The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-21

10 Say tHdI NlIllt. LID STOSSe was
guilty Of innuendO would be mislead-
ing, for the phrase suggests conscious
wrong doing. and 1t was a popularity
of Nine. La Crosse that she never con-
sciously did wrong. The misrepresen-
tations which spiced her conversation
would often have proved much less
dangerous form of slander If she had
not been so thoroughly imbued with the
notion of her own belief In them.
If anyone had accused her of love
of power she would have replied with
perfect satisfaction that no human be-
ing ought to desire to influence his fel-
low creatures. since we are none OF us
wise enough to do that: and that, as
for loving power. there was not one
thing she was so thankful to be spared
Yet undoubtedly the sense of power
was very pleasant to her at the mo-
ment in question.
A small. fragile girl OF twenty, with
soft pleading eyes and delicate jewish
features. sat i'm the low chair before
her. quivering with controlled agita-
tion. and Nine. La Crosse knew that she
might; if she chose, change the direc-
tion of ut least one thread in the pat
tern of her companions life.
The two women We're in striking con-
traSl. Madames queenly height and
finely prOportioned figure We're the more
noticeable in the closely-fttin black
gown which she Wore. while the little
fiuttering creature who sat gazing up
at the aquiline features and flashing
blue eyes was remarkably child-like in
appearance. though there was an in
definable suggestion of strength in the
delicately moulded chin and wide brow.
and a hint OF self-control in the sweet
firm curve of the red lips. 1t had been
said that Adela Mason's features were
Jewish: but the large soft eyes. now
al "a uith not
brown. and the curly hair that strayed
from beneath her white hat had too
much gold in it for the conventional
Jewish type.
Nine La Crosse. who had known the
girl from childhood, had been asking
series of impertinent questions with
regard to an aVowed lover. who had
set himself silently and determnately
to win Adelas heart Madame was
undoubtedly one of those friends who
are more to be feared than omen enc
mics, for she was jealous chiefly where
she loved most. Her deeds of self-sac-
rifcing tenderness seemed to lend an
added poison to her capricious speech;
and who could suspect so kind woman
Of slander or so wisely -worded per-
son of indscretion?
"Adela, you do not answer my ques-
tion. but your silence is enough. You
love this man. 1t is great RESPONSE
bility, the more so as he has never
given you occasion to suppose that he
cared"
A great wave of color swept over the
girls face: and. in her agitation, she
rose and stood before Madame, who
still lowered Il head and shoulders above
her as she adjusted the orange lilies In
the Sevres Jars on the mantelpiece.
1t was not for Adela to contradict
Madame's last statement, which she
l. L., I.., htt t,.a
taunt had struck home. and she was
struggling to forgive it as she an
swered;
II have said quite enough. ! have
told you that ! cannot marry one who
IL not of my own race; have prom
isemd"
II think the less that is said on such
subjects the better said Madame, Sc
Ver-ly.
TO Adela the conversation had heen
torture: but she did not. as she might
have done remark that ii was incon
sistent on the part of Madame to pro-
woke speech and then rebuke 1t. Adela
always felt bound and gagged by the
sense Of all she owed to Madame of af-
fection and gratitude and 1t humbled
her with kind of shame to realize that
Madame was not all she had once i'm
agined and that. as the charm gradual
ly lessened, the sense of bondage re-
mained. There was moments silence.
I'm which the scent Of the orange lilies
became oppressive, and Adela was con-
sclous of Madame's magnificent pose
as she fingered them.
The room. like its owner, had GER
tain air of precision, and seemed to say,
a little too plainly. II am neither poor
nor commonplace" though there We're
one or two unexpected flaws in the
beauty of its appointments, which sug-
gest-d too conventional a striving af-
ter mconventionality.
II.
1t looked out uron Il lovely old gar
den on the banks of the Thames above
Richmond. and. as Adela took il step or
two towards the window. she could see
the swallows flying hither and thither
and smell the sweet outdoor fragrance
OF the roses and syringa. She took a
deep breath, and then said quietly, at
Is very difficult to be truthful"
Il never find it So" said Madame.
briefly and, as she spoke. the man of
whom they had been talking was sud-
denly announced.
mir Arkwright." said the housemaid
who admitted him.
At q first glance Mr.. Arkwright APP
peared plain, insignificant person.
with manner suggestive of fas-
1lulOuS NINA. CONSCIOUS OF power ana
laughing at its own ditiidence. But
when he turned to Adea after the mo-
mentary greeting to his hostess n rare
beauty lighted up the colorless face. "a
beauty deeper than the love which
shone through it, He would have made
n good study for Sir Galahad in his
graver moments; though 1t has not been
recorded of Sir Galahad that he was
given to delicate jesting, and it Is pos
sible, therefore. that be might not have
appreciated Edward Arkwright's whim-
steal humor. Certainly there could
hardly have been il young man further
from the Byronic type loved of women
Adela was very young. but a great
trouble through which she had passed
three years earlier had broken down
several common illusions. and especial
ly the crude notion that a masterful
and reticent manner was necessarily
indicative of unfathOmed depths of af-
fection and incaluculable force of char
acter. She was still little flushed with
the preceding conversation. and the
crimson deeDened as she met the new
conner and said with bright air of self
possession I'VE must congratulate e
you on your new appointment"
rs that what people do when one is
sent to Siberia?'
But you are not going to Siberia. !"
said Madame. She always took Ark
wrights mOckipg speeches seriously
her own attempts at joke being invari-
ably of that pOnderous character which
betrays more thany anything else the
absence of humor.