New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-03
AGAINST HUMAN NATURE.
BY MARIA LOUISE POOL
Copyright: 1895: BIZ The Tribune A''oefat'o7'
BREAKING DOWN.

BREAKING DCWN
Miss Wallis went the very next day 10 Asipui-
on Place She shown into room Where
vere three or four women besides their hostess.
Rut as all these women save one were stahuiIls'
IT seemed as II they were going
Mrs Mercer not talking with theh SHE
uoe listening She smiled at Amy as she en-
tered
AMY was telling herself that she ought to have
.,oroh, that II was likely there would be others
here. but the truth was, she was unreasonaoly
d,sannointed in not finding Mrs. Mercer alone.
She wondered afterward If she showed this dis
snnointment very plainly. for the lady sitting IN
,ounging attitude on a couch rose when the others
had gone and drew her wrap about her.
Are YOU GOING" asked Temple.
Yes: am" was the answer. II suppose you
have another meeting tonight. l hope youH
take YOUR malt and not forget the extract or
beef and between whites, l wish you'd drink
raw egg or two. If you won't rest you must
crowd down the nourishment The whole thing
Is outrageous and don't care who knows it,
Here the speaker laughed slightly and glanced
at Miss Wallis who had taken the chair Temple
had moved toward her.
"Whv It's Miss Wallis"' exclaimed the woman
She advanced and held out her hand
Don't you remember Mrs. Ammidown!
The two greeted each other cordially.
"I thought there was something familiar about
YOU" responded Amy. but you were before the
window and couldn't see.
"snce YOU know my caller. introduce U.S.
Laura" said Temple
Mrs Ammidown complied, and the three cha'-
ted moment. Every time Temple spoke Miss
Wallis was conscious Of desire to turn and look
q, her not with the superficial attention one
often gives but with feeling very different
Tenple's voice was of that kind which pene-
trates and strs. even when speaking common
places But Miss Wallis. though she tried to de-
scribe il afterward. could find no word for its pc
cuar timbre. She felt an excitement from mere
" listening to it, an excitement and ar attraction
which were made stronger by the fact that Iem-
pies eyes had the same power as her voice.
1t was the undefinable something with which
some people are born which cannot by any pos
sbility he acquired. Sometimes the term mag
netism of presence" is applied and then the user
of that term may think he has defined the thlng
But the thing remains just as mysterious as ever
Temple undoubtedly did possess personal mag
netism, but, added TO that, was an inex'lnsulsha-
BILE goodwill and well-wishing and sympathy
which il was impossible for the most stupid not 10
feel though they might not be able to analyze IT,
But she looked worn and thin; and older now In
this room than Miss Wallis had thought her to be
the night before.
Under the beautiful. golden black eyes were
purple marks, but the eyes, as well as the hps'
smiled cordially at Amy when the two sat down
by themselves after Mrs. Ammidown had gone.
Now have come l feel wicked" began Miss
Wallis directly. You tired; you are seeing
people all the time. l ought to have spared you
"rhen l should have missed pleasure" said
Temple.
1t was what a conventional society woman
might have said but the tone made it genuine.
Miss Wallis could not imagine the woman before
her as saying anything she did not mean. She
said kind things; therefore, she must feel kindly.
Il was 50 interested last night" began Amy.
81 wanted to ask you if your religion always sat-
isles if it really fills your heart, n-oh Mrs
Mercer. don't you know that even In your very
happiest moment. there is something lacking?-I
mean, isn't thereT
Mrs Mercer did not reply Immediately. She
sat with her hands loosely clasped in her lap. her
eyes lowered. The girl, looking at her. could not
but notice what she mentally called disciplined
appearance" OF the whole face And she noticed
too, how thick the ght-hued eyelashes were. how
strongly marked and heavy the brows of a color
not much darker than the abundant. pale hair
Miss Wallis could not compare this woman with
the mountain girl Of three years before; II she
could have done she would have been startled
at the change. And yet the mountain girl was
there, and something more; rich-natured
woman, holding in herself seemingly inexhausti-
BILE emotional powers. But the girl had possessed
all that What was 1t. then that the years had
brought?
Miss Wallis leaned nearer.
Dear Mrs Mercer" she said. you don't think
me impertinent, do you?'
Temple raised her eyes.
Impairment" she exclaimed. Why should /
think so? Are you not asking the same question
that every heart is continually asking of itself.
OF the world, and Of Code
Then you are like me. like the rest OF u.s. re-
turned Miss Wallis. You have not found that
something which satisfies longing?"
NO" said Temple. Il have not found It,"
She spoke in a low tone, and she fixed her eyes
on her companion. who returned the intent
glance.
I'VE seem each TO be made OF two creatures"
went on Temple as If she were talking to herself,
of something finite and something infinite.
There are moments when the finite in us may be
fed until it is satisfied, and no longer cries out
But the infinite is always hungry-always asking,
and yearning and longing"
Temple had put the palms OF her hands to-
gether in her old way. she bent forward
Miss Wallis was thinking that had Mrs. Mer-
Ger not been absolutely sincere. she would not re-
vivas: as she was, have replied exactly in this
way.
Amy hesita;ed moment before she said:
Il though; that Mr. Mercer told US that the re-
llgion he preached does satisfy?
Yes. he believes that. He believes that II is
possible for one to be so filled with the very spirit
Of God that all this undefnable yearning is salts
fed; at least. 1t Is no longer pain"
The two women sat near each other in silence
for few moments.
Mrs. Mercer leaned back in her chair. Miss
wallis noted how thin and vened the temples
We're, how far too delicate the contour of the
whole face.