The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1899-12-20
A QUESTION OF HUMANITY.
EMMA a. oppER.

Ordway's usual Wednesday evening
call on Miss Martin had endured for
five minutes. ''You do not look like
yourself to- night" he pronounced,
meditatively.
A faint flush warmed her cheeks; her
emotions We're always visible thus, as
through a sweet transparency.
'It's your hair" he said; ''you
haven't a erimp nor curl. And that
dark dress, plain around the neck =
you look five years older. l don't like
it, either.n
She spoke her answer firmly, though
her redness deepened.
al think Mr.. Dumont likes it" she
said.
'Dumont?" he echoed. "Lord! is it
for DumOnt? 1t rolls him To see you
look so young; is that it? He recalls
the days when he was your age-fifty
years ago, say"
The look in her eyes stopped him.
They always chaffed and bickered,
but there was something different in
this; something sharper.
81 will not quarrel with you,n she
said, ''for we are too old friends"
This was true. They were the best of
friends. He had lent his influence to
secure her the business position which
she held with a credit born OF efficiency,
and she had in return shown him many
a tactful womanly little favor. Their
friendship, though warm, was strictly
friendship; Of that they had been al
ways rather proud.
"What is il about Dumont, then, Ju-
liza" be asked. whats up?"
II think, she answered, ~ ought to
dress to please Mr.. Damont, if can.
He would not like-his wife to look go
much younger than himself"
"His-tcJe|' |'
He has asked me to marry him; and
1 have made up my mind that will. &"
1t needed courage to meet Ordway's
look; but Julia had courage.
His gaze was spellbOund; it was
incredulous. He felt, suddenly and
strangely, IS if he had never seen her
before. He felt dazed, and spoke with
difficulty.
"Do you care for him."
They had scoffed humorOusly at love;
they had even prov d to their own sat
isfaetion that there was in actuality no
such thing. But his question hung be-
tween them fraught with intensity.
"I respect him."
"YOu respect the memory of George
Washington, / hope! Heavens! Is that
all you have to say, Julia?'
mo" she answered him, ''it is not.
/ am not afraid TO tell you, my friend;
no, nor ashamed. am going TO marry
Mr.. DumOnt because II want a home.
I don't want this always"
The room was agreeable, but it was
conspicuously boarding-house parlor.
"No. Well?' he murmured, with
frowning brows.
"Mrs. Crosby you met her, you
know-has sent for me to come to Bos-
ton and take position her husband
has waiting for me. 1t is better one,
and | should have gone, but-Mr. Dn-
pOnt had spoken"
"You mentioned that" he remark
ed, tartly.
She rested her unfalteriDg clear eyes
on his. She had struggled side by side
with men for her livelihood; she had
known life's sterner aspects and its
erabbeder moOds-but she had kept all
her simplicity and all her gentleness
and her pure depth of candor.
81 could go to Boston" she said. cor
to London. or Hong Kong, but that
would not help me. / should be no
nearer home. / am tired; that is it.
/ want somebody that ! shall have the
right to depend on, and trust. What il
would be to have somebody always to
see to checking nay trunk, and make
bargains with hackmen, and-and al
ways to pay my street-car fare; what it
would beu' she sighed, and beneath
her whimsieality he read her wistful
earnestness.
He felt bafIled. He suffered from an
unreasonable but burning spleen.
But" he cried, with energy, "Du-
mont Ifthere must be victim, why,
of all men, Dumont?"
"Becanse he wants to be the victim, +"
she returned, without resentment.
Probably he thinks he does. Most
men have spasms Of mental alteration,
and this is Dumont's. Julia. you would
never take advantage of it? Julia, you
couldn't!
He had got back his old way with
her-which lay between banter and
mild bullying-and with it his hold on
himself. He warmed to his subject.
"Marriedr' he said. Dumont mar
riedl It's inconeeivable. Why, it is