Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-06-10
CHAPTER II

THAT Is MY STORY, BERTRAM"
Three months later. The Strand at
half-past 7 on Tuesday evening
Delmar was walking along, a great
coat concealing his evening dress; he
had three hours to spare before he need
go to the house to be present at the
division that was expected at midnight.
Where should he pass them2
The question was solved in an unex-
pected manner. A stoppage in the traf-
fic, the coachman of neat little broup.
ham was compelled to pull up, and
glare of electric light fell exactly on to
its occupant.
1t was Mrs. Gaylord. By the merest
chance Belmar looked that way, and in
moment he was at the door, with his
hand on the handle.
His look said
May l comet" and a little nod was
the reply, so before the coachman had
whipped up his horse Delmar was in the
brougham.
81 have so wanted to see YOU. Are
you going to the theater? May come
tooY / have a great deal to tell YOU"
he said, and Mildred Gaylord only an
swered-
L "A
hight" But he knew that he was not
refused permission to accompany her
And then for a moment they were silent.
This man and woman of the world, who
both had prided themselves on having
resisted the tender passion, who had
laughed at love, now found themselves
without word to say, and why9 Ger
tainly not because they lad nothing to
tell.
And so the carriage drew up at the
theater, the footman suppressing his
surprise at seeing Delmar emerge from
the vehicle, and when they were in Mrs.
Gayford's box Delmar managed to saw
How suddenly you left Whitemere.
did not know you even thought of 90
ing until I saw the blinds down at La
burnum villa, and on inquiring heard
you had gone, no one knew where"
Like the adventures you all took
me for. should have enjoyed hearing
Lady Broadhurst hold forth on my be.
half; I should think the ladies in
Whitemere had treat in such a bit of
gossip" she laughed. "But tell me about
yourself l suppose it is your parlia-
mentary duties that bring you to town"
Partly yes, partly no. Truth to tell.
Whitemere had become intolerable to
me-"
Before Delmar took leave of Mrs. Cav
ford that night he had received permits
sion to call upon her. He had been in
fatuated with her at Whitemere; he was
as infatuated as ever, and determined
he would ask her, before another dav
had sped, to be his wife.
"Have you well considered this ?" she
demanded before she answered him. care
you prepared to marry a woman of
whose past you know next to nothing?
Think of what people will say, that
am an adventures, anything, everything
that is evil"
Mildred, what matters it? The world
is always unkind, and | am content to
take you as you are if you will come
to me. l care not what you have been,
for I trust you, darling; it may be
am blind, but I feel that were there
anything l ought to know you would
tell it me, and / am content so that l
can call you my own. Tell me, darling,
you will be my wife"
"Yes, Bertram, your loving wife"
There followed for both a few weeks
Of delirious happiness such as comes to
most of US but once IN our lives, but the
cloud that was to overwhelm them and
turn happiness into despair was already
on the horizon.
It was late in the autumn, and Del
mar was still in town, for Parliament
was not yet prorogued; the wedding day
was fixed for the last week in October, |
and one bright afternoon Delmar came
to Mrs. Gayford's house, for they had
arranged for ride in the park.
She met him with her usual bright
smile.
81 have not ordered the horses round I
for half an hour. I want a little quiet /