Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-02-21

| 49, A.+CA. oHc udQ faculty OF COM
menting pleasantly without the least
mint of criticism. This remark de-
lighted MeIanie.
NO; should never picture Mr..
Lioyd-Jones as a garden pink But
theh, Auntie, you remember how elo-
quent ne was about the hills and the
stars That speech did not at all in
olcate a dollhouse nature
Nevertheless, l think his senfi-
ments have been cultivated, like his
orchids"
Not bad achievement" said Me-
lanie
Ihere was an interval Of silence,
while the younger woman stood look
Ing out of the window and Madame
Reynier cut the. leaves of a French
Journal. She did not read, however,
and presently she broke the silence
i don't remember that Mr.. Van
Camp ever sent orchids to you"
Mr.. Van Camp never gave me any
kind OF flower. He thinks flowers are
the most intimate of all gifts, and
should only be exchanged between
sweethearts. At least, / heard him ex-
pound some such theory years ago,
when we first knew him"
Madame smiled-a significant smile.
II any one had been looking. Nothing
further was said until Melanie unex
pectedly shot straight to the mark
with:
|, How do you think he would do.
Auntie. in place of Count Lorenzo9'
Madame Reynier showed no sur
Prise. He is a sterling man; but your
cousin would never consent to it,
And Il ! should not consult my
cousin ?"
Ny dear Melanie. that would en-
tail many embarrassing consequences;
and endorsements are worse than
crimes"
Melanie could laugh at that. and
did. I've already answered a note
from Mr. Van Camp this morning.
Auntie. No. don't worry" she play
fully answered sudden anxious look
that came upon her aunt's counte-
nance, 1--we not said yes to him. But
| hes coming 20 see me at twelve. II
/ dent give him a chance to say what
he has to say, he'll take one anywhere.
He's capable of proposing on the
street-cars. Besides, have something
also to say to him.
Well, my dear, you know best: GER
tainly ] think you know BEST" was
| Madame Reynier's last word.
Mr.. Van Camp arrived on the stroke
of twelve, an expression of happiness
on his lean, quizzical face.
I'm supposed to be starting on a
cruise" he told sIelanie. "but luck
/ is with me. Ny cousin hasn't turned
up-or rather he turned up only to
disappear Instantly Otherwise he
would have dragged me of to catch
the first ebb-tide. with me hanging
back like an anchor-chain"
'Is your cousin. then. such a ty-
rant?"
"oh. yes; he's masterful man. is
J Jimmy
And how Gid he disappear instant
lly? 1t sounds mysterious"
at is mysterious. but jim can take
carr Of himself; at least. | hope he
can The message said he had sailed
on the Jeanne dare. whatever that
is. and that was TO look after our
hired yacht. the Sea Gull
! Melanie looked up, startled THE
| Jeanne Dare. was it," she cried
Are you sure? But. of course--there
must be many beats By that name. are
there not? But did he say nothing
! more--where he was going. and why
he changed his plans?"
| mo not a word more than that
/ Why? Do you know OF a boat named
the Jeanne D'Arc?"
Yes, very we'll: but ii can not mat
ter 1t must be another vessel. sure
| ly Meanwhile. what are you going
TO do without your companion
Aleck rose from the slender gilt
chair where. as usual. he had perched
himself. walked to the window and
| thrust his hands into his pockets FOR
contemplative moment. then he
turned and came to stand squarely
4 before Melanie. looking down on her
with his quizzical honest eyes.
THAT depends. Melanie," he said
slowly. upon whether you are going
to marry me or not"
For second or two Melanies eyes
refused to lift: but Alexis Triumphant
ed figure, his steady gaze, above all.
HIS dominating viii. forced her to look
up. There he was. smiling, strong.
big, kindly. Melanie started to smile.
but for the second time that morning
her eyes Unexpectedly filled with
tears.
Il can't talk to you towering over
me like that" she said at last softly.
her smile winning against the tears.
Aleck did not move. Il don't want
you to talk to- me about it; all want
Is for you to say yes"