Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1897-10-07
ONLY PaULlNE. ;:
nv ETA J. WEBB.

rho day was cneeIleso oiAo o'oA1
la Novamber. Perhaps it was for
loF , Vow reason that the shabby lit
/ u. tn's sjtting-room looked SO cosy. mere
u Iss a. a bright wood fire in the crate
Wa ss,sirg a genial warmth and light.
umarine loved warmth and light,
hS'I lovod roses, too; not the sweet,
spe ~ frsoJe kind that overran the old
Na u1on in summer, but heavy, rich
Sa ..tod crimson roses, such as Jack
n 1.S sent in great handfuls daily.
moro was a bowl of them now on the
I 'n making blot of vivid color
p prime the sombre background.
'o pnt # was not Katherine who stood
=, the hearth rug with fingers inter-
hood staring modify into the fire.
f. was "only" Pauline. The warm
sOw lent a faint color to her olive
ebooks and brought out certain lus-
tra in her hair that was not there ex-
epntipg in a strong light. Too, it re-
raalpd 2 lurking bitterness about her
month and in her eyes. Pauline's
thoughts we're not pleasant ones. She
was feeling at odds with herself and
al, the world-that disagreeably an
tagonistic feeling that sets ones
moral teeth so sharply on edge.
"Only Pauline!" Long ago-so long
ago that it seemed to her sometimes
as if it could never have been other
vise-she had become reconciled to
the fact that Katherine and Rather
ines wishes must always receive first
consideration. But then Katherine
was so beautiful that the best of ev-
erything seemed hers by right. It
was not hard to yield to her as to a
palmer person or one less charming.
Beside Pauline was not beautiful. In
deed, no one had ever gone so far as
/ to call her good looking. Viewed in
the light of Katherine's exceeding
loneliness, she was plain even to
insignifcance. Pretty, vain Mrs.
Ward had never been quite able to
understand why her two daughters
were so unlike
katherine is all Morton" she was
wont to say, "but Pauline
The sigh and deprecating little
shrug were more effective than any
mere words could have been in the
completion of her meaning.
Pauline had heard the above re-
mark times without number, and had
given little heed. But when, one day,
her mother made it in the presence of
Wilton Eliot, she felt sudden rush
OF rebellious feeling that brought
tears to her eyes and a choking SEN
satlon into her throat. Did it need
mat to make him fully conscious Of
ner unattractiveness? Surely he could
see it without. For the first time in
ner young life the girl felt that she
mad not been treated fairly by her
mother and Katherine.
1t was the thought of this, and not
'ne sunless, chill November day that
gave to her face it's touch of gloom.
% absorbed in reflection was she that
sle did not hear when the door be-
nina her opened softly and some one
came into the room.
"Pauline.'
ehe turned to confront the slight,
'o!lsh-Iooking young fellow who had
just pronounced her name.
IN, It's you, jack" she said, smil-
ing little. Il did not hear you come
In"
Tour mother said I should find you
uere What a nice fire!" He came
sno stood before her on the hearth
lug katherine-is she not at
AO'ne he asked, unhesitatingly.
no. she has gone to make some
walls with Mrs. Westford."
=. ne drew a deep, quivering breath
~ ~ winch the girl looked sharply up at
!, m afraid you think I'm not very
ehair?" ~ ~
~ NO, thank you. 1 can't stay long
~ taoush for that Katherine promised
w. 81 driving with me this afternoon
bitterly. '' eo'' NC auoeo
Slowly. i'n "ns"et gu
ing gaze. ne"'n Ills ques'ion
do, raullne, tell mel" he cried out sud
here?" A"' inan Sill cohne
s,in 10 You mean Mr.. Eliot? Yes, he
"lll comes here"
aue qui'er swept his face.
,na "nI she-do you think-oh, Paul
DT r., IS She likely to marry him?"
folds sirls hand, hanging among the
tho sS u her gown, was clinched until
~p hnlckles stood out Whitley.
po now can 1 tell?" she answered
e,in nsily You ought to know Kath-
'''ue we'll enough by this time to un-