Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1910-03-18


but | had not realized what it would be
to him. How could | have realized such
thing! Aliek Langrishe, when he learnt
1t, admired my eleyerness, as all these
months L have been adnliring it myself.
But nowl When one loves a man does
one always see everything through his
ashamed of myself.
yet l still think he was little hard
on me. He has cast me off, and have
forgiven him for doing it. Is not that
! strange?
Il promised to tell you all, and have
done it; but, remember, no one knows
of my second alias. The world had sew
eral garbled versions OF my first; it is
absolutely ignorant of my second It
must remain so. 1 can trust you never
to speak of it even to me, Francesca
mean to turn my attention to leading
nobler life than l have done, a life
that would have made me worthy of him
had began to live it sooner.
"Adieu! Burn this, and try to rget
its contents. Yours ever,
! ''DENZLLIA LAVENHANf,"
The next letter of the batch WIS much
shorter. 1t was dated immediately after
the exposure of Miss Lavenham's esca-
pade, and was written by AIick Lang
rishe to Agnes Matthieson.
"My Dear Miss Matthieson: I am
leaving England for America tonight.
Il feel that / owe you and Mrs. Mat,
thieson an apology for this abrupt de.
parture without any leave taking. ]
have written to Mrs. Matthieson to ex-
press to her my gratitude for her many
nndnesses to me, which have largely
helped TO make my stay in this country
so pleasant, and to excuse myself "a well
as possible for my apparent ingratitude,
which Is indeed only apparent.
40 you, however, who always under
stood me and helped with your ready
| sympathy, need offer no such apologies
nor assurances. / need only tell you
that my quest is ended. Probably the
newspapers, before you receive this, have
informed you of the temperance of
Miss Denzilia Lavenham in sound health
and prosperity. They will. no doubt,
also have furnished you with many re.
markable details as to the reasons for
her disappearance and the manner of her
temperance.
"How much or how little of truth
there may be in these stories it is not
for me to say. Miss Lavenham's story.
so far as she has cOndescended to relate
| 1T to me, is her own secret Possibly she
may publish the whole to the world.
/ More probably she will not In any case
it is sufficient for me to assure yoG that
there is nothing in it that she need be
ashamed to publish, nothing to make an
honorable man who loves her strive to
put her out of his heart I have long
loved her, as You know. My love is not
less hopeless than it has always been.
but it has taken root, and I cannot tear
it out. and would not if l could.
Il think it right, however, to tell you
so much for her sake, because I know
/ can trust the defense of her name to
you should you ever hear it maligned.
A mans advocacy of woman rarely
does her much good, but the good word
of another woman, and of such a woman
as you, cannot fail to help her.
Farewell. dear Miss Matthieson. /
thank You for the friendship you so gen.
erously gave me, and l pray you to be-
lieve that it will ever be one of the
sweetest memories of my life. Yours
most faithfully,
"ALTCK LANGRISHE."
Alick Langrishe had Judged with his
usual perspicuity. Agnes Matthieson
would for ever after defend the name of
! the woman she did not know, or rather
whom she believed she did not know. and
whom she frankly hated
The third letter was dated two wears
later, and was once more from Alick
| Langrishe to Agnes Matthieson. During
these two years there had never been
! Io4. -.
! by letter or in person. Mr.. Langrishe
had, in fact, never been in Europe since
! MY Dear Miss Matthieson: / will not
insult you by asking you if you have
! forgotten me, for / believe YOU TO be
one of those rare and admirable persons
who never forget a friend, and I. un-
worthy though / was. was one of those
whom you honored with your friendship
Il use the word unworthy, believe me-
as no mere idle figure of speech, nor in
any mock humility.
"In the days that have elapsed since
1--WE parted have thought long and often
of your friendship, anr have daily real
| lied more and more definitely that was
and am, unworthy of ii and of having
! known YOU. And so, with what sounds
/ like an illogical audacity, l have resolved
/ 10 ask you ~ give nv, ll4@tEbu O1 JTleNQ-
| ship, love. l am lonely man, and my
| heart is empty. l ask you to fiji it as
believe you can. ! loved once, rs you
| know, and loved in vain. That long un-
satisfied passion has burnt itself out
Il am not going to mock you with
vain asseverations. Perhaps / should if
| [ thought they would be of any use in
/ inclining your heart towards me; but I
know you would not believe them. do
not love you. but with all my heart
desire your love Can you, will you, give
! it to me? / can offer you respect, affec-
! ton, tenderness, and besides these suf-
icient wealth to procure all that wealth
can procure. / know you viii not marry
for these worldly advantages, but if you
can love me l feel sure / shall be able
to make you happy. | shall await your
answer with feverish Impotence. Yours
! ever faithfully,
HALICK LANGRISHE."
He had not to wait long. By the re
turn mail he received Agnes answer.
f. -. Z h..