The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-12-18
"ONLY PAULINE. .
BY ETA J. WEBB.

BY ETA d. WEbb.
The day was a cherries one even
for November. Perhaps 1T was for
that very reason that the shabby lit
=. tie sitting-room looked so cosy. There
was bright wood fire in the CRATE
diffusing a genial warmth and light.
Katherine loved warmth and light,
she loved roses, too; not the sweet,
wan, fragile kind that overran the old
garden in summer, but heavy, rich
scented crimson roses, such as Jack
Donelson sent in great handfuls daily.
There was bowl of them now on the
niano, making a blot of vivid color
SNainst the sombre background.
but it was not Katherine who stood
~ the hearth rug with fingers inter-
LACED staring moodily into the fire.
1t was ''only" Pauline. The warm
glow lent faint color to her olive
cheeks and brought out certain lus-
tire in her hair that was not there ex-
cepting in a strong light. Too, it re-
vealed lurking bitterness about her
mouth and in her eyes. Pauline's
thoughts were not pleasant ones. She
was feeling at odds with herself and
all 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
wise-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. 1t
was not hard to yield to her as to
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
insignificance. Pretty, vain Mrs.
Ward had never been quite able to
understand why her two daughters
were so unlike.
katherine is all Norton" 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 a sudden rush
of rebellious feeling that brought
tears to her eyes and a choking SEN
sation into her throat. Did it need
that to make him fully conscious Of
her unattractiveness? Surely he could
see it without. For the first time in
her young life the girl felt that she
had not been treated fairly by her
mother and Katherine.
1t was the thought of this, and not
the sunless, chill November day that
gave to her face its touch of gloom
30 absorbed in reflection was she that
sne did not hear when the door be-
hind her opened softly and some one
came into the room.
"Paulinei"
She turned to confront the slight,
boyish-looking young fellow who had
Just pronounced her name.
"Oh, it's you, Jack!". she said, Smil-
ing a little. II did not hear you come
in"
"Your mother said / should find you
here. What a nice fret" He came
and stood before her on the hearth
rug. "Katherine-is she not at
homer" he asked, unhesitatingly.
No, she has gone to make some
calls with Mrs. Westford."
He drew a deep, quivering breath,
at which the girl looked sharply up at
him.
I'm afraid you think I'm not very
hospitable, Jack. Won't you have
CHAIR"
mo, thank you / can't stAy long
enough for that. Katherine promised
to go driving with me this afternoon,
but / suppose she forgot he added,
bitterly.
Il suppose so,' Pauline answered,
slowly.
Her eyes fell beneath his question
ing gaze.
pauline. tell mel" he cried out sud-
denly. Does that man still come
here?"
DO you mean Mr.. Eliot? Yes. he
still comes here"
A culver swept his face.
Twill she-do you think-oh. Paul
inc. is she likely to marry him.
The girls hand, hanging among the
folds of her gown, was clinched until
the knuckles stood out whitley.
"How can ] teli?" she answered
YEARLY. "you ought 10 know Kath-
crime well enough by this time to IN