Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1919-04-11

made Jim look hastily away.
"All be said was. May / call
tonight?" and / said. Yes. at o."
but you're going to the theater
with me-" said Jim. You promised,
| you know"
IF he asked me to marry him." said
the girl, "rd-rd do it"
Jim's face went white.
As jim left her at her studio door
his face looked drawn and tense in
the semi-darkness.
May l drop in later?" he asked.
I'D like to meet him."
Aileen nodded absently. She seemed
/ to be far off in another world. Jim
turned abruptly and went down the
| stairs.
She chose a clinging rose chiffon
and in the soft folds of lace. she pinned
the great opal-the stone her mother
had wocn-and her mother before her,
perhaps on such a night as this.
As 8 o'clock drew nearer Aileen went
into the studio-the air seemed impos-
sible to breathe and she threw open
the windows and walked up and down.
Nine o'clock! The strain was tell
ing on the girl. IT had never occurred
to her that he might not come.
At five minutes past 9 the girl man.
aged to get to her feet-and then
the sharp ring of the bell sounded
through the studio!
oil CIV rr+h
to leave her. The door was miles
away. 1t was almost an eternity be-
fore she could cross the room and
open it.
A man, in faultless evening dress,
with the pale face Of a Greek god,
stepped into the room.
The gill in the rose-cOlored gown
could only look at him. She knew
she must say something.
At last she managed to murmur
faint greeting.
Then the man seemed to realize that
his eyes had never left her face.
81 cannot tell you how I appreciate
this privilege you have given me-" he
said.
His voice relieved the tension. The
instincts of the hostess returned to
her.
81 have many old heirlOoms." said
the girl, and she turned hastily and
pointed out some rare porcelains, a
painting or two, and several old tapes
tries.
The man came nearer.
"It's,nc use" he said; 1--WE can't talk,
you and I've can only feel. There's
just one thing for you and me, sweet
heart"
And before Aileen knew what had
happened the man had seized her
roughly in his arms.
"Now we understand each other"
whispered the man, and he leaned
over and-kissed her holly on the lips
Then all Aileen's terror left her. 1t
seemed as if twenty demons gave her
strength to resent that Dissertation.
"How dare yOu!" she gasped. How
dare yOu!" And the scalding tears of
anger rose to her eyes.
We'll" sneered the man, what do
you suppose | came for, eh?"
Before the lightning in the girls
eyes the mans hold relaxed. She freed
herself and faced him with all the
fury of her fighting ancestors in her
face.
Leave this room, instantly" she
said, her voice trembling with rage.
The man with the Greek face bowed.
Quietly he took up his hat and coat
and walked TO the door.
With his hand on the knob, he
paused and looked back at the girl.
She was standing in the middle of
the room as he had left her-nOt a
muscle had relaxed. She might have
been a statue of Vengeance and all
the Furies.
The man turned hastily and the door
closed behind him.
Then down went Vengeance and the
Furies in little pathetic heap on the
floor.
When Aileen opened her eyes she
was looking into the big, strong face
of Jimmie.
Little girl, what's happened?" he
was asking anXiously.
i've been such little fool" sobbed
Aileen. But l don't care, don't care
as long as you are here" and she
chung to Jimmie with all her might.
I'm here. dear-everything is all
right" he said. and gathered her into
his arms as if she'd been a baby.
Jimmie, you'll never leave me, will
you?" murmured the girl.
Never" said Jimmie. with cOnvic-
ton. "Nill you marry me tonight?"
Hush" said the girl. I've got to
tell you about that-that man oh,
I'll never dream about another man as
long as live!"
You needn't tell me about him if
you don't want to-"
: "Jim," said the girl. she wasn't what
I thought he was. He didn't love me,
JIM He was thief-he kissed me
by stealth" and her crimson face went
down on Jim's shoulder.
Il wonder what else he STOLE" said
Jim. looking around.
'You don't think ~ gasped the girl.