Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-10-07
ONLY paULINE.'
BY ETA J. WEBB.

BY ETA y. Whbb.
The day was cherries one even
Tor November. Perhaps 1t was Tor
that very reason that the shabby lit
tie sitting-room looked so cosy. There
was a 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
piano, making blot of vivid color
against the sombre background.
But 1t was not Katherine who stood
on the hearth rug with fingers inter-
laced staring modify into the fre.
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, 1t re-
yealed a lurking bitterness about her
mouth and in her eyes. Paulines
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 1t seemed to her sometimes
as if 1t 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 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
loveliness, 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 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 o.
Wilton Eliot, she felt sudden rust
Of rebellious feeling that brought
tears to her eyes and choking sen
station into her throat. Did it neet
that to make him fully conscious D
her unattractiveness? Surely he coult
see 1t without. For the first time IL
her young life the girl felt that sh'
had not been treated fairly by he
mother and Katherine.
1t was the thought of this, and no
the sunless, chill November day tina
gave to her face it's touch of gloom
So absorbed in reflection was she tina
she did not hear when the door be
hind her opened softly and some on
came into the room.
''Pauline!"
She turned to confront the slight
boyish-looking young fellow who ha
Just pronounced her name.
''Oh, it's you, Jack!" she said, smil
ing little. 81 did not hear you com
in"
"Your mother said should find 20
here. What a nice fret" He cam
and stood before her on the heart
rug. "Katherine-is she not Q
homer" he asked, unhesitatingly.
No, she has gone to make som
calls with Mrs. Westford."
He drew deep, quivering breatl
Mt which the girl looked sharply up 6
him.
I'm afraid you think I'm not yer
hospitable, Jack. Won't you have
chair?"
mo, thank you. can't stay Ion
enough for that. Katherine promise
to go driving with me this Afternoon
but 1 suppose she forgot" he adde
bitterly.
81 suppose So" Pauline answere
slowly.
Her eyes fell beneath his question
ing gaze.
Pauline, tell mel" he cried out SUI
denly. Does that man still con
here?"
do you mean Mr.. Eliot? Yes,
still comes here"
A CULVER swept his face.
twill she-do you think-oh, Pat
inc, is she likely to marry him?'
The girls hand, hanging among Z
folds of her gown, was clinched I'M
the knuckles stood out whitley.
"How can / tell?" she answer
wearily. You ought to know Kat
crime well enough by this time to u
derstand that she will do exactly
she pleases."
"But IL she pleases to marry him!
could not bear it-oh. / could n
bear it,"
The anguish in the young vol
stirred Pauline strangely. She turn
and laid her hands upon his sho'
tlers.
"Oh, yes, you could" she said.
would be hard, but you could"
do you think to comfort me
telling me thatT' he said, bitter
"lou are very good, Pauline, but y
don't understand these things.
He drew her hands from his sho
dsrs ana clasped them tightly
esther.