The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1893-10-13
FINDING, A SOUL.

widow, Mrs. Chalmers, to a group Of
three or four pretty girls who were
iornging picturesquely on the velvety
lawn. Il suppose he finds it quite i'm
possible to brc.. .way from his loyal
worshipers at the Springs. But he will
surely be here tomorrow, Mrs. Gard
ner thinks"
. "For my part, I shall not care if he
doesn't come at ALL" declared Margaret
Ralston, with the faintest possible curl
Of her expressive lips, and the slightest
toss of her graceful head, crowned with
its wealth of glossy chestnut hair.
''Why, Meg Ralston!'' cried two or
three Of the girls in chorus, 'how dare
you say such thing about the lion OF
our set?" Why, everybody else is just
dying to see HIM"
And know u dozen womn who are
madly in love with him. chimed in an
other; and
'And that's just why don't care to
see him." interrupted Miss Ralston, in
her calm, imperial way. "A heart
smasher! lady-killer! soulless ex-
Quisitc! Bah.' her sweet, clear voice
suddenly vibrant with thrill Of strong
contempt II say, girls, have you ever
once heard of him in any higher capac-
ity than as an accomplished leader OF
the german, a giver OF elegant theater
parties, and so on through the list of
fashionable functions? Did you ever
hear Of his doing anything noble, in
spiring-anything worthy Of man?
I'm sure I never did; and that is why
the coming OF Mr.. Hal Everdene fails
to rouse throb Of interest or curiosity
IN my heart
''Oh, nonsense. Meg: you'll talk very
differently after you have met him"
laughed little Dora Bright. Il shouldn' t
wonder if you'd be the first one Of us
to fall down and worship at his shrine.
what dO you say. girls:' turning with
coguish. sparkling eyes to her laughing
listeners.
IF she doesn't, it viii, please me just
as we'll" returned Mrs. Chalmers. mer-
rily; for I give you all fair warning
that [ intend to subjugate this fascin-
ating creature; and if Meg really will
keep out of the field my chances are
good. I'm not afraid of the rest of
you" -..-..
"A itch young widow! I should think
not!" retOrted Dora, with saucy pout.
And, in the burst of girlish laughter
that followed. sound Of a light stride
on the velvet Sward beyond the shrub
berry was heard.
The retreating figure was that of a
young man Of about twenty-seven
years, full of athletic grace. and with
u countcnance Of such manly beauty
that few would fail to give it. unvolun-
tarily, a second glance. At this partic-
u'ar mOmett that handsome face wore
an expression which would have made
fine study for al ambitious come
dian.
'Well, Hal, my boy" he calculated to
himself. as he fastened back to the
gates through which he had so lately
entered, "since your arrival is not ex-
pected until tomorrow, you would bet
ter keep yourself in modest Obscurity
until then, and learn to digest the un-
pleasant dose you have had to swal-
low. l wonder how many others hold
the same unflattering opinion Of ne
that she does? Well, the bitter dose
may prove good medicine-an invig-
Grating tonic which. I sorely needed
without being aware of it. suppose I
ought to be grateful to Miss Meg Rails
ton for administering it. All the same,
though, / shall not trouble her with my
attentions. Lucky that her words
caught and held me back just rs was
about to step into her critical presence.
Now I am quite prepared for the con-
temptOus reception that she means to
give me!'
On the following day he presented
himself at the Gardner villa, with his
tnCSt imI1es sivc grace of manner and
vas received with open delight by all
save Margaret Ralston, who treated him
with rs cool Indifference as goo2 breed
ing would permit.
This did not apparently, However.
disconcert the handsome social fayorite
in the least. His manner toward her
was marked by the most exquisite
courtesy when they CHANGED to meet,
but he rarely sought her society. di-
viding his attentions about equally be-
tween merry little Dora Bright and
the pretty young widow, Mrs. Chal-
mers.
Meg at first surveyed the situation
with supreme Indifference, but before a
week had passed SNk knew that slight
sensation of piQudas frequently els
turbing the even Mting of her heart.
After all, she was 6 Il girl of twenty.
and not so very different from the rest
OF womankind.
Mrs. Chalmers is as good as her
word" she unused, as she sat in her
room one night. after an exceptionally
brilliant evening lie which Mr. Hal
Everdene had appeared at his very
best; ''for she has evidently captured
the lion, for the present, at least. Mir.
Everdcne was certainly devoted to her
this evening, and he is a most attrac-
tive fellow, am forced to admit Some
hOw, he seems far different from the
portrait my fancy had Drawn of him
before we met. If he only had Il soul.
4 purpose, some grand aim in life, lle
would be maglificent. But. pshaw.
why should L care, when he is so utter
IL Indifferent to me? / had thought to
despise him, to crush him with my
womanly contempt for his idle exist
cnce, but, somehow. 1 cannot. HeighO
I wonder if Mrs Chalmers is so very
much prettier than t.
And Meg. suddenly forgetting her
lofty ideas about life anu it's high pur-
poses. rose UP from among her silken
cushions and stood before her pink
draped mirror, where she studied her