New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1903-06-10
EQUAL .
PARTNERS
By HOWARD FIELDING
By HOWARD FIELDING
Copyright, 1901, by Charles W. Hooke.
[coNr1NuED.1

( MY CQllQ, SalQ brenQa, no man
can. Why, the brass knobs on the
posts Of this bed know the difference be-
tween you and me-the vital, essential
difference. They love you in their lit
tie brass hearts. Everybody loves You.
DR.. Kendall, for cold blooded sawyer
without a trace Of emotion, takes your
hand with the eternal reverence Of
man for woman. and when he gives
you pain | can see his own heart
shrink. But he treats me as if l were
a gentleman whom he had met at the
club" <%E 49,.
Elsie opened her, eyes so wide that
they seemed to light the room as she
stared at Brenda. whose cheeks were
flushed by her unusual earnestness.
81 am glad to hear you speak like
that" she said.
Brenda rose and walked across to
the window. Then she returned to the
bed and took Elsie's hand
81 am going to open my heart to
you" she said. 1T was not because
Clarence Alden preferred you to me
that lost my self control that last
day. l cared nothing for you, despised
you: admitted no comparison. 1t
was because, though the intensity of
his own nature for a time deceived
him, he never really loved me at ALL
Nobody ever loved me. | am called
good looking, even beauty, in the
society columns of the papers, and l
am SO rich that have attracted many
men. But not one Of them was able to
present even a creditable counterfeit
of love Though some of them could
counterfeit almost anything else, from
good breeding to the national cur
rency) until Mr.. Alden entered the
lists. That's hardly fair to him: he
was sincere, but mistaken"
"Yet didn't have at all the feeling
that l have now" she continued. 1T
was only that last day that I became
enraged. mostly at myself. 1t is since
/ have come here, since have known
you, the most womanly Of Gods crea-
lures. that I have had some true COM
prehension of my own lack, some hon
est sorrow for it."
"Only since you have been here"
said Elsie. How remarkable! But.
Brenda, it is sweet Of you to talk this
way to me, and am so glad. so very
glad! How long have you known DR..
KendallY'
"What queer question:" said Bren-
da- about two years, but we haven't
met dozen times. BY the way, he is
going to be married"
"He is going to be married." exclaim-
ed Elsie. ITO whom?'
IL don't know" Brenda replied.
"From something he said the other
day, judge there's difficulty. l dom
know the lady's name" -,.~..
SWELL" said Elsie. letting her head
sink back on the pillow as one relieved.
you will when it happens"
eff you mean that he cares anything
for me, you are quite mistaken" said
Brenda. Ills manner when he is in
this room should show that l am
nothing-a piece of furniture. Do you
| know it has inspired me with some
| thing like jealousy-jealousy merely of
| the difference between you and me.
which is the theme we started with"
"I'll show you what DR.. Kendall
thinks Of that difference" said Elsie.
| "Wait till he comes in here again. III
suggest that you're going away. and
then you watch him. He'll know that
I'm going to stay till I'm carted away.
But watch him."
| "YOu must not do it," said Brenda.
But Elsie insisted that she should, and
| they were still having a cheerful little
quarrel about it when they were inter-
rupted by kendalls familiar rap.
The doctor entered. looking very seri-
Gus. but his brow cleared at the sight
Of Elsie.
upon my word" he said. approach
ing the bed, "you are the miracle Of our
Species"
II am so well.'' replied Elsie, that
Brenda is thinking of deserving me-"
Kendall had been holding Elsie's
hand. He dropped it and slowly
: Strengthened his tall figure till he stood
erect The dead white mice seemed to
be dancing before his eyes.
"You can't mean it," he said. and his
face was blush gray as he thought of
the certain inference that Elmendorf
would draw from Brenda's departure
at this time Brenda he began, Il
truly beg your PARDON
THAT is my name" she said. land
shall always answer when you speak
it, III y
Il thank you from my heart" said
he. ."And-Brenda, you mustn't go
not now. can't explain. l was taken
unaware and may have said too much
already. Upon my soul, | don't know
what have said. But don't leave US
1 now
/ In his excitement his voice broke in q
/ queer little sob.
81 had no idea." said Brenda, that
my presence was so important"
II can't think of anything earthly
that is more. important than your pres
ence here" be said, with such impress
i've earnestness as would have carrie
conviction to any woman's hear
|