms eyes to the floor or fumbling in his
pockets before the others piercing
glance.
Mildred went steadily to Bertram and
gave him her hand, then she coldly
turned to the other.
Now, sir, with as few words and as
nttle delay as possible l will state my
decision. Sooner than live with you
VIII Kill myself; instead, offer you a
sum OF $4,000 pounds a year, to be paid
through my bankers, on the sole condi-
uon that you never enter my house
agaln- Remember, my property is my
own, that you have not the slightest
Ilght to touch one farthing Of it without
my permission. So on this condition I
make my offer. Do you accept it7"
Needs must when the devil drives,
out you might have made it FIVE thou
lou understand my terms; If they
10 not suit, l defy you. Your answer ?"
I agree"