The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-05-22
whimsical disposition, which took her
OuI So tate that che

Nv AedoOudUle time.
She is fully excused reioined Will
son. meeting her smiling glance. "We
go! mere about ten minutes AGO, and
BRIAN left me to make himself more
presentable, he said. | was admirnr
some OF your curios when YOU came in,
1. Ane" you at once. Bert!e's descrip-
ZION is SO accurate, and I've had the
picture of you in my mind"
tmnk BERTHE is inclined to exagger
al' sometimes, Doctor. Still hope you
na.e hot found the original very disap-
Quite the contrary, Mrs. Leigh,
nr1an tells me that you have only been
IN New York a very short time, 50 I
suppose you have not had sufficient op-
portunlty to see how great and impor-
tant we are. But you have visited a
great many places OF interest, no doubt?"
Yes; quite number; thou oh very for
from all, | an sure. OF course it is a
great city, and no doubt delightful
one' and am ridiculously unapprecia-
1--WE; but, indeed, like some less pre-
tentlous places better. 1t is all noise
ana uproar to me. DO l quite shock
you? I'm incurably devoted to country
NE, you see. cannot enjoy any other.
l hate'ary other. There, that's dread
fully childish"
He regarded her face with an intent,
rather puzzled, glance.
Yet you have established yourself
very delightfully."-" he said, as if an
swerltg an argument in his own mind.
fancy you must intend u long stay"
Yes, it may be. That is, / don't
know. l hope 1t depends on cir
cumstauccs, | think"
She spoke rather disconnectcdly, and.
anxious to divert any impression her
words might make upon him she hast
encd to add:
Don t misunderstood me, please. I
don't wish you to think / actually dis
like the city. I find it interesting in
many ways, but have not that fasci-
nation which some people feel for it.
l was born in the country, and all nv
associations hold the memory Of green
fields and bright skies. l think that
must account for my tastes. ] know
that brick walls and paved streets tire
my eyes, and | feel a longing to rest
them on something that is not here.
Sometimes | am almost determined to
go to Elmwood just for day. It isn't
1ar from here, you know; but then I re-
member that should have TO leave after
the day was over, and that would be
hard. So [ think l must always put
that thought aside. Brian is so differ
cnt in his tastes; he likes this busy life,
He finds the country dull and lonely, and
ElmWoOd has not the same attraction
for him that it has for me. He Simply
endures it, but well, l could live
there forever, because it is home and
love it.
The last words were spoken in q lower
tone, but Wilson understood the mean
ing they held, and his next ramark was
IN a more feeling vein.
we Will have to teach you to love
New York for something more than it's
paved streets and brick walls. We
Gothamites are very proud. We think
that all things good and delightful are to
Ee found in this grea: noisy city of
ours"
Margaret smiled. "You have many
desirable advantages, that is certain;
but while you are proud Of your wealth
you should not forget your poverty"
True. And we have enough of it.
The condition Of the poor in this city is
miserable in the extreme, and perhaps,
what is more incredible, the most oppo-
site conditions Of prosperity and want
exist in such close proximity. I was
most f0rcibly impressed with this fact a
few days ago. was passing along one
Of the streets just of from Fifth ave.
nue.. There were elegant mansions all
around me, and handsomely dressed
children playing under the eyes Of
watchful nurses. Yet little further on
Ipassed into scene 50 different that l
could scarcely credit the testimony OF
my eyes. Within an actual stones
throw OF splendor and prosperity, pow
erty, misery, and sin were running riot.
1t is terrible to think Of it. A physician
whose practice lies amid such scenes is
obliged to see so much Of the heart
aches Of life"
Il suppose so" returned Margaret,
witha sigh. Such an experience
wouldn't 90 1Or me NJ all; so much
wealth on one. side and SO much want
on the other would make me lose my
faith in God. It is dreadful to say it, I
know. / have taken myself to task for
even thinking OF it, but my sense of
justice cannot be reconciled. There is
some wise decree, no doubt, in what
seems so unwise, but Tell me.
Don't you ever feel like taking the world
to pieces and making it over AGAIN."
He smiled, amused at the question
and the expression which accompa-
MED it.
Il have often thought it might be
changed to advantage, but l do not know
that could manage it successfully"
iTO BE CONTINUED