Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-05-15
sseseseesee
MRS. HAROLD stage.
cOgyrss, o.saIs

Eleanor everywhere. day after day
and night after night. They lived in
perpetual whiTl OF iuneheons. teas.
inner parties. receptions and ger
mans, Waltzing into the small hours,
There ~as 80 much more credit due
20 Mrs. StaeE Tor her self-Eaerifiee and
devotion from the fact that. though
she put on such a Tesolute front. she
felt secretly from the hrst by no
means confident that her efforts could
prove successful II, as she said 10
herself on more than one occasion.
Eleanor were only full of animal spir-
its-One of the sauey or foilieking
Kind who amused men by saying what
ever came into their heads-the
enanees were that. with so much back
Ing. she would get along. But would
anyone trouble himself to be more
than deeeniiy civil To young woman
without prospects. who was p-nsiye
and retiring. and. though possibly In
tsllectual SO far as book-leArning
vent. without the faculty o, enter
tanning people In general society,"
Emma Was apt TO sigh whenever she
thought OF the outlook. Therefore
she saw with feelings which closely
resemblsd emotion the evident liking
which Owen PAGE was beginning 10
display for EisanoF's tompany. She
had been grstined on the night OF the
ball by his showing the child some at
tentlon. but the Idea that IL ~as more
than the ordinary polltsness which a
gentleman Is apt TO show at the com
lnsout party OF pretty Girl never
occurred 10 her. though naturally she
~as pleased at II. and had mad. a
point of letting Eleanor understand
that he was the desirable Kind Of man
to know. When. nj each OF the n-x;
few parties. be again spoke to her.
Emma supposed tha; he had felt pity
at seeing her deserted. comparatively
speaking. In spite of the ball: for.
though she had not been absolutely
without partners. there had been no
repetition for her Of the triumphH Of
the first evening.
The assumption that he danced and
talked TO her out of charity seemed.
however. improbable. in the face Of his
continue to do 20: aud Emma.
though she did not dare to frame any
cS,r,yagant hypothesis. could not 70.
fraIn from asking herself what II
meant. Why should a man like Owen
PAGE dcyo;. himself to Eleanor unioas
he wcfc more or less fascinated by
herr To be sure. he might simply be
flirting: but. no. he would scarcely be
cruel enough TO try deliberately to en-.
gage the affections OF n slmplcmind'
cd. simple hammered girl solely for
the qualification Of his own vanity:
for there was 30 much higher game.
There could be no doubt that he was
attracted by her: otherwise. why did
he never let an entertainment pass
without seeking her cut! Not that his
attentions were particularly ardent or
exclusive. but they were unTcmItting.
Eleanor was one OF the girls he al
ways danced with and talked to. It
might mean absolutely nothing: nine
chances out OF ten Il did. But even
granting that he were amusing himself
at her expense. his constant attend.
arcc on her must necessarily give her
prestige: and there was. OF course. the
bare posEibilIty-a possibility which
stirred the blood In Emma'a veins
whenever she thought OF IL. though
she promptly dismissed IL as ont OF
the qucstion-that he might be falling
In love with her. Stranger things had
happened. and In affairs OF the heart
II was frequently the unexpected
which did happen. King Cophetua
married a beggarmaid. and why not
owen Page. Eleanor? Not soul
could say that she would mt make him
n thoroughly suitable wife.
While thus pondering and avoiding
premature eiation. Emma took care
not to let the grass grow under her
feet In connection with the matter.
She knew enough not to frighten of
the possible lover by indecently fire.
quent invitations to the house. or by
seeming to take particular notice of
h. attentions. but she kept her eyes
constantly open and lost advantage OF
no opportunity of throwing them to.
gethcr. Though. to tell the truth.
there was little need. as it appeared,
OF Intervention or diplomacy on her
part; the young millionaire himself
continued TO seek every opportunity
afforded for continuing the acquain-
tancc. He calle don Eleanor, he took
her out on his coach, he gave her
theater party, and one day he sent her
a basket OF magnificent roses without
there seeming to be any excuse for 1t.
This last overt act fairly took Emma's
breath away, and that evening, when
she found an opportunity to speak to
Harold alone, she remarked:
do you know. my dear, that I am
really beginning to think that Owen
Page is seriously attentive to Elean.
or"
why don't you say something?
she exclaimed, with impatience. as her
husband continued to smoke placidly.
DO you realize what that means? |
don't half dare acknowledge 1t my.
self. but verify believe he Is seri-
ously smitten. He scarcely takes his
eyes OFF her. and you saw the superb
basket he sent this morning. My dear,
do you realize what IT means?"
81 realize that | admire your superb
coolness in picking out about the rich.
est young man in New York as hus-
band for your damsel." he said, remov.
ing his cigar with an amused smile.
''lulV tha hnui iu