The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1902-12-12
CHARLOTTE'S BROTHER

MIS-. Lamar, WIDOW and novelist, never
made the mistake Of seeming too literary.
Perhaps it was because of her looks. Some
-aid so, e. D..
Be that as it may, it is certain that she
devoted much time and energy to other
things than MSS.-such things as dress
and diversion, for instance. She could
talk entertaingly without so much as
touching upon the subject Of books. She
could dance and laugh and-let us not
say fiirt-with all the delight of an empty
headed school girl.
That she was not empty headed, how
ever, the sturdy quality Of her writings
proved. Although not startling successes,
her novels were widely read and admired.
With her friends it was the m not
the authoress, who held sway. The wom-
an, with her faults and foibles, her win
someness, her charm, her love Of social
life.
There were those who said that had it
not been for this frivolous streak in her
makeup she might have achieved some
thing really great. Her love of personal
success, they said, stood in the way of
her arts best development:
In the summer it was her delight to re-
pair to her charming bungalow on the
New England coast, taking with her a
party of young people as her guests of
the season. She was in her element then
"a very girl among girls.
OF course there were sWeethearts and
brothers who managed to run in frequent
ly from town. Mrs. Lamar took equal
pleasure in entertaining them.
Charlotte Winters brother she had not
yet met, but she extended to him through
his sister a cordial invitation to join the
party.
Charlotte had displayed some pride in
exhibiting his photograph.
"A handsome boy" Mrs. Lamar COM
mented when she first saw the picture.
HE is twenty-seven." Charlotte's tone
limited resentment.
Mrs. Lamar smiled. Any man under 33
her own age-was to her a boy.
HE has a most interesting face" she
said.
Charlotte's brother arrived unexpectedly
late one afternoon-indeed 1t was nearly
dusk. The girl ran down the steps to the
carriage, Mrs. Lamar following.
Young Winter submitted with q mans
embarrassment to his sisters rather eff
fusive greeting, then locke up and met
the eyes of his hostess.
She wore a thin, soft gown of pale gray
Tie sort OF gray that clouds and moths
and airy things suggest. A spray of mas
t%urtiun, freshly plucked, lay like a flame
along the lace at her bosom.
A man takes in effects, not details.
Philip Winters impression was of the
cloudiness and sweetness of her-the
vague, wonderful loneliness of her, which
included the vivid flowers at her breast,
the whiteness of her face, the intense
shining Of her dark gray eyes. She
seemed a very part of the descending dusk
akin to its fragrance, it's tenderness, its
stars.
Mrs. Lamar had seen that look come
into other mems eyes at sight of her. She
had the" authors imagination and the
woman intuition. She seemed for a mo-
ment to be in his place. to think his
thoughts, to sense ever the very impress
sion which she herself was making upon
him.
Mrs. Lamar, during the fleeing days
that followed, tried to convince herself
that her motive for allowing Winter to
claim so much of her time was the nat
ural interest of an authoress in a new
and vigorous type of mentality.
Winter was certainly different from
most young men she had met. She liked
to study him-to speculate upon his posi-
bilities. Hence 1t was most consistent
that she should encourage him to express
his thoughts and by her sympathy and
responsiveness awaken perhaps new am
billions and aspirations.
But as he stayed on and on, forgetting
the urgent business awaiting him in town,
she began to feel conjunction. 1t was
foolish-no, cruel-of her to play with him
thus. 1t could never mean anything-he a
mere boy! She must be sensible.
So it came about that her manner to-
ward him changed. She became serene
and friendly where before she had been
radiant and marvelously companionable.
She encouraged no more long walks or
talks. Her heart ached to see his evident
distress. There was a panied something
in his eyes hat stabbed her every time
she faced him. T3 20" -|
And then-oh! the sorrow of ito see
him try to console himself with the So
ciety of dear little doll-baby Clara Demp-
ster! It was too pitiful-his obvious strug-
gle to find her entertaining, yet his grim
determination to keep up appearances.
His apparent attachment to Clara was
indeed the worst sign yet. Was he trying,
poor boy, to awaken her jealousy?
Mrs. Lamar stified a gasp. She really
had not supposed it to be so dreadfully
serious. Truly she was very, very sorry!
She spoke to him with something Of the
old sympathy that afternoon, however.
They two were alone for a space in the
garden. The. nasturtium bed and sweet
peas filed the air with perfume. =
"You are not happy of late" she said.
Il wish 1 could help you"
He turned a swiftly Frightening face to
hers. .s
You Can't he cried impulsively. ooh,
1T is you who can help me, my friend!'.
She Saverted her eyes, sorry now that she
had spoken. a,
Tell me how to win her.! She is driving.
me distracted. Sometimes l think she
loves men, again-I cannot tell. You un-
these things. Will you help
me?' :
Mrs. ::Lamar's startled eyes met his
eager, boyish ones.
ITO win-whom 2" she faltered.
why, T. thought yeu knew" he MUIR
INJURED. Haven't you guessed-haven't,
you ~seen-that it's Clara?" M
Mrs. Lamar hoped that the silence did
not seem too long after this speech. And