The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1872-11-22

worst.
Never give up! If adversely presses,
Providence has wisely mingled the cup,
| And the best counsel In all your distrssses
| Is the stout watchword of-Never give up
TWO WOMEN.
BY ELLEN NJ. MITCHELL.
"She isa dear little girl, F." said MARI
Somers, "practical and full of common
sense, and will make some man
q good, true wife. She'll keep his
house tidiIy, nurse and care for him
and his children tenderly and faithful.
ly, but as for sympathizing with his
higher intellectual needs, of that she
is incapable. She's like hosts of Other
pretty, gentle and loving, but COM
mOnplace.
"Such women wear well, " replied
bis friend, John Hilton, land usually
blossom into hopeful and contented
wives and mothers. They seem meant
for everyday use and living, and not
for show or ornament
Shall 1 introduce you ?n and Mark
smiled mischievously. "Kathie and !
are the best of friends, but not lovers
in any sense of the word. She'd be
even more loath to take me for hus-
band than her for a wife" f"
He tried to believe what he said but
his conscience gave him little twinge
when he remember certain shy ooks
and bushes of hers.
John Hilton glanced at a figure in
white on the opposite side Of the
room, and to his friends surprise nod
ded assent.
II should be glad to know her., he
said, simply.
1t was very select company assem-
bled in Mrs. Vane's parlOrs, and Ka-
THE Lynn did look little plain and
Insignificant when contrasted with
some of the fashionable beauties around
her; for Kathie was one better fitted to
shine at home than in society, and
this was the first large party she had
ever attended. She was a fair, sweet,
wholesome-looking girl, with sunny
hair and blue eyes. But hardly ap-
peared at her best that night, owing
to shyness and embarrassment.
Mark Somers was her brothers.
dearest friend, and she had thus come
to know him intimately. He had
found her fresh, guileless nature and
womanly ways specially attrac-
tive, and though she was quite differ
ent from the woman he meant to mar
ry, friendship had sprung up between
the two that might easily have ripened
into a warmer feeling. That it was do
ing 80 half uncosciously neither of
them realized until that night, and
Kathie even then caught but a faint
glimpse of the truth by the pang she
felt at Marks neglect. But as for him
he saw clearly that he was becoming
seriously attached to her, and that he
must break off the intimacy at once or
it would be too late both for her peace
and bis own. For he meant to he true
and honorable, and though Kathie
could moi make him such a wife as he
desired, her welfare lay near his heart.
John Hilton thought the eyes very
sweet that were lifted to his in &C.
knowledgment of Marks introduction,
and was either so engrossed by them,
or their owners shy attempts at con-
versation, as to become Oblivious of
everything else the rest of the evening.
Mark watched him little jealously at
first, but was soon cOusoled by Mrs.
Vane, who whispered in his ear,
Miss Reeves is in the library and has
expressed a wish to know you. Isn't
that compliment.
He knew Miss Reeves by reputation
as a brilliant society belle, who sang
pathetic little songs of her own compo-
sition, wrote poetry occasionally for
the magazines, and even dabbled in
art, as we'll as music and literature
She was beautiful, too, dark haired and
queenly looking, with great deal of
dignity and self-possession. He had
admired her from distance, and had
begged Mrs. Vane for an introduction.
But that lady had been so taken up
with her duties as hostess that she had
not found an opportunity to grant his
request until now.
Miss Reeves was sitting in low
chair under the gas; light, looking over
some engravings, when they entered
the library. She raised her eyes slow
ly at their approach, as if unwilling to
lie interrupted, but Mrs. Vane had no
sooner mentioned Mr.. SoDers' name
than she held out her hand with all
enchanting smile.
"You are not quite such a stranger
as YOU think" she said, archly, ~
know you by reputation, if not by
sight. Your little cousin Lucy was my
especial portege at school, and used to
tell wonderful tales Of your achieve
ments. Not that believed them all, +"
and she laughed softly, but 1 confess
to little curiosity regarding her hero. "
"Lucy was equally extravagant in
her praises of you, he replied. with a
mocking bow, or at least thought
so then, but am ready to acknowledge
now that she did her subject no more
than justice"
"a neatly turned phrase!' said Mrs.
Vane, mischievously. "After that, l
can safely leave you to the tender mer-
cies of Claudia, and she was gone
before either could demonstrate.
Miss Reeves flushed rosily, and be.
gan to talk of the engravings she had
of art and pictures they wandered to
that of books and music, and an hour
bad flown by unheeded when their
hostess as ain put her head inside the
door.
"You two had better emerge from
seclusion, +" she said, {" or there'll he q
paragraph, headed Mysterious Disap-
pearance going the rounds of the pa
pers tomorrow morning. I'm besieged
by hosts of anxious inquirers, and
shall have to capitulate soon"
Mark laughed, but Miss Reeves bi,
her lip as if vexed. A faint gleam o
exultation lit up her face, though
when he whispered softly, Pardon
me that l forgot everything else in
in listening to you. 1t is 80 seldom
meet one whose tastes and sympathies
harmonic with my own.
"Or either, she returned, a little
sadly. "Congeniality is rarely found
i'm this world. +"
Mark felt his heart beat faster al
these words. The woman beside him
was gifted and beautiful, and greatly
admired, and it gratified his vanity tC
think he had impressed her favorably
nor was she wanting in lovable quail
ties. Her eyes could be dangerously
soft and alluring at times, and sh'
knew Just where to drop them shyly
and bow to modulate her voice ant
was trained in all the acts that faci
nate men. She had tried these success
sively with mark, and they had no
failed of their due effect.