Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1911-01-13
CHAPTER III.
I MIaht Have Known Il.


The minute l had consented / re-
gretted 1t. After all, what were Jim.
my's troubles to mo? Why should 1
help him impose on an unsuspecting
elderly woman? And 1t was only put
ting on discovery anyhow. Sooner or
later, she would learn of the divorce,
and-Just at that instant my eyes fell
on Mr.. Harbison-Tom HARRISON. as
Anne called him. He was looking on
with an amused, half-puzzled smile,
while people were rushing around hid
ing the roulette wheel and things of
which Miss Caruthers might disap-
prove, and Betty Mercer was on her
knees winding up toy bear that Max
had brought her. What would he
think? It was evident that he thought
badly Of us already-that he was con-
temptuously amused, and then to
have to ask him to lend himself to the
deception!
With a gasp hurled myself after
Jimmy, only to hear a strange voice
in the hall and to know that was too
late. was in for 1t, whatever was
coming. 1t was Aunt Selma who was
coming along the hall, followed by
Jim, who was hopping his face and
trying not to notice the paralyzed 81
lence in the library.
Aunt Selma met me in the doorway.
To my frantic eyes she seemed to
tower above us by at least a foot, and
beside her Jimmy was a red, perspir-
Ing cherub.
Here she is" Jimmy said, from be-
hind temporary eclipse of black
cloak and travelling bag. He was on
top Of the situation now, and he was
mendaciously cheerful. He had not
said, Here is my wife" That would
have been lie. No, Jimmy merely
said, Here she is" If Aunt Selma
chose to think me Bella, was it not
her responsibility? And If / chose to
accept the situation, was it not mine ?
Dallas Brown came forward gravely
as Aunt Selma folded over and kissed
me, and surreptitiously patted me
with one hand while he held out the
other to Miss Caruthers. l loathed
himi
We always expect something I'M
usual from James, Miss Caruthers,"
ne said, with his best manner, but
this-this is beyond our widest
dreams"
Well, it's too awful to nnger over
Anne took her upstairs and into
Bella's bedroom. 1t was a fancy of
Jim's to leave that room just as Bella
had left it. dusty dance cards and IA
Vors hanging around and pair of dis
carded slippers under the bed. / don't
think 1t had been swept since Bella
left It. l believe In sentiment, but /
ike 1t brushed and busted and the
coowebs OF OF It, and when Aunt Sc
lima put down her bonnet, Il stirred
up q gray white cloud that made her
cough. She did not say anything, but
she looked around the room grimly,
and saw her run her finger over
the back of a chair before she let
Hannah. the maid. put her cloak on it.
Anne looked frightened. She ran
into Bella's bath and wet the end of
towel and when Hannah was chang
Ing Aunt Selina's collar-her conces-
sion 10 evening dress-Anne wiped
on the obvious places on the furniture.
What's that young woman's
name?" she asked me sharply, when
Anne had taken the towel out to hide
H.
Anne Brown, Mrs Dallas Brown" /
replied meekly. Every one replied
meekly TO Aunt Selma.
Does she live here?"
oh. no." / said airiiy. They are
here to dinner. she and her husband.
They are old friends of Jim's-and
mine"
Seems to have a good eye for
dirt, said Aunt Selma and went on
fastening her brooch. When she vas