Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-04-18

II was a very poor pun, but you
laughed and dimpled. glaneing up at
him through your long, dark lashes,
for you knew only too well you had
added another heart TO your already
outrageously long number Of devoted
slaves, and you even smiled when you
heard Miss Primly say, quite audibiy
(as you passed out of the room)
Outrageous firt! Mr.. North, how
can you admire her?"
You will meet Jim tonight, and b,
will mutter: "Delighted TO see you
Mrs. Gouvenier," and will cross to thu
opposite side of the room, where h'
will look at you longingly and bit'
his mustache sayagely, thinking how
selfish your husband is to forbid yot
to dance, because ne is too old TO FIND
any pleasure in It himself.
They will all be there, the olt
friends. Qt seems much longer thar
two months since you went abroad
have you missed them?
Did / say "all?" No, not all, for
remember pale face, with such ear
nest gray eyes.
lie found more important things In
life than pleasures and dances. There
were so many poor to help, so many III
so much suffering and unhappiness. He
took life "too seriously" Jim had said
| do not see why your mouth should
droop so at the corners. Don't do IL
Phyllis, II spoils Cupid's bow. Is
there still pain in your heart when
you think OF that poor boyP Well
don't do II, then; forget him; there are
so many you should be sorry for, and
II is rather late TO begin now.
There is a step on the stairs; how
quickly your face changes as you rec
ognize your husbands step. All the
life has died out OF II and It has grown
cold and expressionless. You rise to
meet him as he comes toward you.
Ny dear Phyllis, do be CAREFUL
II would never do for him to see your
face as it is now. such look Of long
ing has come into It as the thought. "it
might have been so different if" goes
beating through your brain. But with
master stroke Of self-restTAint You
force a smile and !uHer the ey>s that
are filling with tears so fat y ~ iare
not trust them, and say with a bali
laugh and a voice that II perhaps a
trine unsteady; Don't ! look lovely
Is II time TO go, dear?'
Just then you are interrupted by the
sharp noise OF door being shut VIC.
lently. Everything grows dim and con
fused. Your husband seems to grow
DINNER and DINNER until he fades
away into the darkness; you rub your
eyes and look with astonisment at me
also have changed from a stately
pier glass 10 a little oval mirror hang
ing over your desk. You look into me
with eyes that can hardly believe the
vision Of yourself that reflect, for in
stead OF your Paris wedding gown you
have on a dainty matinee jacket and
your hair falls in pretty confusion over
your shoulders. You stretch out your
hand to letter that lies before you on
your desk and with glance Of won
der you read in your own penmanship
these words;
Washington, ID. C., Jan, IS, 1900
Dear Mai. Gouvenier: have seri-
ously considered the question you
asked me last evening, and feel much
honored that you should wish me to
become your wife. II | can add oyour
happiness by giving you the answer
you so much desired"
What Is the matter?
Why should you crush the letter in
your hand and then tear II up and
throw II into the waste paper basket?
The confused look has left your face;
you are beginning to realize hat after
writing that letter this morning you
leaned back In that comfortable chair
and thought OF the great happiness
that was in the future for you.
You imagined yourself as wealthy
woman, thinking OF the many delight
ful things the majors money could
do for you.
Gradually you grew drowsy, you
leaned your head against the back Of
your chair, your eyes closed the
dream that followed did not picture the
future at all as you had imagined It
would be; you realized too late Ot
seemed too late in your dream) that
money alone could not bring you hap
piness, and that 1t was not SO easy as
you had hoped 1t would be to forget a
certain pair OF gray eyes confess
that all through that dream did all /
could to make you see the mistake you
would make " you did so In reality.
What are you doing Phyllis2
Surely, you are not so childish as to
write to that poor, discouraged mis-
sionury on the western prairies2 And
you really intend to give him the an
swer he has longed for for the past
three months2
Wen, you are queer girl TO let
mere dream influence you so, What
will society say2
The beautiful, proud Miss Phyllis
Narian to he married to missionary,
TO give up the gay life she has found 30
pleasant, TO live In a wretched little log
hut in the place Of a church,
But you seem determined. and a
smile hoyers over your beautiful red
lips rs you seal your letter, aud can
not help but wonder n you we're ever
really as happy as you are now.