Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-11
CHAPTER XVII.
LYyDALL

She was more like princess, yes,
far more like princess, than the lady
who still hung on the wall in Tant'
Sannie's bedroom. So EN- thought.
She leaned back in the little armchair;
she wore gray dressing gown, and
her long hair WINS combed out and
hung to the ground. EN-, sitting be.
fore her, looked up with mingled re.
spect and admiration.
Lyndall was tired after her long
journey and had come to her room ear
ly. Her eyes ran over the familiar OBJ
jects. Strange to 90 away For four
years and come back and ind that the
candle standing on the dressing table
still cast the shadow of an old crone's
head In the corner beyond the clothes.
horse. Strange that even a shadow
should last longer than man. She
looked about among the old familiar
objects. All was there, but the old self
WAS gone.
What are you noticing?" asked En-.
Nothing and everything. l thought
the windows were higher. II were
you. when l get this place l should
raise the walls. There is not room to
breathe here; one suffocates.'
Gregory is going to make many al
terations," said EN-, drawing nearer
to the gray dressing gown respect
fully. DO you like him, Lyndall? Is
he not handsome?'
HE must have been fine baby"
said Lyndall, looking at the white
dimity curtain that hung above the
window.
En- was puzzled.
There are some men," said Lyndall,
whom you never can believe were
babies at all, and others you never see
without thinking how very nice they
must have looked when they wore
socks and pink sashes.''
En- remained silent. Then she said,
With little dignity: when you know
him. you will love him as do. When
compare other people with him, they
seem SO weak and little. Our hearts
are so cold; our loves are mixed UP.
with so many other things. But he
no one is worthy Of his love. am
not. 1t is so great and pure"
you need not make yourself unhap-
py on that point--your poor return for
his love, my dear" said Lyndall. "a
mans love is q fire of olive wood. 1t
leaps higher every moment: it roars, it
blaZes. it shoots out red flames; it
threatens to wrap you round and de-
YOUR you-you who stand by like an
icicle in the glow Of it's fierce warmth.
You are self reproached at your own
chilliness and want Of reciprocity. The
next day, when you go to warm your
hands little. you find few ashes.
IT'S long love and cool against
short love and hot. Men, at all events,
have nothing to complain Of"
you speak so because you do not
know men," said Fin. instantly as
Stunning the dignity of superior knowl-
edge so universally affected by affianc-
ed and married women in discussing
mans nature with their uncontracted
sisters. you will know them, too,
some day, and then you will think diff
ferently." said En-. with the conde-
scendlng magnanimity which superior
knowledge can always afford to show
to ignorance.
Lyndall's little lip quiyered in man
ner Indicative Of intense amusement.
She twirled a massive ring upon her
forefinger-a ring more suitable for
the hand Of man and noticeable in
deslgn-a diamond cross let into gold,
with the initials "R. R.",.below it.
"Ah. Lyndall." Em said. perhaps
you are engaged yourself--that is why
you smile! Yes, am sure you are.
Look at this ring"
Lyndall drew the hand quickly from
her.
81 am not in so great hurry to put
my neck beneath any mans foot. and
do not so greatly admire the crying
Of babies" she said as she closed her
eyes half YEARLY and leaned back in
the chair. There are other women
glad Of such work"
En- felt rebuked and ashamed. Flow
could she take Lyndall and show her
the white linen and the wreath and
the embroidery? She was quiet for a
little while and then began to talk
about Trana and the old farm serv-
ants till she saw her companion was
weary; then she rose and left her for
the night. But after En- was gone
Lyndall sat on. watching the old
crone's face in the corner, and with a
weary look. rs though the whole
worlds weight rested on these frail
young shoulders.
The next morning Waldo, starting off
before breakfast with bag Of mealies
slung over his shoulder to feed the os-
triches, heard light step behind him.
wait for me. am coming with
you." said Lyndall. adding as she came
up to him: IF had not gone, to look
for you yesterday, you would not have
come to greet me till now. Do you NOT
like me any longer. Waldo"
yes; hut-you are changed"
1t was the old. clumsy, hesitating
mode Of speech. z -
you liked the pinafores better?" she
said quickly. She wore q dress of q
simple cotton fabric, but very fashion