The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1903-01-15
THE PONsONBYs'
|DIsENCHANTMENT
By Kate Jordan.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Observation-Disclosures
M ISIS TERRY winked nervous1y
In through her eyeglasses.
us this the result of mood,
Hope? Is it a very young woman's
hyperbole? Or, is it true? Think
before you answer"
Hopes eyes dropped in weary
way.
''You have been like a mother to
me, Dora. You, more than all the
world, have known just how happy
we were at first. Is it likely I
should say this to you if it were not
so? 1 no longer love Max. But I
can't tell him. In spite of our diff
ferences, he still loves me. The
truth would kill him. Oh, tell me
what to do, Dora, and I'll obey you!"
Miss Terry looked around her
studio as if her maul-stick or pa
lette or the Maltese cat before the
fire of asbestos logs could give her
inspiration, and then announced:
Things are getting green now.
Go up to the Manor and stay with
your Aunt Mary until I pay you a
visit. Plead indisposition, mask
your feelings to Max-but go to-
day."
Three days later, at five o'clock,
Miss Terry was arranging her tea
things attractively. just as the
clock struck the hour she heard a
footstep.
cit does one good to shake hands
with you," said Max, entering.
''You grasp ones paw as man
would. You're brick; Dora"
"Other people would see here just
q plump, motherly old maid, who,
having no affairs of her own to in
terest her, is always polking her nose
into other peoples. How are you
getting on without Hope?" and Miss
Terry, while appearing to cut cur
rant bread very thin, gave him an
x-ray glance. M
Its astonishing" said Max, lean
ing back among the pillows and stir
ring his tea, show easily the bachelor
habit returns" He looked provok-
ingly handsome and contented. cts
like skating or shorthand or the BIZ
cycle, for they say that once these
are mastered you can't forget them.
Now, I think that the bachelor habit
is not outgrown nor frogotten. Mar
riage simply keeps it in allegiance.
Between you and me-" he continued,
after a short, reflective laugh, tour
place has been no end jolly since
well, really, since Hope bolted so i'm
pulsively. I've had Bobby Gunne
and Crab Dodge staying with me
we call him. Crab because Of his
funny walk, you know. We just lie
about all over the place, smoke
everywhere, and had ripping good
game of poker last night. Crab
burned a hole in the card table, and
you know how tenderly Hope treats
all that COMPOUNDED mahogany; I
suppose she'll be furious when she
sees it,
Maybe" cooed Miss Terry, think
ing many things.
women do fuss-don't thew"
asked Max, with touch of superior
impotence. $50 little puts them
out. They get moods and nerves.
Oh, If women could be born without
nerves, how pleasant life might bel"
(Which means-what?"
''Oh, nothing. Tn rather pessimis-
tic about some things to-day, that's
ALL"
"But it means something more,
Max. Does it mean that Hone
fuses, has moods and nerves? Does
it mean, my dear boy, that her alb.
sence is a relief to you?" and Miss
Terry's hand on his was sympathet.
! ic, her glance heart-searching.
=. whats the use of talking about
these things?" asked Max. .You
quite misunderstood me-" he said. a
little coldly.
NO, ! don't. You have the look
of a man who says within himself,
What's done can't be undone.' But
that's q mistake. Most things can
be undone in these days. Even 4
crooked nose is not irremediable
It can be made pure Grecian now
for q consideration
'.But hearts," ventured Max; .can
they be mended?''
Bless you, they're being mended
every day, all about u.s.
And mistakes ?''
'Can be rectified. Come, out with
it-I'm like yos;r mother whats
troubling you ~