Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1891-08-21
ttEdgar Warfield.n ~

/
''You can't run away now, Gwen,
she said softly. ''It isn't decent. Bt
civil to the poor fellow, at least"
She disengaged herself gently from
her niece's clasp. And after the formali
ty of introduction had been followed by
a few words between herself and the
young man she wandered away with one
of her sweet, indulgent smiles and re
entered the house.
''She's dear little thing-my aunt,
said Miss Gwendoline abruptly, follow
ing the little gray figure with her brill
liant eyes. "Don't you think she's prct-
typ
81 don't know. You can't expect one
to know" said Mr.. Warfield with inten.
| ton.
'I wish," Miss Ventnor explained,
knitting her fine brows, ''that you would
not say such ridiculous thingsl"
''Do you call them ridiculous2' asked
the young man with shade of pallor Oh
his cheek.
EYES," curtly.
The young man looked down and
traced pattern on the gravel with the
end of his stick
''You are awfully hard on fellow, y
he said in moment without looking up.
''Well, there is one thing" cried the
young lady, ''you can stand it. All men
can"
Her fathers voice was calling her from
the house. Mr.. Ventnor wanted some
music. Gwendoline must sing for him.
"Come, Miss, I'll tolerate no shirk-
ing" he threatened jocosely.
SIN not likely to shirk," announced
the young lady below her breath as she
bent over the piano near which Mrs. New
combe sat. ''Tm too much relieved to
be freed from our visitor for while"
"Ah, my dear, you're a cruel girl.
You're breaking that poor fellows heart, "
murmured that little widow.
''Not at all likely" responded Miss
Ventnor preluding brilliantly.
Mrs. Newcombe had retreated to the
embrasure of window. Mr.. Ventnor
had ensconced himself in an arm chair,
and Mrs. Ventnor sat, murmuring in un-
dertones to one or two neighborly neigh
bors of her own age. Mrs Newcombe
made little kindly sign to Edgar War
field, who stood vaguely near her, and
he dropped, with instant gratitude, into
a chair by the window. There was in
this pretty woman's soft eyes look of
understanding the situation and an init
nation of friendliness toward him which
moved the young man deeply.
Gwendoline sang song after song, in
her full, rich voice, and Mrs. Newcombe
sat gently agitating her fan and listen
ing with smiling attention.
81 know no ones voice that charms
me as does Gwendoline's, she said, in
a little pause, turning to Edgar Warfield.
He felt his heart warming to Miss
Ventnor's young aunt.
"Miss Ventnor's voice is wonderfully
Brilliant" he said, with q lovers for
maity.
"Yes, but it is not the brilliancy
alone. That is secondary matter,
though it is the most obvious, perhaps.
Gwendoline's voice is full Of feeling, too.
But it is like herself. The feeling is not
1aunted on the surface"
Edgar Warfield felt rs though his
wound was being touched by the geutlest,
most healing of sympathetic fingers.
His heart beat quickly. What n charm
irg, speaking voice this young aunt of
Gwcndoline's had, too. And how
quantity, delicately pretty she was. Her
color had the charming daintiness, her
smile the fascinating occurrences of
young Quakeress. Or was it the soft,
gray dress with the line of dazzling neck
showing above draperies of foamy lace,
that made her look so2 Miss Ventnor
called her "Auut Phoebe" The funny,
old-iashioned name suited this exquisite
little person, somehow. In this light
she scarcely looked older than Gwendo-
line. But, of course, she must be.
When the singing was over Mr.. Vent
nor proposed cards. Mrs. Ventnor
rapidly assorted couples, but Gwendo-
line, with rapid conference.-the,
headed her off.
81 can only play with papa" she as
serted with decision. "No one else un.
dcrstands my play"
"Then will Mr.. War6eld play with
me?" said Mrs. Newcomb. And in her
charming glance and smile the grateful
young man again read a full appreciation
OF the bearings of his case and an inten-
ton to befriend him, to help him on.
Gwendoline, even with her fathers
vaunted understanding of her play, made
a number of blunders in her character
ist;cally reckless fashion and talked
good deal in brusque, crisp phrases,
throwing down her cards with her large,
shapely hand, undisguisedly brown by
exposure to the sun and air,
But Mrs. Ncwcomb's little white paw,
which crept out, with a glistcn of rings
upon it, as gently as a kittens, only
played its cards to make tricks, and Ed
gar Wartield, who was methodical and
conscientious young man, was vaguely
gricved and gratifed; the former that
the charming Gwendoline should be SO
carelessly indifferent to good game of
whist, and the latter that he, with his
partners help, should be maj ing SO good