Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-02-17
A SHADOWED MIND.

A SHADOWED MIND.
| remember Avis Gray as II small,
misshaped little girl, with strange eyes
and habit Of flaming out into sudden,
unaccountable passions that made her
disliked by other children. Perhaps
they had feeling that she was not
like one of themselves. Now Paris
drcssmakel> 80 tubed The minute fgure
that the idea ol m.shapenness scarce
/ " obtruded itself. She limps little
in her high.hceled shoes. bit she man
aged to do it without being coDspicu.
Gus. The gray-green eyes in the small
face were stranger still, but why it
would have been difficult to say. Her
appearance was studied, dressed, ar
ranged in marvellous manner
"Why does she do it," | thought.
"For her husband ?"
was Avis companion now. Time
had benin those happy childhood
days and later-when our lot in life
had been equal. But that was now
over. | would not repine. Life had
taken from me more than independ-
ence. But that was my secret.
"Piere is coming back tomorrow"
said Avis suddenly to me one day.
SIS he?' | asked quietly. II am
glad for your sake"
She was looking at me absently
with her glittering eyes. Her pale
cheeks were family colored. She act
ually trembled little. And they had
been married two years. She drew a
quick breath.
Eyes He is coming back, and
| shall never let him 60 away again
never--without me" Her small,
thin hands were clasped vehemently
together.
"When men lead all active life of
affairs, they must leave home some
times" | ventured.
"He shall never go again without
me !" she repeated more excitedly
than before.
There was n silence.
"How long is it since you saw Pier
p" Avis demanded brusquely, fix
ing me with her strange gaze.
-Four years"
There was another pause. l could
feel her eyes OH me. l went calmly
on with the work | held in my hand.
She gave one of her sudden, shrill lit.
tie laughs.
"Well, you will find him as hand
some as ever"
81 don't doubt it. Mr.. Merritt is
a very handsome man."
"He is magnificent He is the most
superb looking man in America"
Poor Avis! Her extravagant ex-
pressions and thoughts, her reckless,
feverish manner, made me pity her
profoundly at times but at times
they were very latiguing.
The next day Pierre Merritt came
and the ordeal had most dreaded
was quietly passed. ] had met him
calmly, and now it did not seem to
me that anything more could ever
happen to me. | had loved him dear
ly, but he had never known it, and
now | saw him again as the husband
of another woman. He was dead to
me and | put him forever out Of my
thoughts.
WELL" said Avis to me week
later, "how do you think Pierre is
looking ?"
Every well"
"What does that mean? Do you
think he looks happy"
"Why should he not be happy,
Avis r.
"Ah! Why, ipdeed% She gave
one of her enigmatic laughs. Her
small fingers twined one about the
other with coruscation of prismatic
rays from all her rings. She was
never in repose, and since Pierre's
return she had seemed more restless
than ever. ale ought to be happy,
ought he not?' The Merritt firm
was just on the point of bankruptcy
when he married me, you know, and
all the money poor papa made went
to him, for let him have full control
of my fortune, and now the firm has
tided over all his difficulties and as
prosperous as ever it was. Certainly
Pierre ought to be happy"
looked at her half Indignantly.
you have no right to say that
your husband married you for money,
Avis"
Once more she laughed shrilly.
"Ah! You think he married me
because he loved me ~
"Avis, ] don't understand your
manner at all" said colby. And
| don't understand your words or in
situations"