The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1897-02-20
CREATION OF SOCIETY.
A Story of love and Death.


lamp and Pickering wood fire lighted
the room; grotesque little shadows play
ed. about the big chair pulled close to
the hearth. cad on the motionless figure
of woman, half sitting. half lying in it.
She had been in bed, evidently. for a
higher flame lighted q corner OF the
room for an instant and cleaned on q
brass bed, the denied pillows and tossed
GOVERN gs. The increased light reused
her; she thrust out one foot in it's furred
shoe toward the flames and clasped her
hands back Of her head. Her hair fell
in two long long braids over her neglige;
one for some reason troubled her; che
leaned her head trifie and the braid
fell back of her shoulder.
Her thoughts were following each
other rapidly. II only she could sleep;
she was exhausted enough, too. heaven
knew, but in bed Ter brain worked 30
she could not keep still. How she had
danced tonight; the cotillion was par
ticularly pretty. her table was heaped
with is favors now. Her popularity did
not decrease. men wanted her dances as
much ashore than when she made her
debut five years age; five years; one learn
ed deal in that time and changed; for
the better? Ah.vho could tell; illusions
vanished; what goodness and virtue one
had were no longer OF the negative kind;
to be sure one had not much, but was
not quality better than quantity?
Chester would not think 30, but he was
an anachronism-a nineteenth century
man that had ideals and believed them
practical. 1t was stupid Of him to 60
away; she missed him-had grown to
depend upon him; one could do that; ne
was honest to fault. 1t made him dif-
ficult; compromise was impossible and
1.-The truth is not always to be told" But
II he said anything it could be believed.
He was not particularly brilliant, cpl
gram and repartee were not with his
possibilities, but he inspired sense OF
security one had not with any other
man. Almost six months since he went
away; surely he might come back. She
might not want to marry him. but
peither did she want to lose him: he was
necessary. All, she would ask him to
come to the house party in the country,
Christmas; why had she not thought OF
that before? She wanted to see him;
perhaps things would be different now :.
She sprang up out Of the chair, the
long gown trailing after her, and, max
ing a light at the desk, wrote rapidly:
Chester, dear mar, come up to the
Eyrie and spend Christmas with US,
won't you? We shall open the place for
week and take some people with us; it
is so long since We saw you-come! We
we're all at dance tonight at the Bray
leighs' and everyone spoke Of you. Some
think you are dead. but said you were
only in Philadelphia; you must come to
verify me! Don't fail when want you,
will YOU? GEoRGINE.'
She scale and directed tie envelope
and sat moment thinking again. Was
she doing right? She should be sorry
to hurt him, but there was no harm in
asking him; possibly he would not come,
vet in her inpermost consciousness she
knew he would. The clock chimed 4:3O,
and impatiently she turned off the light
and crept into bed.
High on the hill, now in sight and
again hidden by great hemlock trees,
was the house to which he had been
b,ddan- hidden indeed the man