Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-04-10

but uOI III luuI tOuc u SOlCe, IT, |
piled Stuart. He looked at the face in
the fur trimmed hat.
Louise looked back at him with Just |
the faintest indication of a sneer on her
lips. Hal asked me to marry him."
she said at last.
"And what did you tell him?" asked
Stuart quietly.
II told him would"
The two walked on in silence, broken
only by the crisp sound Of the dry
snow under their feet.
do you love him, Louise| Stuart
asked gently.
"oh. l like him well enough, He
is
"stop, Louise! can't bear to hear
you speak that way Of such serious
matter. Do you know what sort Of q
man Vasplaine ISL"
Louise was at anger heat in mo-
ment. She wrenched her arm from
Stuart's and spoke with passion she
really felt. mo. no! Do you think
spy out his habits? He's as fast as
most Of the young men, suppose.
What difference does 1t make? What
right have you to pass judgment on
| him."
Stuart was staggered at first. Then
he recovered himself and replied:
Louise, love you. You are my SIS
ter. speak us do because Of my
knowledge. and. say to yoSfhat II
you marry Hal vasplaine youwill be
a miserable woman. Louise, listen to
me-" Stuart went on, his love for his
sister for the moment causing him to
forget his own condition. This man
who has asked you to marry him is
oh, Louise. he wiz wreck your lits!
He is''-
"You need not say any more" inter-
rupted Louise coldly. Il have promis-
ed to marry him. I like him. be-
lieve love him even, since your brutal
attack on him behind his back. You
claim the privilege Of marrying be-
meath you. Let me do the same, II
that is what you call It."
Stuart reeled almost as II he had
been struck. He had been standing
facing Louise since she took her arm
from his. He passed his hand across
his eyes, anu then In low tone he
said:
LET us 60 on. We shall never I'M
derstand each other"
Il Louise without word took his arm
again, and they went on in silence. By
the time they reached the town square
most Of the lights were ont, except In
the houses where the sick and dying
lay. Everything was wrapped in the
quiet OF still winter night. The Sal
walton Army hall looked cold and
bleak, its implanted siding black with
age. There was light shining from
Rhena's room. Their way led right past
the house. Stuart trembled as he went
by. He feared Louise might say some
thing.
She did not. however, and neither
spoke word until they reached home.
Aunt Royal was still up and waiting
for them. "You must have walked
fast" she said. looking keenly at then
. both.
Eve DID," replied Stuart. at 10 I
very cold night
He went into the library. where ther,
was an open fire burning ID the crate
The rooms were stf1i heavy with thi
perfume of roses and carnations.
Aunt Royal and Louise followed him
after Louise had said q few words t
her aunt. Aunt Royal was as excite,
as she eyer allowed herself to BIO.
Louise tells me you object TO he
marrying young vasplaine" she sold
confronting Stuart abruptly.
Stuart was surprised. He did no
think Louise would mention the matte
to her aunt. But Louise was thorough
% ly angry, and small natures like her
arc never satisfied to wait long bef0r
expressing resentment. 1t was q yer
natural thing for her to confidc at ono
in her aunt, being sure in this instanc
Of her perfect sympathy.
Eyes. ! do object" replied Stuai
firmly. lie looked straight into hi
aunt's face.
"On what grounds7s
'-The character of the man." answe
e ed Stuart quietly.
u "His characteri Do you know the
ts the vasplaines have held the yer
G highest position in the best society II
# several generationsf Has not youn
70 vasplaine been received everywhere
= society where you and Louise ha,
beenT
ID ut is possible that society may ha,
10 more regard for wealth and famil
re name than for the little considerable
N Of character and morals. have heal
e. sometimes that that Ia the case" So
y. Stuart, with sad smile
~ "Why have you allowed the Va
e. PLANES to come into the house, then,
ef they are such dreadful peopleY askt
en- Louise MS she sat In one OF the de-
IA easy chairs, with her feet out towal
the fire.
Stuart did not reply. He was d
tracted by he-events Of the eyenin
He realized that his home life was dI
le turbed by the conflicting factors whi'
" necessarily entered 1t with all his ne,
" er ideas and definitions of life. Not
Ok ing could be more certain than the fa
=. that heneeforth the lives Of his sist
~ ~ and Aunt Royal lay in directly oDp
III site ways from his He felt the nee
70 less irritation Of the present discussi,
ny and longed to escape from 1t.
Louise, however. had no Intention
Us letting Stuart go without sufferil
~ from blow she knew SO well how
" infllct. "Aunt, told Stuart he Dug
~ not to object to my choice II did,
~. object to his. don't think. thong
VI that we shall be disgraced by Sally
le ton Army alliance in the family. II,
W Dwight was presented to Una and
ns escort this evening, and by the appel
~ ance Of her face 1t was easy to SEQ s
- thought them a very handsome co
ne pie"
no Stuart clinched his hands tightly
" he stood with his back to the fire. II
or old passion rose in him to its highe
point, and nothing but the grace
" God kept It from bursting out into
ne torrent such as in the other days h,
y more than once terrified Louise, rec
~ less us she was in provoking II.
M There was deep silence In I