Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1920-05-21

moonlit garden, as she braided her
hair for the night. Just one month
ago all had been 'qove and roses.
AT least that had been Mollie's roseate
vision Of life. And tonightl Shadows
and darkness seemed everywhere, like
the shaded corners Of the garden-
And all because of Douglas. What
vast difference the man San make
in ones life.
Douglas had come. and seen. and
eonquered-as far as Mollie was con-
cerned. She met him in her home city
at party given by the son Of his
employer.
Douglas was a favorite with his en-
ployer; Douglas was, it seemed. a fa-
vorite with everybody. So il was not
strange that even little, elusive Molle
should capitulate TO his charm. His
wooing was prompt and successful
Mother admired Douglas. Fasaer
thought we'll Of him MoHie's be-
trothal was a time Of iubnation. Aud
then-Douglas urged this visit to moth
er. He was very fond of his tender
little mother, Molue knew. and anx-
iops that she in turn, should become
fond of the girl chosen of his heart.
So Mollie went with Douglas, ont on
an afternoon train 10 a dear old,
queer old house, in the country.
Gorgeous flowers framed the door
ways and inside there were mysteri-
Gus halls, with steps descending mex
pectedly here and there. Nolde's room
led from a branching upstairs hall
at the opposite end was the room Doug
las had occupied In his chilhood,
and which was kept Unchanged for
his frequent visits. Three steps to
the right was Fa,thfurs room-and
Faithful was the girl who had. inno-
Gently enough, brought TINS new heart
ache to Noble. Douglas mother had
introduced Faith laughngly, thar first
day Of Mollie's arrival as an old
sweetheart OF his. Ana though Doug
las later painstaklngly explained that
the sweethearting had been joke
of pinafore days, the insinuaLen ram
kled Jealousy, heretofore an I'M
known experience with the carefroe
Mcllie, held her now batiled In its pow
er For while Mollie IN secret Gerided
herself for her foollshness, and made
firm resolve TO pay no attention 70
the comradeship Of Faith ana Douglas
mo sooner cid She come upon the
two talking together than M0lie inn
mediately became frg'd in deineanor
toward her lover, inhictinE upon him
perplexing hours of unhappiness.
This unfortunate state of affairs
mad eliminated in the present quarrel.
Holly had the new tempestuous Moline
accused her 6ance Of unfaithfulness,
while he, suffering under this injus-
tee, had taken back silently his ring.
Pride raised between these two an
lnsurmountabe barrier. AS Mollie
turned from the window, she noticed
beneath it a mans moving figure and
recognized the shuflng outline as
tramp" whom Torlas' mother had
helped on his way with warm sup
per.
People were almost too trusting In
The country, Mollie thought, as her
weary head pressed the pillow. 1t
was in the dead Of night that she sat
10 suddenly in bed, every nerve r.
iremble at the strangHess Of her wax
Ing. The sTealIhy sound which had
reused her came from the direction Of
The clothes closet, whose small win
dow opened on g sloping roof And as
Mollie watched, plainly discernible in
| the moonlight, the white knob of the
! closet door moved slowly, then was
/ still. She had locked her bedroom
| door before retiring, ard as Noble
stared fascinated, the closet door han
die turned again. this time distinctly.
With one bound the girl sprang TO the
door and turned the key Then. with
her heart pounding, Noble sank 70
the floor II was the skulking tramp,
she was sure, who had sought en-
trance through the roof window.
When she could summer her shaking
voice. Mollie asked weakly, "Who is
there?"
The twice repeated question was
answered merely ny renewed and
now aggressive rafting Of the door
handle The man would force the door
presently in defiant strength. she fear
ed. Wildly she reached for an en-
veloping kimono. Mollie's cold lit
tie feet found her slippers, tEc1 she
opened the bedroom door, and fed
straight to that other door at the OPP
posite end of the hail.
douglas :" she sobbed. "oh, Doug
las"
Coming" he answered with re-
markable prompiness, and in a few
moments. still struggling into his coat.
Douglas was at her side.
Burglars Mollle gasped-"ip my
closet
eco down to mother" Douglas coz
manded her as he ran.
But Noble waited, huddled IN the
1rfda yoee kirnouo inst xvbara T.,.o,t,,,