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

Perfectly content.
tened with aching heart came surging
to his ears, wild denunciation against
the wanton heedlessness that could 30
shut out the cry of the despairing.
Her beauty no longer softened him.
He felt it would not be impossible to
hate her.
"Have you no talent to cultivate?"
he asked her.
"These hands can't do anything but
play the fiddle. But I have not patience
enough to make myself complete mis-
tress of it."
"You might travel" And his flexible
voice, that had so many shades of tone,
told her he was beginning to disapprove
of her.
"TravelW she echoed lightly, bent
on provoking him and letting her lids
fall with a saucy affectation of weari-
ness. II have travelled. When you have
done much of that, one place is as dull
Us another. The brick and mortar of cit
les are much alike, and life beyond
the pale Of civilization is not to my
taste, which is, alas, so thoroughly arti-
ficial'.
''Then why not lose yourself in a life
of pleasuref Selfish, Of course, but alb
sorbing. Frankly, you have made mis-
take in seeking monotony here. If your
mind and heart are utterly empty, they
will feed upon themselves"
A little maid entered with tea and
set it out on low Turkish table beside
the divan.
"That's right, DR.. Larremore," said
Mrs. Ventnor as she held out her hand
to receive cup from Marian. "Give it
to her soundly. Send her back. !"
Hugh was amazed at the spasm of
petulant pain that marred the soft beau
ty of the girls face.
eff die from sheer vacuity, I'll new
er do that" she said in fierce, low
tone you'll have some tea, won't
you?" she added formally, then sprang
up, and going to the window let in q
food Of sunshine.
Mercy, my complexionl But there
you have no pity" And with re-
signed air Mrs. Ventnor grasped hand
screen.
Hugh rose to CO. As he did so Mari
an turned and looked appealingly at
him.
'We have kept you too long?" she
asked. "You think me butterfly you
think me O useless cumberer of the
earth. I don't blame you. Yet since So
ciety does not satisfy me am not quite
hopeless, am /? Perhaps you are little
curious about us. We lived among lit
erary and artistic set in New York,
many of them bohemians of the most
pronounced type. was one of them,
because I, too, was dabbler in the
arts. accomplished nothing. The loose
ends Of half dozen of my good for
nothing aims are scattered through this
house. Enough Of that Regard me,
please, as an interesting failure. I"
She looked frankly into his eyes and
held out her hand.
II like you, DR.. Larremore. You cure
diseases of the body. Cure my mental
ailment, whatever it is Shall I dag
nose my own case for you, as under
stand it?''
Her face, now gay and slightly mutt
nous, won him again. If she was heart
less, she was at least original.
'Let me hear it, by all means" he
said eagerly.
''It is that have no reverence for
anything, no love for any one. Home
ties were broken long ago. Nobody is
necessary to me. I miss nothing, I prize
nothing. Now, if you could only give
me purpose. Oh, if you only could"
He was o stranger, and she was ask
ing him to help her. How Hugh's heart
warmed at the thought! Then the sym
pathy he had felt with her must be re-
ciprocaL
She felt his hand close more surely
on hers, and he spoke from his heart.
fPut yourself where the humanity
that lies dormant IN you may be quick
ened. Spend some Of your money on
charityr' he said, his fine eyes light
ing. "If you only knew what life really
meansi The 'old pain Of earth is terri
bly, real You are free to do as you
please. You are wealthy. You have run
the gamut Of fashionable pleasure. Moth
ing tempts you. Try to see how it
feels to live little for others. don't
want to preach, and I'm not advising
self immolation, you understand. My
own life means too much to me to be-
ieve in that. But since you have no
aim"--he paused, and the magnetism Of
his glance thrilled her with new en-
thusiasm--'see, if only for new sem
sation, how it feels to ease one life Of
pain. The days won't seem so long, I
Z promise, nor life SO useless then"
When he had reached the door he
turned suddenly, with his boyish smile.
You have not told me your name"
Marian Trent"
"I'll be glad to bring my wife to see
you, il You like"
Eyes, bring her." she said absently,
and then added. with a soft assurance.
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