El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-05-19

occurring, had afforded opportunity to
develop the impulsive affection each had
conceived for the other leading even
tually to their journey west together
and to Edith s visit in Denver now.
She could not have come to better
place to recover from the severe mental
as well as physical strain to which she
had been subjected. Barbara Hallet
was that rare type of woman who can
entertain without misunderstanding her
guests. Full of gracious thoughtfulness
for the stranger within her gates, she
was yet too unselfshly equipped with
tact and womanly intuition to make
her attentions intrusive or burdensome.
To follow a guest about all day long
with fostering sociability, as fussy, tact
less women are ever doing, was a night
mare of duty which could not enter her
mind. And Edith Ellery found herself
in a gracious calm for which she was
duly grateful. So fast events had trip
ped ON one another's heels that now, in
Gurpassing WEAKNESS of body as we'll as
mind, the memory of the days just
passed was as but the blurred outlines
of a dream. 1t was as though she had
awakened in another world, to WOO for
gefulness in dangerous repose in
which no note of discord could ever
sound. With all the love which had
grown up between them there had not
been time In their brief acquaintance
for anything like a real intimacy. Their
lives had but touched on the surface
But Barbara Hallet had missed little
that came within the range of her bright
eyes during her two and thirty years of
looking upon life, and she had been
quick to perceive the change which this
short month had wrought in her friend
81 am afraid Wyoming did not agree
with you, P" she observed tentatively one
day while Edith was lying on couch
near by in that inert listlessness which
now seemed habitual. 81 don't wonder.
The dullness of that ranch life must be
nearly insupportable. I am surprised
that Nelsine can endure it as she does"
''She has Hugh, you know, and he is
SO perfectly devoted to her ,, Edith SI-ss
gested perfunctorily, as If finding an ef-
fort in speaking at all. ''They are very
happy together.
at KNOW light of smiling enthu-
siasm on her face cit is beautiful
their devotion-as beautiful as it is un-
usual Their happiness in each other
should be o Lesson for you"
up supposedly, faint flush showing on
her cheeks.
because some day you will marry
yourself
''And you think should''-
"Marry some good fellow whom you
can love just as Nelsine does Hugh"
"Ohl" the girl exclaimed in a curl
GUS tone, turning away her face. But
after a moment she added, not looking
up: 'tBut what if it is not ones nature
to feel or to simulate great passion? Mel
sine says she thinks it is not in me to
make goose of myself that way
''Then you would better not presume
to get married. Mrs. Hallet declared,
with a dry laugh, ''for a married old
maid is hopeless case"
''But do you not think that there can
be such a thing as rational friendship
between man and wife, giving happi
ness, even though sentiment is left out
of the bargain?'' asked the girl eager
ly after short silence.
''No, 1 DON'T" returned the other,
very decidedly, her blue eyes quietly
studying the flushed face that seemed
trying to hide itself behind the sofa pill
lows. mo woman's heart could ever be
satisfied for more than a moment with
such a paltry makeshift, while, what
ever the quality Of a mans love, he
never fails to demand full measure of
passion in his wife and to feel defraud-
ed of his right if it is denied him. If
you are ever tempted to try such an ex-
pertinent as that, dear, my advice to
you is-don't.' She laughed playfulty,
but there was a certain something In
the depths of her eyes which reminded
Edith of all Nelsine had told her about
Mrs. HaHe6's own married life.
''Why, thank you. 1 will at least
remember your good counsel, " but the
answering playfulness was rather forced
There was a silence of many moments
between the two women. Little Paul
had brought his plump pug to play on
the bearskin at his mothers feet, filling
the pause with merry monologue.
Cough, Tommy, coughP' ne would
gayly command as his plump fists pat
ted the wrinkled little back, and the
small bit Of solemnity, grown SO fat it
could scarce do more than kick in the
fullness of exceeding content, would
obediently give vent to lazy growing
which seemed curiously to delight the
child's sense of humor. "Oh, mamma,
isn't Tommy a joker" he cried IN
gurgle of childish laughter, throwing
himself upon the floor. Both women
laughed in sympathy with his abandon.
"What darling he isl'' Edith ex-
claimed, watching him with tender
eyes.
"Is he not?" murmured the mother
in a glow of happy pride. 'And he is
so much like my brother Paul, for whom
he is named, when he laughs like that
as Paul was at his age. / have pic
tnra of MS both taken together when we