The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1895-04-25

her into making too mucn OF an uHaei
bred fellow, who would not know how
to accept either in the right spirit. Well,
she would show him how much she
cared for his narrow opinions!
Pei had first not intended going to
Mrs. Bigelow's reception the following
!, evening But when the hour arrived
it was as it had been many times be-
( fore He had not the courage to stay
/ away.
He had come in rather late, and soon
after the irksome portion of the even
ing to Theo's restlessness and turpu-
lence was over. People had ceased to
| arrive, and she was free to devote her
self to whom she chose. and, full in view
| of PeTs moody gaze, she choOze to de-
vote herself to Herr Hermann Lotze.
The socialist was an enormous fellow,
whose HerculSan proportions seemed
| to be growing out of his dress suit in
every direction. The suit in question
was more in concession to the habits OF
an effete, and rotten society than Theo
had looked for, but it might be that It's
| impossible fashion was but another
| form Of protest against the conven-
| tionalities
| His hair and beard, on the other hand.
| flowed and tossed about in the most
unShorn defiance to all and every soc1aI
usage, and he had a manner OF posing
| in doorways, with one lock between his
| eyes, for the sake of the effect derived
| by the throwing of it back, a Ia genius,
and one hand statuesquely plunged IN
! the front Of his waistcoat, which filled
Pei with unholy wrath and a consum-,
ing desire to show him by active assist
| ance the NOSE direct way to the front
| door.
| And presently, and absolutely for the
first time in his life. some Of this anger
| sprang up in Pei against Theo as well.
He could not know that the girl was
possessed with a spirit Of pervers1ty
| that evening, and she was chiefly IN
| tent upon proving her indifference to
| the opinions he had expressed the day
| before He watched her gaily yet de-
| ferentially chatting with that fellow,
| listening to the ponderous utterances
| of which he seemed to deliver himself
ex-cathedra, supporting without finch
| ing his adniring chances and his con-
quering attitudes-the fact was, that
Theo was both unconscious of both one
and the other-and dull wrath
against her coquetry famed up in his
soul. He had been jealous of her times
enough before, heaven knows, and with
| cause, but, at least, those other men
| had been gentlemen whereas this crea-
ture-!
The reception broke up i'll a dance Tor
the young people, and Mrs Bigelow,
| shutting up to him gently, entreated
| him to exert himself in behalf Of "all
| these pretty girls" Pei, whose good ma
| ture could usually be depended on,
| though it had become insufferabIe to re-
| main in the house longer, did not know
| how to refuse the poor, good, helpless
| little woman. But all the time he was
cognizant Of Theo's whereabouts, and
while he danced with one pretty girl
and another, he knew that she did not
dance and that Hermann LotZe enter
| tanned her leisure with her harangues.
"And what do you think of Herbert
Spencer on that particular subject?"
Theo had asked the socialist after they
had come in from supper where, as Pei
had not failed to observe, the socialistic
principles were not incompatible with
the freest use of the hospitals Of the
rich in the matter both of meat and
drink. Il have all his works in the next
room. 1 will show you the passage I
! have reference to-"
She was not thinking of Pei now. She
terest of this discussion on sociology.
She led Hermann Lotze into the adjoin-
ing room, which happened to be empty,
and taking down a number of daintily
| covered volumes which she had insisted
on receiving for one of her Christmas
presents, and in which she had not
looked more than twice since, she be-
gan rapidly to turn over the pages of
one.
hermann Lotze was standing up be-
fore her. with his hand in his bosom,
! as she searched.
Suddenly she heard him heave deep
Sign.
'Ach! I have no interest in Herbert
| Spencer just now" he said. He pro-
| nOuuced it hat no indereSt" and Her
pert.
"What-what is the matter?" she said
bIuntly, though being visionary, also a
very practical young lady.
>"Wnat is the matter? You ask me
! what IS the matter? Ach, when 1 look
around this lovely-Or 'lotely' room and
| see you sitting there in your exquisite
'Oh, but exclaimed Theo eagerly,
| feeling that she had caught the drift
| of mis- thought, Il assure you that !
would not have had all this sort Of thing
| from choice. When 1 think OF all these
poor creatures who have nothing at all
not even the necessarieS-oh! 1t makes
me feel at times as though I wanted
| to part with everything I have! I would
much rather live more simply, but my
| father and mother won't hear of any
| thing Of that kind"
ZACH, no?" said Hermann Lotze, who
| seemed to find all this very interest
| ing.
NO." said Theo, sincerely.
Zach, well, we can order our own lives
afterwards we please, Ell, Thee, &C
cording to dose high principles?"
And Hermann Lotze had gone down
ne knee before her and had seized
nd, from which the book had
while she sat transfixed with
ing him in the face.
II mean?" she demanded.
and away violently.
getting up instant
move.
red. "Have
ord? Say