Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1895-11-28
CHAPTER Nv.

CHAPTER ~.
She did all he advised-spent her
money for the poor until many blessed
her name; gave him a scrap OF paper,
signed by her, that meant thousands, to
equip the free reading rooms; went to
q meeting Of the Working Boys club
and listened to the hoarse voices sending
up q cheer as she entered She did all
this and more, and the thought that
haunted her was:
"I give them what I do not need.
They are nothing to me"
The old want pursued her. While she
gave freely she stood apart. Mrs. Vent
nor watched the new fever through all
its degrees until it subsidized and finally
died out As usual she laughed, patted
Marian under the chin, suggested a trip
to Florida, Europe, anywhere, which
was promptly refused, then began new
novel, and in the smoke of a cigarette
completely forgot the vagaries of her
charge.
But in Marian's heart force was
gradually developing whose power was
as yet unknown to herself. The weari-
ness of her life, had caused her intervals
of impatience often before; now itcaused
her pain. She saw Larremore and his
wife constantly and liked the one as
much as she detested the other.
Poor Jenny's gush over her visitors
delicate gowns and her parade of Sec
ondhand knowledge Of society people
CLEANED from New York papers de-
pressed Marian horribly.
One day in particular, when she went
in to return book Hugh had lent her,
Mrs. Larremore filled in the time with
vapid chitchat and shrill laughter, and
Marian returned home incredibly dis
gusted and angry.
Married to such womanP' she ex-
claimed, throwing her hat down and
impatiently pushing the hair from her
heated forehead. IA compilation of
vanity and idiocy. He should have a
wife who would be both his prime min
lister and sweetheart.
Mrs. Ventnor regarded her with mild
dismay.
"I sized up that young woman the
first time she opened her lips. Surely
you are not surprised. Heavens, that's
the way with menl The wisest Of them
are FOOLS Brains never do half as much
for woman as superficial brightness,
though this one hasn even that. Sym
pathy, soul or whatever you are pleased
to call it never goes half as far in the
marriage market as pair of pouting
lips or a neat ankle. l know man
he's in the senate now-he has great,
bullying forehead crammed with all the
ologies, and he told me he had fallen
in love with his wife because she was
cute. Of course, this sort of fascina-
tion dies soon. and the man awakens to
he fact that he has tied himself hand
Ind foot to fool--a pretty woman to
show off the gowns ae pays for-but q
fool That's exactly what your young
friend has done, my dear"
''I wonder what attracted him. or if
the gods made him both deaf and blind
when she crossed his path"
grew up together, went to the same
Sunday school, no doubt Sunday
schools are responsible for some very
incomprehensible marriages. Then-she
has dimple.'
"True, forgot the dimple."
Depend upon 1t he praised that dim
pie during their courtship, or she'd
never squeeze her lips SO hard to make
it appear and keep that side of her face
on view as she does. Yes," as she Sc
lected cigarette. "I'm afraid it was
the dimple.''
After this Marian avoided Mrs. Lar
remote whenever it was possible, and
perhaps it was not only chance that
made her happen upon Hugh late one
April afternoon as he came down the
steps Of the reading room, where he had
stopped ON his way home.
AS he saw her coming toward him, a
straight, slender figure chad all in light
est gray against the background Of
Young green, red brick and lemon col
ored sky, he felt again, as on that first
night, the stealing strength Of the
charm emanating from her, the evasive
something-was it in the long, slow
smile. the bright, dreaming eyes, the
tendrils@ dark hair on the whiteness of
her temples and neck, OF the suppleness
Of motion displayed in her walk? And
her gowns--he had never before noticed
a woman's clothes-but hers clung to
her. following the lines Of her figure
with such obedient grace. making little
tapping folds about her as she stepped
along lightly, easily.
It was oil of these-nay, it was more
it was a something deeper--it was
everything that made her herself.
Hugh dismissed his gig and walked
ON with her.
"I'm glad I met you," she said in
voice that struck him as formal "There
is something ] want to tell you"
"Not that you are going aways" he
asked quickly. and then wondered at
the feeling of incompatible loss that
suddenly made his heart heavy.
She was silent for rnoment before