Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-07-02

a
1T isn't fair Of you to be driving me
into a corner"
He was evidently unprepared for the
admission which her evasion implied,
and after having gazed at her for u mo-
ment ~reproachfully he resumed his mo-
notOnous walk upon the floor. Amid the
annoyance which she could not repress
there arose q vague sense of triumph
that she now had him completely at her
feet P~reliminarily therefore she had
no more use for him, for her object was
accomplished. She had demonstrated
her power and taught his masculine self
su1flciency the needed lesson. But some
how she was unable to dismiss him ut
this stage. A mere foolish femininity in
her sent out CROPPING tendrils toward
him, touching him In . wary and tenta-
tive way, as II ready to let 60 Of him II
he shculd prove 70 be unpleasant. She
had the feeling OF being launched upon
the first act Of q drama with q mild 81.
pectation Of more to follow. and IL
seemed absurd to withdraw Just a. the
plot promised to become interesting.
CHAPTER v.
The Romans kept in their houses n
altar to vesta and fed an eternal fame
in her honor. This Vesta, the genius ok
the home. though we recognize no moro
her sway In the old symbolic way. per-
vades many q modern household with
her mild radiance. Particularly In the
country. where neighbours are scarce and
life falls into q pleasant routine, the do
mestic warmth from the invisible vestal
altar is apt to draw people together,
and mere propinquity and the attractive
force Of habit foster q friendly interest
and familiarity which In time are accept
ed BY good humdrum people as q fair
substitute for love. I fancy that this ia
the raison d'etre Of the majority Of mar
riages among the rural gentry In Nor
way, and Mrs. Brinckman, who was q
profound connoisseur Of human nature,
had at first refrained from all interfer-
ence in the relation Of Mr.. Falck and
her daughter because she had counted ON
the assistance Of the all pervasive and
all powerful goddess Vesta. She had OBJ
served with satisfaction that the period
Of Indifference was past, and that both
from time to time were deeply agitated.
She knew by intuition. for Hulda did
not confide in her, that they quar-
relied, and she regarded that ON the
whole a. . favorable symptom. Some
times they failed to see each other across
the table at breakfast and dinner, and
Mr.. Falck wore q look Of perturbation
and anxiety which received its needed
commentary in Hulda's taciturnity and
majestic demeanor. The sapient mother,
who had anticipated q somewhat tn
multuous first and second act in the
drama which she had plotted. felt, how
ever. q trifle disappointed at the slow
ness Of its progress. There were days
when it seemed to have come TO an alb
solute ~standstill, and the two principal
actors appeared to have lapsed into q
state Of weary passivity. Ten months
had now passed since the curate's arrtv-
al. and an engagement was NOT yet In
sight. Mira Brinckman therefore resolv-
ed to stimulate her daughters CON.
science by reminding her Of what great
issues were at stake In her decision She
was q formidable lady. this placid and
sagaciOus matron. and there was moth.
ing that her daughter dreaded more than
. tete-a-tete with her. Forceful a. che
was herself and by nc mean a light
weight in point Of character, she felt
nevertheless insignificant and almost
helpless in those direful interviews with
her mother. The air Of the blue room
IA rarely used guest chamber with q
large POWERED wall paper-to which abe
was summoned ON such occasions wa
charged with . terrible solemnity. The
fact that the bishop when he am on
his annual TOUR Of inspection slept In
this apartment seemed somehow to In
vest 1t with an august dignity not un-
mixed with dread. Hulda remembered
distinctly how in earlier years all the
brass lion heads ON the bureau and
washstand made faces at hen during the
half hour while abe crOuched In q cor
ner, waiting to be taken to task for her
childish delinquencieA The lion heads
to be sure, had no terrors for her now.
but there were yet hideous suggestions
lurking In the pattern Of the wall paper
and diabolical profles which abe had
expended much ingenuity In detecting
during the p~enitential hours Of her pin
afore period. There was something in
the atmosphere Of the place which made
her q child again In the presence Of 8
chastising parent and reduced her self
respect and dignity 10 nil She was
aware thxt with her mother no subeer-
1uges would avail. Mra. Brinckmsn
could not like her husband. be put on
with dattery Of a6ectionate cajolery.
She had : most uncomfortable way 81
stripping thu subject under Discussion a
all sentimental drapery and exhibiting
Il IN IT. pitileas nudity. Hulda, Ia tlaree
blue room interviews had now GOT The