The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-06
CHILLING OF LOREN ELLERY
IFrom the Chicago News.l


The bon Dieu, in His inscrutable wis
dom, has seen fit to place two women's
souls within two fairly beautiful bod
les, and to cause them to love each
other dearly. He had likewise deemed
it discretionary to create them sister
and sister, that this affection might
bloom rich and full, nor fall prey to
the deadly germs ordinarily soWn
in the course of feminine existence.
Having done these things. 1t is evident
He rested from His labOrs, leaving
these two creatures to the whirl OF
chance.
Chance behaved sanely for a long
while; but, having permitted them to
gain WomanhoOd in each each others
companionship, it flung them apart by
half the grit of a western state, and
caused them to dwell in separate places,
one in a smoky metropolis by the sea-
board, and one IN a great valley where
meridians were as common as pebbles
in a gravel bank. Chance also brought
many strange things into their lives,
and, last of all, a man. And this man
came well recommended, with moral
probity, business integrity, healthy
bank books, unqualified letters Of credit
and introduction, and good looks. He
became great friends with Ernestine
who lived in the city by the sea, and
thought he thought much of her. After
they had come to know each other well,
Lutte whom an imbecile ancestor had
classified as Luella, and who lived in
the valley, came on a visit to her sister
Ernestine. And the man, who may be
known as Loren Ellery, came to know
her likewise.
And what do you think of Lute?''
Ernestine who was the elder, asked one
day, after her sisters visit had termin-
ated in a. climacteric of sisterly love,
kisses admOnitions and promises.
Now, Erna,' EHery answered-he
had long since taken unto himself this
prerogatiVe of address; Its this way:
Lute's a. fine girl There is no mistak-
ing it. She is bright, good locking, with
vim and go about her and glorious
color But her brightness is of a diff
ferent order from yours, as are her
looks, her Vivacity, her complexion
You understand. She's a pretty little
witch and all that, but" Here he
threw the proper expression into his
eyes and gazed upon his interlOcutor
just the correct number of instants to
be thoroughly effective; and resumed:
But she never could he to ms what you
are. I like her, but in a different way
from you. I admire her, but not as I
admire you. I can respect her and
might have loved her had you and
never met. AS it is
Ernestine said Obi" afterward and
they both felt a high satisfaction with
themselves, each other, and things in
general and particular.
After some time Chance, with his ac-
customed arch manipulation of his hui
man dice. tossed a man with a mine
across Loren EiIery's path. And ac-
cording to the affinity which exists be-
tween men possessing natural capital
and men possessing industrial capital
these two foregathered for cooperative
exploitation and mutual beneht. In the
course of the deal Loren Ellery. not de-
string to be mulcted by the western
gentle, hired a mining expert and went
TO investigate the pretensiOns of the
hole in the ground. It so happened that
the mine lay among the out-jutting
spurs OF the mountains which fringed
the rim of the valley where Lutte lived
and moved.
Naturally, society being limited and
travellers rare. she and Ellery met and
they saw much of each other. So pleas
urable did he find her company that he
dallied. day by day, and postponed the
date of his return. And as he took lib
critics with time, so did his tongue with
him, till he said to Lutte things which
he should not have said and which he
had said before
It's something like this, Lutte" he
said one day, as they drank iced tea on
her long, shaded piazza and thus stroVe
TO adapt themselves more comfortably
to their torrid environment. Its some
thing like this, you see: Now that
sister Of yours is a. jolly, nice girl. clever
and all that. Not the slightest doubt
IN the world of it. She's got looks and
health and complexion and all that sort
or stun You understand. She's just
the kind of a girl to carry most fellows
away, fall in love with her on the Jump
but and here he expressed that
but in mild pantomime, rendered
more effective by long practice. and
went on; But she never could be to
me what you are She is clever, but
not as you are She is pretty but so
are you, and in different way. She may
appeal to most men, but not to me as
you can In short, I like your sister
but there is no similarity between that
and my affection for you. can admire
her and respect her and it might have
bsen could have loved her had I not
met you. AS it is-teu me, Lutte dear,
tell me you understand"
AS this repetition OF stereotyped nice
ties is an infirnlity from which all mas
culines suffer to greater or less extent
and which, in like measure, gives pleas
4Ira to all femjnines, it can be consid-
cred no great evil; and evil things
would not have resulted from it had not
the bon Dieu made Lute's very conf