Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1898-03-17
CHAPTER III.-CoNTNUED.

CHAPTER III.@CoNTNUED.
She liked to sit upon the veranda over
looking the ocean. On her face was re-
fected the placidity of the waters; in
her heart, knew. was the restlessness
of the tides. Indeed, there was smack
of the salt sea about the girl, of the sea
in all its moods and lenses. Her blood
ebbed and flowed beneath the freshest
skin; on her lips. with the glimmer of
teeth white as foam between their
curves, was the many -twinlk1ing smile,
IN her eyes an enchanting simmer.
One could swear that those same eyes
would flash fercely in time of storm
and stress, and that the red lips, like
breakers. would curl angrily. hate
tepid temperament.
Mr.. Livingston softly thesyl-
tables of my name dropped from her
mouth! (which do you prefer, action
or inaction, peace or WARP
peace, Miss Nancy. at any price. I
push my little go-cart along the lines
of least resistance"
"I thought men"-she emphas sized
the word-"preferred war"
Nowadays they leave that to wom-
en-"
'But the love of fighting. of adven-
ture, is natural to man?"
$40 uncivilized man, yes
Strip a man." she cried, with touch
of scorn, ''of the rags we call manners,
take from him the Difference which he
pays to the opinion of society. and
what do you ffnd?''
Sometimes, q beast"
''Ahi" She drew in her breath with
pretty sigh.
Sometimes, a god.''
-'Does he teach small boys?" she
asked, demurely. Confess, now, Mr..
Livingston, you are something of a
fraud. You ought to be fghting-with
your pen, I mean; Staying monsters.
like Hercules; and instead you are"
Talking to Omrhale. There is time
for everything"
Tell me'-she spoke coaxingly-
your true reason for coming here.
Don't attempt to deceive me. 1 can dis
tinguish truth from falsehood."
what eyes you must have! How do
you do it?"
Its very simple. Truth once seen
is never forgotten; the poor dear, you
remember, wears no clothes-that'sw why
she lives at the bottom of we'll; but
falsehood is tricked out in the latest
fashion,"
sand you have met truth face to
face 2"
st live with my mother"
1t was prettily said, but it set me to
thinking; and thought, like falsehood,
has many costumes in her wardrobe.
Where did Miss Nancy learn to talk ?
Her mother. sweet, gentle soul, was no
conversationalist; her father, con-
found him, was money-grabber. The
girl must be still in her teens; but her
shrewdness and wit amazed me.
mo man. observed. "incriminates
himself. The reason of my presence here
must remain for the present at the
bottom of the well. But beware; 1 have
found out your besetting sim"
She looked at me defantly.
az don't believe it,
"a morbid love of excitement
wretch: You have laid your finger
upon tender spot. Yes, am fond OF
excitement The deadly dullness of my
life till-till quite lately has driven me
nearly crazy. i have the dramatic in
st;nct strong in me. Heaven knows
where I got it, but can't be rid of it
And my dramatic instinct tells me that
there is some mystery here, in this
peaceful house, where you would least
expect it; and you, Mr.. Livingston, are
mixed up with this mystery. There
it's out at last"
Poor child. how pitied her!
Miss Nancy" I said, earnestly, ''the
wise old Greeks had a word which we
translate wrongly bitter-sweet- i
should be sweet-bitter, for the bitter
ness comes last and remains. If yor
could realize how sweet and fragrant
your present life is, you would be thank
fully content. This is really fairyland
if you only knew it, but the beauty o
ft will never come home to you til
you have left it,
do you mean,'' she said, slowly
shat the qualification of my curiosit,
may drive me from Eden? Very well
] take the hint"
At the end of the month Mrs Gerar'
requested private interview. Her facs
remarked, wore 3 troubled expires
sion, and she twisted her slender finger:
sure sign Of nervousness.