Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-03-04

She was very beautiful creature, but
1t was difficult to believe that she was
one and the same with Denziha Anselm,
so completely did her cropped curls of
rich golden brown color and her delicate
ly-penciled golden brown eyebrows alter
her expression from that of the black
haired, black -browed miniature painter.
Are you not going to speak to me,
Aubrey" she asked with little petu-
| liant frown-a frown he had often seen
on Denzilia Anselm's face.
He seemed to rouse himself from his
dazed condition. Something like a shud-
der passed over him.
| What am l to say TO you, Miss Law.
enham!" he asked in dull, expression
less tone. Il am glad you are safe. /"
he broke off and began to laugh--a
laugh not altogether pleasant to hear.
| Denziha was now really frightened
She began to wonder if the shock had
sturned his brain She went close up to
him and touched him on the arm.
Aubrey, dear Aubrey" she murmured
caresslngly. Il never thought you would
take my foolish trick SO seriously. Don't
you understand, darling, that am yours
as much as ever l was. love you"
Her tone penetrated to his brain He
understood what she feared. He made
a great effort, but he let her hand lie
disregarded on his arm.
Il do not understand why YOU have
done this thing" he said, putting a
great constraint on himself to speak
quietly, but the pain and anger in his
voice struck down to the very roots of
the girls being. Il do not ask you how
you have done it, for | suppose that
when clever woman takes to living her
powers of deception surpass anything
that an ordinary man can conceive of.
But why have YOU done it? You were
rich, courted, loved. You had all a wom-
an could desire. Why then should YOU
have stopped TO a course of such horrible
deception? You have not only lied to
me. You have lied to the world!"
His voice shook; for moment it
seemed as if the storm of emotion that
was sweeping over him would break him
completely down
Il loved you" he went on. az rev
erenced you. l would have staked nv
life on your truth and goodness. And all
the time you were lying to me-lying to
every one you spoke to. You were
laughing in your sleeve at the credulitv
of the fools you were taking in so
easily"
Il never laughed at you, Aubrey" she
cried eagerly. AT least. couldn't help
it sometimes, I loved you That was
not a trick. Oh Aubrey, you couldn't
believe 1 could be capable of playing at
that"
She came close TO him again. took his
hang and looked up appealingly in his
face. He shook himself free of her CLASH
and moved away from her
Il beg your pardon, Miss Lavenham,"
ne said. Il have no right to take you
to task. 1 am not your keeper If you
will allow me l will go now and tell MIR.
Langrishe that you are safe
aubrey Aubrey" she cried passion
ately. You cannot leave me like this.
You must say you forgive met"
He could not shake her oil again with
out roughness. As he stood passive in
her grasp, he said quietly
81 never can forgive you You have
dealt me blow from which never can
recover"
But Why she cried angrily. 81 have
done you no harm. III | was tired of
being great heiress. run after for nv
money, and toadied till | did not know
who were my true friends and who were
not, what harm has that done YOU? I
was tired of the meaningless life / led.
and I resolved to be lost for a little
while to my world and live for little
while in new one. | did not mean at
first to go so far as I did, but eircum-
stances drew me on, and it was such
fun playing SO many parts. When I got
to know you / began to be sorry, | did
indeed. I did not like playing part
with you. But / found it difficult to
leave off once had begun. But I would
have told you the truth soon | meant
to. Aubrey, I cannot see why you should
be so very angry with me. I haven't
defrauded any one by my trick. And
you-you, instead of having to toll and
MOL at a profession you hate, will be
rich man, and nobody can suspect YOU
of marrying me for my money!
"Oh," he exclaimed, ''let me go, Tt is
torture to hear you to realize that YOU
are so little what l thought you that
lyou cannot even understand why | am
angry. You think it no harm to mas
Guerade in pursuit of a foolish whin. to
corrupt other people. for you must have
had aceompliees whom you bribed to lie
for You. You" He broke off again.
But why do | rave? l thank you for
your assurance OF sincerity towards me;
but you must understand that here we
part for ever
mo, not" she answered passionately.
'T do not understand. You are angry
now, but you will forgive me. You must
forgive, because you love me, and love
you. Aubrey, see, / am in earnest" She
sank on her knees before him Il prom
Use I viii never deceive you again, not
even in play. ] ask you to forgive me,
Aubrey" Her voice trembled; the tears
were threatening to choke it. Il would
not humiLate myself so if / did not love
you and if you had not told me you
loved me. We can't part like this! You
must forgive me! You must" She
had hold Of both his hands as she knelt
before him; her tears were raining down
on them as she held them against her
cheek
/ He stood unmoved. His face was
worn, aged in that one half hour. There
was no sternness in il. only an agony of