Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1894-02-09
Women


both young, both moderately cookbook
ing, and both, in a different way, had
intelligent bright eyes that observed
much and betrayed little One woman
was a small. passionate little person,
with Il delicate mouth, and she was
called Isabel
The other woman was Il small. pas
sionate person, with full pale lips and
an aggressive chin. She was called
Lillian.
1t was a cool summer evening, after
dinner, but the room seemed hot to
both of them, owing to the point i'll
discussion.
Isabel spoke.
Eyes, | have done WIIn him alto
cether. Are you really surprised"
NO, not in the least. was sur
prised at the beginning of your friend
ship, but I was quite prepared for the
end. You never understood each
other"
THAT is just it. And continual argrl-
ment is so tireSome. | assure you for
months | have felt quite worn out
and he
"Oh. he" The womans face soften
Cd. Il am very sorry, but [ fear | must
have been Il trial. Lillian. I alternated
between trying TO act up to his idea
Of me- and rllth1essly tearing it down.
The curious fact is, that he never had
any instructive recognition of my real
self"
Were you'-Lilian Strengthened her
small person and arched the pretty
pert cllin-''were you ever really en-
gagged. Isabel?"
The other answered rapidly:
"Oh. no, How could we be? | am
so poor, and he earns very little. Now
if it had been you, with all your money.
it might have been different. Still. l
did look forward to marriage, when he
would be jealous no longer, and |
should be all his. And then I was
jealous, too"
You! Who were you jealous of,
dear?"
Nv asn't it absurd, Lilian?-of YOU
and-of others
well, 1 did know him long before
you
Eyes, and you were such great
friends
ooh. he consulted me about every
thing"
Isabel, trembling little: "About
me?'
"Well, yes, about you-sometimes.
How horrid of him."
There was q pause. Isabel paced
the room, and large tears appeared in
her grey eyes, which she did not allow
to fall Lillian had two malicious dim
pies at the corners of her mouth, and
in distinct contradiction of their pres
ence. she sighed.
you see. Isabel, dear, you were
not suited"
"low could we be?' broke out the
other passionately. in all his love fol
me, he had no trust; in all my love fol
! him. there was a certain amount OF
fear l am morbidly sensitive anG
he wounded me day by day. He is
sensitive, too, in different way; ant
my wish to have him all to myself, Il
rob him from his too numerous lady
! friends. seemed absurd in his thinking
He refused to believe in the depths o.
my feelings, because I was timid o.
expressing them. I wanted him to un
derstand me by instinct, and a mai
so often lacks that"
"He is very clever and has plenty o.
TACT
i Isabel stopped short and faced he
companion. Tact is an elastic thing
! Tn,
applied to his dealings with certain
natures. AS I said, he made a mistak
about mine"
well" Lillian smiled and thel
sighed again. Its all over now"
"And 1 remember" continued tn
:. other, rs if she had not heard-'th
| first time I saw him; remember tn
curious thrill. the curious certainty tina
came over me, that he would play som
, part in my life. 1 wonder if he remen
bers, too l wonder if he remember
. his first impression of me. I was hoI
ribly shy-and I know he thought III
pretty"
: HE is a great admirer Of femll
: beauty, certainly" admitted Liiiar
dryly.
''Will you-will you see him niue
: now"
Surely, my dear Isabel, you can
:, expect me to give up an old frien
just because you have quarreled wit
l him."
e But still he might talk of me-"
1 Il don't think so. And if he did,
r can decline to discuss the subject
: The other suddenly knelt down b.
: side her friend. In her small face,
: her grey eyes, there was a hungr.
e wistful expression that Lillian coul
4 not be blind to, and it gave her an VI
e easy pang.
s Lii, dear Tell me- Do you thin
? I have been very unwisew
: mo. WhyY'
e Because my heart is aching till ca
: scarcely breathe. Because am 1oni
q ing just to know what he is doing, NJ
. to be wholly shut out Of his life. b
cause II am miserable"