Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1898-10-06

80
She took q thin cigarette from siluer bor
on the table.
fishing, preserving, eying It's very try
ing. Shall tell you how manage to
endure this continual censorship mixed
with servile worship-for mamma does
adore me? A pioneer never regarded
finished cabin, every stick of which had
been laid by his own hands, with more
satisfaction than she does me. She does
not seem to give papa any share in my
being at all. !"
81 think l know what your tactics
are, said Anne, scrutinizing her good
humoredly. you're very soft and
white. You seem to move in an atmos-
phere of amiability, but have not for
gotten your early propensity for sticking
pins nor the educated way your little
nails could scratch. You could scratch
still, Olga, if that were necessary, but
you have found surer way of gaining
your way"
you've hit it. What's the use of
continual dispute? Why worry this one
little life out of yourself? You want
your own way-take it. Be attentive to
all the rules laid down for your con-
duct, then ignore them and smile.
When you're found out and :eproaches
are showered on you, think of some
thing else or go to sleep"
She lit another cigarette with ru
minatiye expression and clasped her
hands behind her head. The look in her
eyes was like that of mild baby trying
to diagnose sunbeam.
"Really, you know, if mamma would
only rest her tired little body and head
and leave me to myself she'd be very
wise. She has nothing to fear from me.
I know what's expected of me. We're
poor; worse, we're in debt. She lives
in perpetual dread Of my marrying
poor man. Could anything be more alb
surd? Nothing in the world will ever
be as dear to me as my personal COM
fort. For girl to 80 into business life
as you have done, making her own
way, working, struggling, is beyond my
understanding Some one must always
support me, Anne, and support me
WELL"
~ wonder you came back to America
without title or at least fortune.
Il could have married money several
times, and lot of it," said Olga, "but
unfortunately distinctly disliked the
men. DIT wouldn't do to marry man
you couldn't for the life of you be civil
to. Would it,"
"Oh, l don't know! Aren't you over.
sensitive?''
The laughter in Annes tone did not
disturb Olga. She pursed ont her lips
and nodded.
81 almost caught title too. This is
the way l missed it. For one thing,
mammals eagerness frightened him.
I'm sure he could see her shake as soon
as he appeared I'm sure he saw her
nudge me. But that wouldn't have seri-
ously mattered if he hadn't found me
out"
Her lips curled in one sided smile.
81 can laugh now, but really it was
provoking a5 the time. Val--dear thing
he was-hated the least touch of uncon-
ventionality in woman, and smoking he
considered only a little better than
swearing BY the way, I'm telling you tho
truth about myself, Anne. It's such a re-
lief to tell it. never do except to rela-
tives. With men it's impossible not TO
pose; they expect so much. Well, my dear,
I posed for Val for six long, weary
months. l played the little lamb, always
with bit of needlework, practicing tho
Madonna gaZe taking only one glass o.
champagne at dinners and declining
cigarettes with Shy, reproachful
glance. He used to tell me was his
ideal that it seemed profane to love
me, that nature knew what she was
about when she fashioned me like an
angel, etc. One day he walked into
Morley's, where was having my por-
trait done, and found me with Mrs.
Sutton Vane, little monkey of wom-
an with q fast manner, and whom no
particularly detested. We had bet on
as to which could blow the roundest
rings of smoke. /, his Madonna, his an
gel, his snow flower, won, while he, un.
seen by me, watched. Sudden business
called him away next day, business SO
absorbing he never came back. Mamma
has sat up nights with her finger to her
forehead wondering why. lam all blank
amazement when the subject is breach
ed. And here endeth the romance of
Lord Valentine Dunwearthy. 1t went
up in smoke"
"You weren't bit in love with
him?"
SIN love? No. never loved anything
but this. Listen"
She went to the mirror and looked
into it steadily for a moment, then
turned to Anne, her whole expression
changed. The laziness Of glance van
ished. She flung up her head and
laughed joyously. To Anne's amaze the
lines from 1.-THE Merchant of Venice"
where Portia decides to masquerade as
man left her lips, at first tenderly,
with half hidden laughter, as school
girl confides secret, then with assur-
ance, a pretty swagger, delighted an
ticipation.
Anne listened in wonder, The room