Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-06-19


times. and she, knew inst when to drop
them shyly, and how to modulate her
voce and make it low and tender, and
was trained In all the arts that fascinate
men. She had tried them successfully
with Mark. and they had not failed of
their due effect.
There was brief pause, and then she
said gently
''If we stay here there will be another
invasion; shall we join the others ?"
He offered her his arm in silence, and
they passed out into the hall kathie
Lynn, standing at the foot Of the stair
case with John Hilton. saw the two to-
gether, and turned to her friend with a
fremulous smile.
who is that lovely, dark-haired lady
with Mark ?" she asked, and tried to make
her voice steady, but it quiyered little.
Miss Reeves he answered: 'you
must have heard of her. She is a very
thorough woman of the world, but has the
heart to hide it under great deal of fine
talk and affected sentiment. She has cul-
ivated grace of mind rather than those
of the heart, and the only crop brought
forth by the latter is one Of selfishness >
Kathie looked mystified. and was in
clined to think Mr.. Hilton Judged the lady
somewhat harshly. But she did not care
to pursue the topic further. or analyze the
painful feeling at her heart She was a
brave, modest girl. and when she under
stood that Mark had regarded her simply
as friend, she put aside whatever
thoughts she might have cherished, and
would not acknowledge now to herself
that they had ever existed
Mrs. Fane's party was fruitful of result
Tor not only Miss Reeves. bnt kathie her.
self, had won a husband thereby. John
Hilton did not think the frank. trle-hearted
girl, who welcomed him with such bright
eyes. and was SO practical and efficient in
every relation of life, commonplace or
1t least if he did, he thanked Heaven that
few such commonplace women still en-
isted to brighten and purify the lives of
brothers. and fathers. and husbands. And
perhaps il was because he did not possess
those .higher intellectual needs spoken
of by Mark Somers. that he never missed
her sympathy Herewith. for whenever he
talked, whether of fields, or flowers, or
birds. or books. or business. he always
found her genial and ap),recia.ive
listener.
1t is true they did not rail at the world
and the fellow-beings, as Mark and Miss
Reeves were in the habit Of doing. or en-
ter into metaphy steal discussions, or fancy
that mortals had never before been created
with such sensitive and finely attuned or
ganization as theirs. But they were very
happy for all that, and J ohm Hilton thought
it the proudest moment in his life when
kathie shyly owned her love, and con-
tessed that he was dearer to her love. and
confessed that he was dearer to her than
'sall the world"
Marks wooing was somewhat different
For Claudia Reeves, with all her romance
and sentiment, looked at love in far more
practical light than our little Kathie, and
regarded rather the eligibility of the suitor
than her own feelings. Mark possessed a
comfortable income, but was not rich, and
thiswas the reason she kept him vacillating
solong between hope and fear alternate
ly inviting and repelling his advances. But
Claudia was nearly twenty-five, and was
dependent on an aunt whom she detested,
and Mark was handsome and had elegant
manners. and so the scale turned in his
favor.
The two weddings were as unlike as
possible. One was quiet and unsrctend-
ing, the other all show and glitter. Both
couples went to housekeeping at once, but
Ais"A.s NAN~ ~ ASiuNtHhtiss tLitt
it woulk cost far more than boarding
And SO it did under her management; but
not under Kathie's. For while Kathe con-
suited comfort, and was chiefly anxious to
please her husband, Claudia sacrificed ease
10 luxury, and sought the worlds approval
rather than Marks.
year went by, and to each household
came little stranger. Cladia had but q
cold welcome ready. Children are such
a nuisance, she said to Mark, II ALWAYS
detest them. Of course shall feel differ
emily toward my own, but as for making
such sacrifice for them as some mothers
do, never could"
The two families were on visiting terms.
and Mark Somers, loyal husband as he
strove to be, could not help contrasting
kathie's cheerful content with his wifes
ill-humor and dissatisfaction, for when it
was too late, Claudia began to think her
marriage a fatal mistake, and that she
might have done better if she had waited
longer. She was not wise enough to keep
her disappointment to herself, bat let il be
seen in numberless ways.
You had no right to marry on such a
beggarly income she said bitterly, when
Mark reproached her for some cxtraya.
ganee. "Ofall evils poverty is the worst"
CoNCLCDED TOMORROW