The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1903-01-16
THE PONSONBYS'
DISENCHANTMENT
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
M ISIS TERRY winked nervously

M ISIS TERRY winked neryously
W through her eyeglasses.
is this the result of q mood.
Hope? Is it very young wornan's
hyperbole? Or, is it true? Think
before you answer"
Hopes eyes drooped in weary
way.
70" 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
should say this to you if it were not
SO? no longer love Max. But
can't tell him. In spite of our diff
1erences, 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 ii her maul-stick or pa
1ette 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 / pay you
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
footstep.
1T 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
a plump. motherly old maid. who,
having no affairs of her own to in
terest her. is always poking 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 siunce.
Its astonishing" said Max. lean
ing back among the pillows and stir
ring his tea, 'how easily the bachelor
habit returns" He looked provok-
ingly handsome and contented. Its
like skating or shorthand or the BIZ
cycle. for they say that once these
are mastered you can't forget them.
Now. l think that the bachelor habit
is not outgrown nor forgotten. Mar
rage simply keeps it in allegiance.
Between you and me-" he continued,
after a short, reflective laugh, ''our
place has been no end jolly since
well. really, since Hope bolted so i'm
-. Ia. POI
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 hole in the card table, and
YOU know how tcnderly Hope treats
all that COMPOUNDED mahogany; l
suppose she'll be furious when she
sees it,"
Maybe" cooed Miss Terry, think
ing many things.
"Women do fuss-don't they"
asked Max, with a touch OF superior
Impotence. 80 little puts them
out. They get moods and nerves.
Tn, IL women cOulu DC DOiH NlthVus
nerves. how pleasant life might bel
(which mcans--what?"
"Oh. nothing. I'm rather pessimis-
tic about some things to-day, that's
ALL"
"Rut il means something more,
Max. Does it mean that Hope
fuses. has moods and nerves? Does
II mean. my dear boy, that her abb
scncc is relief to you?" and Miss
1erry's hand on his was sympathet-
ic, her glance heartsearching
"What's the use OF talking about
these things?" asked Max. "You
quite misunderstood me-" he said. .
little coldly.
NO. donr You have the look
Of man who says within himself,
What's don. can't be undone.' But
that's n mistake. Most things can
be undone in these days. Even .
crooked nose Is not irremcdia bic.
II can be made pure Grecian now
,icr . consideration"