The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-04-20

perhaps the most surprising thing about II
was that she had found her level. Left Il
run about by 4 mother absorbed In th'
problem OF living on the interest OF $lO.Gt
her husbands life nsurance-and bel
sons modest salary as a bank clerk. she
would say to any of the seven or eight
young men who called upon her: John, ]
want you to take me to see Buffalo Bill.
or, Jim, I'm going out to lunch with yot
Tomorrow, and you must give me oyster
cocktails" with perhaps a faint idea tina
! she was outraging the prophecies, but Ger
tainly not caring about 1t.
Yet. despite her undeniable beauty. her
tomboy ways and careless speech, she wen
| about with these men to ball games and tc
the opera, returning. of course, after mid
night with perfect safety. attrtbuting theii
unfailing respect to some innate dignity OIL
her own. and never dreaming that with Q
girl of less beauty and more attraction they
might have been less sedate.
Among these young men there was buS
| one person-and he was almost a parsonage
she appeared to like, the Others all rank
ing according to the luncheons and theater
tickets they provided. He was a young
college professor, who, with 4 small talent
for natural science. and Il genius Tor re-
speciality. had worked his way IN ire
by slow and painstaking effort. ana was
trying to fall in love with Miss Coles ny
the same method.
Singularly enough, the most frequent
manifestation of their mutual Partially
was an excessive rudeness to each ether.
Miss Coles thought the professor concerted:
In fact, his view of life had no more per-
spective than a Chinese vii ana she
frequently and Intentionally wounded lis
self-esteem. Then for weeks he WOULD Ce-
vote himself to another girl till. properly re-
pentant and fearful of his permanent allen
49, l- --n,l1 -raor him with 'HelO.
Jimmie, Jimmie. Jimmie. What nave You
done to your hair? How funny you look.
Poor little Jimmie. Coming TO take me for
a drive"
Jimmie" weighing the proposed peace
Offering, would surlily acquiesce.
He thought her decidedly the p~rettiest girl
he knew and would not erhap nave
doubted his love so long had 1t not oeeh
for her poverty and his own. He took a
childish delight in the pretty clothes she
wore. for he had originated in 4 small town
where a woman's weekday garments were
of calico and her gala attire black bonDa-
zine, and for days after she had donned
an especially effective gown ne would De
very attentive. But soon. realizing that II
might one day become his province to pay
for her fnery, he would cool eff.
And Miss Coles did not love the professor;
she merely preferred him to the others in
her tomboy fashion. She was not the pos
SCISSOR of a large heart. There :1as room
in it for but one passion. ard that was
filled by an inherited one, the hatred, deep,
unreasoning. relentless, of the Honorable
Reading Payne.
y In her walks about New York streets she
often saw him driving with his wife, the
magnificent little woman Who would be
heiress to so many millions, and as she
STROBE along in her calm, assertive beauty.
she envied her the luxurious carriage and
French gowns. though she might just as
reasonably nave begrudged some shriveled
mummy its rich wrappings. And that man
had ruined her father. had deprived her of
a hundred girlish pleasures which she felt