The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1897-01-15


| like a sob, and she dashed her hand,
with quick impatience, across her
eyes, from which Wentworth had never
taken his own. watching them dim as
the light from the window proved too
strong for them, and finally fill as she
ceased to speak. Searching Intellectual
ly about her dress for a handkerchief.
which lay on the table beside her para
sol, unnoticed by either. Jennie went
on, with some difficulty:
well. these poor. forlorn creatures
were once men-men who had gone
down, and if the world is so hard ON
a man, with all his strength and re-
suurcefulness, think-think what it is
for a woman to be thrown into this
inhuman human turmoil-a woman
without friends - without money
flung among these relentless wolves
to live if she can-or-to die-if she
can"
The girls voice broke and she buried
her face in her arms, which rested on
the table.
Wentworth sprarg to his feet and
came round to where she sat.
Jennie" he said, putting his hand
on her shoulder.
The girl, without looking up. shook
off the hand that touched her.
Go back to your place" she cried,
in a smothered voice. Leave me
alone!"
Jennie" persisted Wentworth.
The young woman rose from her
chair and faced him, stepping back
pace.
Don't you hear what l say? Go
hack and sit down. came here to
talk business; not to make a fool of
myself. It's all your fault, and hate
you for it-you and your silly ques-
TONS"
But the young man stood where he
was, in spite of the dangerous sparkle
that lit up his visitors wet eyes. a
frown gathered on his brow.
Jennie" he said. slowly, ARE you
playing with me again?"
The swift anger that blazed up in her
face. reddening her cheeks, dried the
tears.
How dare you say such a thing to
me?" she cried. holly. do you fiatter
Yourself that because / came here TO
talk business, have also some personal
interest in you? Surely even your self
eonceit doesn't run so far as that!"
Wentworth stood silent, and Miss
Brewster picked up her paraSOl, scat
teYing, in her haste, the other articles
on the floor. If she expected Went
worth to put them on the table again
she was disappointed, for. although
his eyes were upon her, his thoughts
were far away upon the Atlantic ocean.
Il shall not stay here to be insulted,"
she cried. resentfully, bringing Went
worth's thoughts back with rush to
London again. ut is intolerable that
you should use such an expression to
me. Playing with you. indeed"
Il had no intention of insulting you,
Miss Brewster"
What is it but an insult TO use such
phrase? 1t implies that l either
care for you or"
And do you?"
DO | what?'
DO you care for me?'
Jennie shook out the lace fringes of
her parasol and smoothed them with
some precision. Her eyes were bent
on what she was doing. and consequent
ly they did not meet those of her ques-
toner.
II care for you as friend, of course"
she said, at hast, still giving much at
tention to the parasol. IF l had not
looked on you as a friend would not
have come here to consult with you,
would 70"
NO. / suppose not. Well. ] an sorry
1 uSeu the woruS JnaJ ulSpIeaseu you,
and now, if you will permit it, we will
go on with the consultation"
1T wasn't pretty thing to say"
I'm afraid I'm not good at saying
pretty things"
You used to be-" The parasol be-
ing arranged to her liking she glanced
up at him. Still you said you were
sorry, and that's all man can say-or a
woman either, for that's what / said
myself when / came in. Now, if you
will pick up those things from the
floor-thanks-we will talk about the
mine"
Wentworth seated himself in his
chair again and said:
We'll, what is it you wish to know
about the mine?"
Nothing at all"
But you said you wanted informa-
ton"
What funny reason to give! And
how a man misses all the fine points
of a conversation! No; just because
| asked for information, you might have
known that it was what L really want
| ed"
I'm afraid I'm very stupid. hate
to ask boldly what you did want, but
/ would like to know"
Il want a vote of confidence. told
you l was sorry because of a certain
episode. l wanted to see if you trust.
ed me, and L found you didn't. There
Il think that was hardly fair test
You see the facts did not belong to me
alone"
Miss PrevvStar Sirbed and SLOWLY