The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-05-30

subject In which the other girl was really
interested. Actors were her heroes. She
knew great deal that was not true and
great deal that was tedious about theat-
rlcal life and ehe chartered on this topic
until Linley could have shaken her. What
had formerly seemed artlessness turned to
irritating Stiffness as Doris listened and
questioned courteously.
At last the girl seemed TO realize that
she was not making great impression.
She stopped short and flashed an angry
glance at her hostess.
"You don't care word for all this
you're only pretending-you'r too clever.
! dare say 1t is nice to be able to write, but
| IL makes people supercilious
Doris laughed pleasantly and said; ~
wish could get my editors to agree with
you. They occasionally find ! am not
clever at all. One Of them has Just sent
me book to review which is quite beyond
me, Conflicting Conventionalities. Have
| you read itP"
Miss Saunders had-as matter of fact,
! Linley had lent IL TO her. She had thought
| Il dull and "sermony," but she was able
TO talk about IL, and for little while con-
versation went on pleasantly enough. Lin
| Icy was very pleased with Doris. 1t seemed
to him she was behaving kindly and with
! tact toward girl she could not but con-
slider as a rival. She might set her mind
at rest on that point, IL she did but know
It, just when that last thought was in
! his mind, Miss Saunders justified IL by
breaking in rudely:
! "Oh, yesl But all your reading isn't as
dry as that. You were reading French
novel when we came in. 1 saw II"
"Yes-I was reading 1t for the third
time" said Doris simply.
"Ohi I'm not allowed to read such
things"
Linley knew the book, and knew It to
| be as innocent as IL was beautiful. He
was angry that Doris did not defend 1t and
herself Her fingers played with the leaves
| indifferently. He saw in the other girls
eyes % look of envy and of curiosity. He
was startled and suddenly realized that II
that other girl got hold Of French novel
1t would not be for its beauty of style or
artistic merit that she read 1t. Had he
made the most common of all errors-mis-
taken chaperonage for innocencep He
dropped out of the conversation. The two
women talked. Miss Saunders talked the
most and whenever she finished q sentence
she giggled. He disliked everything she
said or did; her tone Jared. In the clear
white light of Doris room, she seemed
overdrawn, exaggerated. Her waist was
too small, her coloring too brilliant; her
very youth was aggressive and tiresome.
When the sound Of the door bell announced
the arrival Of her mother, he felt relieved
| from intolerable boredom.
"You will take Miss Saunders down
stairsY" Doris was saying.
The girl protested awkwardly. She
would rather go alone--she didn't want
Mr.. Linley. She grew little incoherent
and submitted with an i'll grace. She
seemed bewildered, as II she did not quite
know what had happened, and yet was
crushed and humiliated by it. Humilia-
tion was unbecoming to her 1t made her
beauty seem tawdry. Linley's adieu, as
he gave her into her mothers charge,
seemed, even to himself, to suggest final
ity He hurried back to Doris.
Doris moved q step or two toward him
In the white light Every fold Of the
straight brown gown shook out memories.
"Dorisp' he cried Doris what q
strange girl you are! Why did you do itY
Why did you have that tiresome girl here
| to spoil our quiet EVENING" Poor girlY
Nonsense. She's all right; she has dozens
Of men in love with her. Let her go to
them; she shall not trouble u.s. Why do
you look SO sadP Let us forget all about
her. Don't ask her here again. You were
very kind to her, but never in all my life
saw any one so out of place as she was in
your room. Did you want to teach me a
lessonP Well, it's taught. shan't need
another. Seeing you two together once
was enough. / may have been fool--a
blind fool-but you have opened my eyes.
You need never fear again, never distrust
me again. am yours now-yours entire.
ly-always."
In his excitement he flung himself to-
ward her. She drew back, with little
sob in her throat
"Don't, Edward, don'tl You ought to
be angry with me. l am very much
ashamed. have been mean-ungenerous
but you Edward, l was very fond of
you-that was why l did it-and if you
had stood by that poor girl tonight,
might have been fond of you still. Mora
Vynne in New Budget.