Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1904-05-14
IN SPITE OF
PREJUDICE
By KEITH GORDON
Copyright. r.as. by 7. {. Mcclure

unsnikahie cuuNNtiou az Sht nay hci
chin propped upon her hands. amid
the subdued richness of the oriental
pillows. NO: might love convict or
I might love IIottenot. but a widow
er. never
Her cousin. Mary Singleton. a prac-
teal youngsvoman more given TO jests
than sentiment. eyed her curiously. but
did not speak.
Just fancy" Constance continued.
with scornful dcrision. being u mans
second choice. listening 10 rehash
of his first lovcmaking. Gracious."
Her tone implied that the thing was
well nigh unimaginable. but her cousin
only laughed bit skeptically and took
the other side of the question.
do you mean 10 say that because
a person has loved once he = or she.
for that matter-cannot love again
without feeling that il is a rehash OF
the old love-" she asked. with yawn.
MY dear girl. you're all wrong. The
second love is simply different mat
ter"
The average human being" she
continued sIrewdly. lis capable of "A
good many loves. don't at all believe
in these one love individuals-the sort
who mourn forever. you know. That
sort of thing is simply emotional
poverty"
Having delivered herself OF this
worldly observation. she glanced at the
clock and began To coil UP her loosened
hair in way that signiiied that il was
time that she went TO her room TO dress
for dinner.
''Soullcss creature" tainted CON
stance. with an indulgent but gently
superior mir. Defend widowers IL
You choose but none Of them for me"
You girls with fine sentiments"
Mary rctoricd tcasingly. her hand On
the doorknoh. ARE just the ones 10
look ont for And she passed out.
smiling. into the hall. \ moment later
she opened the door again and. thrust
ing her head into the room. said in an
enigInatical manner:
''By the way. Con. he sure 10 toll
Douglas Stane that when he asks
you" Then. before her cousin could
reply. she vanished. slamming the door
behind her.
Constance stood i'm the middle of the
room for Il moment perfectly motion
less. wondering if she could have hca ri
iuht Ilnner1ac ~
For Of course that was what Mary
ment. Douglas Siane n widower. And
in the four months in which they had
been growing daily fonder of each 9th
or she had never before heard the fact
mentioned.
With quick movement she glided
toward the door and locked il. Then.
with her hands clasped with painful
tightness. She stood in the middle Of
the room and repeated with growing
incredulity: "A widower. Douglas
Stane a widower''
at can't he true-it can't bet
can't be- she protested. with moan.
His likeness rose before her-iall.
broad AMI a bit stern Of face Then,
going hot and cold 10y turns. she sank
down upon the divan once more and
buried her head in the pillows
Her lover That WAS what her
heart cried out. AMI. though she would
not permit herself To say il. there was
wild. sweet bliss IN the thought.
Subtly she had known II almost from
the first. But widower,
She shivered now mt the very remem-
brance of things that had once thrilled
her-the unconscious softening of his
keen eyes when they met hers. the
elusive hut unmistakable tenderness of
rough place or held her wrap. Time
was when the c;lrcSs Of his glance
made her blood Jingle Now she re.
membered IL with n sort of loathing.
Had his eyes not sofiened for some
other woman:
Thus she wreStled with love and pain
until the striking of the clock reminded
her that the dinner hour was at hand
Jumping mp. she began 10 dash cold
water over her flushed face and wet
eyes. while she tried TO steady her
surging emotions.
Everything went wrong" she apol.
ogiZed when she appeared ut the din
ncr table rather Hurried and breath
less. Couldn't get my hair up right.
hooks wouldn't hook. and buttons
wouldn't button"
Her cousin smiled
"Methinks the lady doth protest too
much" she thought TO herself
Dick just telephoned. she announc-
ed. feeling rather small and guilty as
she noted Cons'ance's flushed face and
feverish eyes. He and Douglas Stane
are coming up after dinner TO take us
down TO the Spouting Rock
Constance opened her lips with the
evident intention OF declining. but be.
fore she could speak her cousin con-
tinued glibly:
II just accepted for both of us be-
cause ] knew you would like 10 GO"
Then she continued under her breath:
Poor old Douglas, Wouldn't | Ike to
hear what she says To him. How shall
ever make my peace with them.
wonder:"
When. the dinner over. they sat on
tho broad niazza in tho fviIiybt sha