Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-02-05
OUT OF THE QUESTION.

questioned HarryJaekson ofhis friend.
"Why, yes, | know just as well the
kind Of girl | shall marry as if | were
engaged to her now" And he half
closed his eyes and leaned back in his
chair.
"She must be tall and graceful, a
perfect hostess, one who is eminently
fitted to sit at the head of my table
and entertain my guests. She must
be bright, accomplished, of ready wit,
but not all intellect-deliver me from
woman who is all brain-she must
be an accomplished linguist, and know
about art and music; in fact, every
thing that makes a woman a social
success. OF course | want her to
have a good disposition. shall not
have to marry a woman for money,
for l have plenty of that. | want
some one to grace my home. Of course
a woman who has done anything to-
ward her own support would be out
of the question: ~ Harry daintiIy
brushed the ashes from his cigar and
waited for his friend to speak.
They were both young men of fash
ion, dressed in white flannel, sitting
on the piazza of a great, fashionable
hotel.
81 can see the future Mrs. Jack
son." his friend laughed, though |
can't for the life of me see why you
object so to woman's earning her
livelihood if she has to. You know
there are too many changes of for
tune. Why, one of the most charm
ing girls l know"
"Pshaw" interrupted Harry. 81
know to whom you refer, and you
think she is signing little for me.
Well, Eleanor Platts may be stun
ner, but the very fact that she takes
pupils, kills her for me-"
The other young man flushed a lit
tie and his eyes burned with bright
er light as he replied;
miss Platts has shown herself a
heroine. In the face of society she
has risen to an emergency. Her faith
er's failure was an honorable one, and
when he died she refused to be de-
pendent upon that querulous, miserly
aunt, and consequently was cut off
from her will. By the way, she is
here as Marion Ellis's guest"
There was a little pause. Harry
laughed and soon the two strolicd off
towards Harry's yacht.
The young girl just around the
corner of the house from where they
had been sitting, clasped her hands
tightly together, pressed her lips, and
an angry flush spread over face
Then the Righteousness of the whole
thing came over her, and she smiled,
in spite of the hurt that would make
itself felt
That night there was hop at the
hotel, and Robert Evelyth was sur
prised to see his friend devoting him
self to the very girl he had sneered at
that afternoon.
Eleanor was dazzlingly beautiful
that night. She was dressed in pure
white, her cheeks were flushed, her
deep brown eyes shone with a happy
light, and her lips were parted in a
smile as she circled around the room
with Harry for partner.
"Ah, she has always loved him,
thought Robert, bitterly. "And Har-
ry loved her, | believe, before her
father failed. Poor girl How little
she knows that he is trifing with her,
the scoundrel !"
After the waltz Harry and Eleanor
promenaded slowly up and down the
hall.
II have not seen you for two years,
he said.
"No, not since papa died. You
have been abroad. Did you eLjoy
sightseeing" she replied.
Immensely, though Paris suits me
best to live in. You used to like TIA
ly."
eyes, and Italy has served me to
good advantage. L nave puplIs Id
singing in Italian, you know
Harry WINGED little. She was so
beautiful and charming that he had
almost forgotten.
Besides, if he did amuse himself
now, he might be forgiven, for he
used to know her so well. He had
fancied himself quite in love. She
had served for all his ideals, except
for her absurdity in being independ-
ent of her relatives.
Robert watched them and sighed.
H. bad Iono loved Eleanor hut his